Saturday ITV Racing Tips: Best bets for Kempton, Chelmsford and the Curragh on April 6

The weather seems to really hate National Hunt racing this season. It's already wiped Kelso's high-profile card off the board this weekend and is once again crashing into several other meetings on the turf.

ITV have had to swiftly rearrange their schedule and mainly focus on the all-weather action at Kempton, plus one from Chelmsford and one from the Curragh, if it passes an inspection.

Let's keep it positive and take a swing at some tips for Saturday's racing on the telly. We will start with a quick run through our selections, with the reasons why we've picked them further down the page.

If you fancy a punt or two, check out the Planet Sport race centre which will show you all the live odds, racecards and results.

Good luck and please gamble responsibly.

(Please be aware selections could become non-runners after article's first publication)

 

Saturday's selections:

13:30 (Kempton) Auric

14:05 (Kempton) Mystic Pearl

14:40 (Kempton) Intinso

15:15 (Kempton) Sweet Fantasy

15:30 (Chelmsford) Capulet

15:45 (Kempton) Devoted Queen

 

13:30 (Kempton) Auric

Auric produced a good 2.5L fourth on debut at Wolverhampton contesting a 6f maiden. Progress likely and rates a leading chance in the Virgin Bet Restricted Novice Stakes.

Sky Warrior was off the mark at the second attempt last season scoring by half a length at Doncaster contesting a six furlong maiden during July. Rates highly on return.

Kodi Lion did well when resuming managing a promising third over seven furlongs at Newcastle last July and is of interest,

 

14:05 (Kempton) Mystic Pearl

Mystic Pearl is the pick in the Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes.

The William Haggas-trained four-year-old is bidding for her second victory at Listed level, having claimed top honours in the Coral Distaff at Sandown last summer, after which she was only narrowly beaten in a Group Three in France.

She will not lack for fitness on her return to British soil following a winter campaign in Dubai, a spell during which she contested a couple of Group Two events but came up short.

Mystic Pearl has less on her plate in Sunbury and aided by cheek pieces for the first time, she really should be competitive.

 

14:40 (Kempton) Intinso

Intinso is backed to continue his resurgence in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Rosebery Handicap.

John and Thady Gosden’s inmate was billed as a potential future star after winning on his sole juvenile appearance at Newcastle a couple of years ago, but any hopes of a potential Classic campaign quickly went up in smoke last spring after he was well beaten in Newmarket’s Feilden Stakes.

The son of Siyouni was then beaten as favourite for a novice event at Chelmsford and while a close-up third in a competitive Ascot handicap in high summer was a step forward, he finished out of the places on his next start at York’s Ebor Festival and was subsequently gelded.

Intinso made his first start since at Wolverhampton three weeks ago and while he went off at prohibitive odds to make a successful comeback, it was still hard not to be impressed by the way he swept his rivals aside, despite racing keenly.

If he is a little more tractable dropping back slightly in trip for this £100,000 prize, there may still be some mileage in his revised mark of 98 and he is expected to go close.

 

15:15 (Kempton) Sweet Fantasy

Sweet Fantasy looks fascinating after some promising hurdle efforts including a Plumpton novices hurdle victory over two miles which was followed by a 17 length success at Catterick. Rates highly on flat return in the Virgin Bet Queen's Prize Handicap

Novel Legend is a smart handicapper. Finished eighth attempting the G1 Prix Royal-Oak at Longchamp on heavy ground last October and makes for appeal down in grade.

Spirit Mixer stays well and is likely to show plenty of improvement second up for the year and should be of interest.

 

15:30 (Chelmsford) Capulet

A quality field has assembled for the £100,000 Woodford Reserve Cardinal Conditions Stakes, with the standard set by Aidan O’Brien’s Capulet.

A winner on his Dundalk debut last August, the son of Justify went on to push stablemate Diego Velazquez close in a Group Two at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend before placing third as a hot favourite for the Royal Lodge at Newmarket on his final appearance at two.

He might not have things all his own way on his return, with some talented race-fit rivals including Karl Burke’s Good Friday winner Cuban Tiger lying in wait, but Capulet can prove himself the class act.

 

15:45 (Kempton) Devoted Queen

Devoted Queen bids to make it two from two in the Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places British EBF Fillies’ Conditions Stakes.

The daughter of Kingman looked yet another smart recruit off Charlie Appleby’s Godolphin production line when impressing on her introduction at Newmarket in the autumn, albeit on rain-softened ground.

That form is not too shabby, with the runner-up Vicario rated in the 80s, and it should be noted that Devoted Queen has been given a 1000 Guineas entry.

While the first fillies’ Classic is a world away from a small field conditions event at Kempton, this race has been won by subsequent Group One winner Al Husn and the high-class Running Lion in the past two years, so it is not impossible Devoted Queen could go on to scale much greater heights.