Newsboy's ITV selections for Cheltenham, Doncaster and Newbury plus tips on all Saturday's UK races

PUT the bookies in a sweat with HOTAZHELL in the William Hill Futurity Trophy Stakes (2.40) at Doncaster.

There’s an open look to the final Group 1 race of Britain’s 2024 Flat season, and Hotazhell, bidding to give trainer Jessica Harrington a first top-level triumph since Magical Lagoon’s success in the Irish Oaks two years ago, is right in the mix.

Since a full-of-promise debut fourth at the Curragh in May, Too Darn Hot’s son has gone from strength, suffering his only subsequent defeat when a one-length second to the wayward-but-gifted Henry Matisse in the Group 2 Futurity Stakes at the Curragh in August.

Last time out, Hotazhell went one better in the same grade when landing the one-mile Beresford Stakes at the same track by three parts of a length from Tennessee Stud.

Rain-softened ground on Town Moor will present no difficulty to Shane Foley’s mount, who still has more to give as his sights are raised to the highest level for the first time.

On Doncaster’s Futurity Stakes undercard, VINTAGE CLARETS has plenty going for him in the Join Century Racing Club Today Handicap (2.05), while DIEGO VENTURA will find the Listed William Hill Prospect Stakes (1.30) less demanding after a second in the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket 30 days ago.

DOES HE KNOW is fancied to give his rivals weight and a beating in the William Hill Committed To Top Prices Handicap Chase (2.20) at Cheltenham.

Kim Bailey is operating at a healthy strike-rate as the National Hunt season moves through the gears and Does He Know put up a personal best to lift the big-money Grimthorpe Handicap Chase at Doncaster last March.

My selection didn’t reproduce that form in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown Park eight weeks later, but the nine-year-old makes his return on the back of wind surgery and his record after a break means his 182-day absence from the racecourse is no concern.

The Irish raiding party looks set for a good afternoon, starting with Henry de Bromhead’s MARV MICHAE L in the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (1.10).

The six-year-old has had just one run over fences but it was a winning one at Kilbeggan last month and the way Mar Michael jumped that day augurs well for his future.

With four of the five contestants, Ireland has an irresistible hand in the William Hill Betting Done Properly Novices’ Hurdle (1.45), with preference for the John McConnell-saddled INTENSE APPROACH .

McConnell’s fellow Co Meath trainer Gavin Cromwell should also be on the mark with BOTTLER’SECRET in the Masterson Holdings Hurdle (3.30).

The Irish account for four of the 13-strong assembly for the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (2.55), but this one can stay at home, courtesy of the progressive ZAIN NIGHTS , trained in Newmarket by Lucy Wadham.

At Newbury, AL AASY is expected to live up to his status as the best horse in the race as he takes on five opponents for the Group 3 BetVictor St Simon Stakes (3.45).

Earlier, BENEVENTO gets the vote to give Brazilian trainer Raphael Freire his biggest success in Britain by landing the Group 3 BetVictor Horris Hill Stakes (3.10).

Saturday's selections

CHELTENHAM
1.10 MARV MICHAEL
1.45 INTENSE APPROACH
2.20 DOES HE KNOW (NB)

2.55 ZAIN NIGHTS
3.30 BOTTLER’SECRET
4.05 HYLAND
4.40 SEATOIT

NEWBURY
1.25 EMPORESS
2.00 SEA TO SKY
2.34 INDEMNITY
3.10 BENEVENTO
3.45 AL AASY
4.19 THAT’S AMORE
4.50 WARNING SIGN

DONCASTER
1.30 DIEGO VENTURA
2.05 VINTAGE CLARETS
2.40 HOTAZHELL (NAP)
3.15 THE REVEREND
3.50 EVE’S BOY
4.25 THUNDER ROAR
5.00 MYSTERYOFTHESANDS
5.30 THE COOKSTOWN CAFU

KELSO
1.35 TOMMYS LAW
2.10 RACEVIEW ROAD
2.45 WALK ON QUEST
3.20 FOSTER’S FORTUNE
3.55 ELVIS MAIL
4.30 PAY THE PIPER
5.05 ARCTIC MANN

CHELMSFORD CITY
4.55 STORM FREE
5.25 BLUEBELLS BOY
6.00 BERNARD SPIERPOINT
6.30 SALAMANCA
7.00 THE BITTER MOOSE
7.30 VEER
8.00 VAN ZANT
8.30 COGSWORTH

DOUBLE: HOTAZHELL and DOES HE KNOW