Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Kelso, Newbury and Bangor Preview

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck previews this weekend’s ITV Racing action from Kelso, Newbury and Bangor

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Saturday, Kelso

YOUR OWN STORY is a tentative pick in a very thin opener to the ITV coverage at Kelso on Saturday (1.15). He’s edging down the weights, but ran pretty well in the Eider for long way, and might well sharpen up in the visor for his Festival-winning jockey.

SACRE COEUR seems to be the obviously overpriced one in the Mares’ Listed race (1.50). She races mainly over fences nowadays, and her rating in that discipline would put her right in the mix. She wasn’t as good over hurdles previously, but that was for another yard and she’s improved a fair bit with the Skeltons.

BALLYFORT might go well again in the Go North Handicap Hurdle final (2.25). He’d shown bit and pieces as a younger horse, but the breathing op appeared to do the trick at Ayr, where he was a most impressive winner. A nine-pound rise may not be enough to stop him.

TOUR OVALIE has been an amazing mare this season, and might have another go in her off this sort of mark (3.00). She ran tremendously well at the Festival, while her Taunton win is working out surprisingly well at the smaller meetings. She’s dead straightforward, and is perfectly happy going a good pace in a big field.

BOLLINGERANDKRUG looks the one in a pretty awful race for the grade (3.35). He goes well here when he feels like it, and almost always comes on a ton for his first run after a break. This is a good bit easier, too.

Saturday, Bangor

MR FREEDOM can outrun his odds in the TV race from Bangor (1.35). This is a bit easier than some of his assignments, a sharp track will suit him, and it’s not impossible that he translates his flat improvement back to hurdles.

Saturday, Newbury

JACKPOT DES BORDES is worth a crack in the TV opener at Newbury (2.05). He ran into a fair horse at Taunton over Christmas when apparently disappointing, and it’s worth noting the yard’s horses were out of sorts. Prior to that he’d beaten a horse now rated 130 off levels with six lengths to the third, now rated 115. On that basis, he’s well enough treated here, and gets pieces for the first time.

SAINT SEGAL is a confident shout in the handicap chase (2.40). He ran off his face here last time, when aggressively ridden up with a pace so searching that Sean Bowen was able to deliver the ride the season from a hopeless position. Against slightly lesser opponents, the selection may well be able to boss them.

EITHER WAY is a sporting pick in the Mares’ Final (3.15). Lowly rated winners of this are not uncommon, and this one might have a fair bit more to offer. She has a nice pedigree with a bit of speed, ran quite well in her point to point, and – although she already had a mark – needed that last run to qualify for this. Given it was off break on horrible ground, she can be readily forgiven, and could be well ahead of the game with a good rider booked.