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ITV Racing Tips on April 12th - Saturday's selections at Ayr and Newbury

Jon Vine

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Last updated: 11 Apr 2025

Jon Vine 11 Apr 2025

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Free tips for the ITV races on Saturday 12th April
Ayr and Newbury feature on the ITV Racing schedule
Bellum Justum, Under Control and Cogitate feature in our selections

Expired

Oisin Murphy riding Bellum Justum (blue/white) win the Betfred Blue Riband Trial at Epsom. (Getty)

Contents

ITV Racing Schedule
ITV Racing Tips - Saturday 12th April
1:10pm Ayr - Scotty Brand Handicap Chase Tips
1:25pm Newbury - John Porter Stakes Tips
1:43pm Ayr - Novices' Champion Handicap Chase Tips
2:00pm Newbury - Fred Darling Stakes Tips
2:15pm Ayr - Scottish Champion Hurdle Tips
2:35pm Newbury - Greenham Stakes Tips
2:55pm Ayr - Glasgow Seafield Trophy Mares' Handicap Hurdle Tips
3:12pm Newbury - Spring Cup Handicap Tips
3:35pm Ayr - Scottish Grand National Tips

There's a little something for all racing fans on ITV Racing this weekend. Ayr hosts their popular Scottish Grand National card, with Newbury also chipping in with four quality races on Greenham Stakes day.

Here are my best betting tips for Saturday's ITV races at Ayr and Newbury.

ITV Racing Schedule

Time	Track	Title
1:10pm	Ayr	Scotty Brand Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2m½f
1:25pm	Newbury	Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (Registered As The John Porter Stakes) (Group 3) 1m4f
1:43pm	Ayr	CPMS Novices' Champion Handicap Chase (Class 2) 3m
2:00pm	Newbury	Dubai Duty Free Stakes (Registered As The Fred Darling Stakes) (Group 3) 7f
2:15pm	Ayr	Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle (A Limited Handicap) (Grade 2) 2m
2:35pm	Newbury	Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes (Group 3) 7f
2:55pm	Ayr	UK Greentech Glasgow Seafield Trophy Mares' Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) 3m½f
3:12pm	Newbury	OLBG Spring Cup Handicap (Class 2) 1m
3:35pm	Ayr	Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 4m

ITV Racing Tips - Saturday 12th April

1:10pm Ayr - Scotty Brand Handicap Chase Tips

Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton will saddle the market leaders ahead of Saturday's opener, as they continue to battle for Champion Trainer honours. I'm going to take both on with HOMME PUBLIC (6/1), who has mixed it between fences and hurdles so far this season.

Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero's eight-year-old won over the smaller obstacles at Doncaster in December and was last seen placing second to the progressive The Four Sixes at Bangor three weeks ago. Homme Public wore first-time blinkers on his most recent chasing start at Doncaster in March and Henry Brooke's mount ran a cracker, losing out narrowly to Brookie - who was getting nine pounds from the runner-up at the weights.

Brookie has since placed second in a Grade One at Aintree and third-placed Calico went close in the Red Rum Handicap. Tommy's Oscar was beaten nine lengths back in fourth that day too, so the form has a nice ring to it and the blinkers go back on Homme Public as he steps back up to the larger obstacles.

1:25pm Newbury - John Porter Stakes Tips

Sunway and Ancient Wisdom went close in several top three-year-old races last season and deservedly top this betting heat. Both, however, would prefer a little more cut in the ground, unlike BELLUM JUSTUM (4/1), who flew home on firm ground to land the Nashville Derby at Keeneland when last seen back in August.

Andrew Balding's star won the Blue Ribband Trial at Epsom on his reappearance last season, before a seventh-place finish in the Derby. Bellum Justum was then only beaten two lengths when third to the ill-fated Jayarebe at Royal Ascot, and gave future St Leger winner Jan Brueghel a proper race in the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

The form of those placed efforts has worked out very well and Bellum Justum saw out this distance well on similar ground at Goodwood. With Oisin Murphy riding Sunway, James Doyle has been subbed in to take the ride and Andrew Balding's horses have started the flat season in decent form.

1:43pm Ayr - Novices' Champion Handicap Chase Tips

Seven of the last nine winners of this three-mile handicap have carried north of 11-7, so it's no surprise to see the two highest-rated entrants leading the betting. WHISTLE STOP TOUR (4/1) is an interesting runner for Lucinda Russell, who has chosen this easier race over a tilt at the Scottish Grand National.

Third in a handicap hurdle at this meeting 12 months ago, Whistle Stop Tour opened his account over fences at the second time of asking at Kelso in December, before running out an impressive winner over this course-and-distance in January. Russell then decided to test her novices' speed over a shorter trip on Trials Day at Cheltenham, where Patrick Wadge's mount finished a one-paced fifth behind Jagwar.

Russell opted for the Ultima over the novices' handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival on the back of that outing. Whistle Stop Tour's race practically ended when he was badly hampered by a faller at the first obstacle, leaving Derek Fox with no choice but to pull his mount up as stablemate Myretown won impressively from the front. Russell's seven-year-old remains on a workable mark of 136 and looks a good bet to make it three wins from five starts at this track.

2:00pm Newbury - Fred Darling Stakes Tips

Elmalka finished third behind Folgaria in this contest before going on to land last year's 1000 Guineas, so it's a trial that should be watched closely. Those towards the top of the market bring some excellent juvenile form to the table, but one who looks overpriced to me is BETTY CLOVER (25/1).

Eve Johnson Houghton's youngster won the Marygate at York on her second start, before finishing eighth in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. On her first start over six furlongs, Betty Clover powered home from the rear to get within a neck of market leader Simmering when the two met in the Princess Margaret Stakes back at Ascot.

Georgia Dobie's mount ran poorly from stall one at York in August, and could never get involved after a slow start on her final outing Dick Poole. Considering she's by Time Test and out of a Kendargent mare, those efforts in sprints have to be commended and there's every chance Betty Clover will improve again for the step up to seven furlongs.

simmering ascot — Betty Clover (left) finishing second to Simmering in the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot. (Getty)

2:15pm Ayr - Scottish Champion Hurdle Tips

Plenty hold chances in this open renewal of the Scottish Champion Hurdle. I'm going to take a chance on UNDER CONTROL (16/1), who has only run four times since winning two big novices handicaps in the space of nine days back in April 2023.

After struggling in the 2023 Gerry Feilden, Under Control went on to split two Willie Mullins raiders with a fine second in the Grade Two Yorkshire Rose Hurdle at Doncaster. A plan to target the Galway Hurdle didn't pay off, as Nico De Boinville's mount finished a little one-paced back in sixth, and Under Control hasn't been seen since she was pulled up under top-weight in the Greatwood back in November.

Henderson's mare has always liked nice ground and this reduced mark of 134 sees her carry 11-2 into battle. Two mares have won this race in recent years and Under Control has enough back form to suggest that she's well-treated.

2:35pm Newbury - Greenham Stakes Tips

Read our full guide to the 2025 Greenham Stakes to find out who we fancy in this key 2000 Guineas trial.

Visit our Greenham Stakes Live Stream page if you want to watch any of Saturday's races from Newbury via a mobile device.

2:55pm Ayr - Glasgow Seafield Trophy Mares' Handicap Hurdle Tips

We all know Willie Mullins is a fantastic trainer, but his record with mares is particularly impressive, and I'm keen to side with ARMED AND FABULOUS (13/2) as Willie's raider steps right up to three miles.

Following some decent runs in bumpers, Armed And Fabulous disappointed in three novice hurdles in the autumn of 2023. After spending 450-days off the track, Patrick Mullins guided his returning mount to victory in a maiden hurdle at Newcastle back in February.

Armed And Fabulous didn't jump well and an error at the second-last seemed to have halted her momentum. Yet, Patrick managed to galvanise the favourite, who picked up again to beat a future winner by over two lengths. Brian Hayes takes the ride on Saturday and there's every chance Armed And Fabulous will have improved for that return to action.

3:12pm Newbury - Spring Cup Handicap Tips

Quick ground has resulted in a much smaller field than what usually contests this lucrative handicap. Four-year-olds have a strong recent record and I'm keen to side with COGITATE (9/1) despite a slightly underwhelming three-year-old campaign.

Charlie Hills' youngster won on debut here at Newbury in 2023 and didn't run badly when second to the classy Night Raider on his reappearance at Southwell. Cogitate then had no chance after drawing stall one in the Britannia at Royal Ascot, and pulled stall one again at Glorious Goodwood, where he could only finish eighth of 11.

Hills' four-year-old ran a much better race on his final outing of the season at Kempton, finishing a close fourth as Roi De France won a red-hot London Series Qualifier. Cogitate remains unexposed in handicap company and returns to action running off a lovely mark of 87.

3:35pm Ayr - Scottish Grand National Tips

Read our free guide to the 2025 Scottish Grand National to get the latest odds, key trends and our two against the field.

Visit our Scottish Grand National Live Stream page if you want to watch any race from Ayr via a mobile or tablet.

Verdict

ITV Racing at Ayr and Newbury

Saturday's Top ITV Racing Tips:

Bellum Justum

1:25pm Newbury

@4/1 - 5 Units

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Whistle Stop Tour

1:43pm Ayr

@4/1 - 5 Units

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Bet at BoyleSports

Homme Public

1:10pm Ayr

@6/1 - 5 Units

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Bet at Star Sports

Betty Clover E/W

2:00pm Newbury

@25/1 - 5 Units

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Bet at Coral