ITV Racing Tips: Can Magna Grecia triumph in the Vertem Stakes?

There’s another busy day of racing this Saturday, with major meetings at Doncaster, Cheltenham and Newbury.

The former hosts the Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes, while there’s other major action elsewhere – including an intriguing 17-runner Handicap Chase at Cheltenham. Here are our tips on the day’s big races…

NAP – Magna Grecia – 4:05 Doncaster

Aidan O’Brien’s filly is favourite for success in the Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes, and it’s easy to see why.

He followed up victory at Naas in her first race with an impressive second-place finish behind Persian King in the Godolphin Autumn Stakes at Newmarket.

Magna Grecia had Donnacha O’Brien in the saddle for that race, and the talented young jockey will be riding her again here. This is the two-year-old’s first attempt on soft ground, but that shouldn’t be any real hindrance with such quality.

NB – Calett Mad (E/W) – 2:00 Cheltenham

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies has two interests in this handicap chase – but we’re sidestepping Cogry for Calett Mad.

The latter has been hit-and-miss in 2018, but when the six-year-old is on song, he’s superb. The hugely comfortable win he racked up in the National Hunt Novices Hurdle at Perth earlier this year proved that.

This is a fairly open-looking race, and the going is good – conditions which have tended to suit him in the past. With Daryl Jacob taking the reins again, he should contend strongly for a place.

Lively Longshot – Copper Knight – 3:25 Doncaster

The four-year-old has already shown her pedigree in Class 2 races, including victory in a strong field at the Gosforth Park Cup Handicap in June.

His form has been streaky, but he heads into this race off the back of a routine Class 3 win at York and a fourth-placed finish in the Catterick Dash Handicap – both earlier this month.

Paul Hanagan is new to this horse, but has already ridden two winners in October. With no clear favourite here, that could pave the way for Copper Knight to grab the glory.

ITV Racing tips:

1:45 Doncaster – Breath of Air

2:00 Cheltenham – Calett Mad E/W (NB)

2:20 Newbury – Communique E/W

2:35 Cheltenham – Gumball

2:50 Newbury – Azano

3:10 Cheltenham – Duke of Navan E/W

3:25 Doncaster – Copper Knight (Lively Longshot)

3:45 Cheltenham – Notwhatiam

4:05 Doncaster – Magna Grecia (NAP)

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All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing