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Dave Nevison's Saturday tips: best bets at Kelso and Doncaster
By Dave Nevison
Last Updated: Sat 1 Mar 2025
Top tipster Dave Nevison shares his selections for Saturday's action across Kelso and Doncaster, which includes a strong each-way bet in the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle (3.30), live on Racing TV.
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2.20 Kelso: Inox Allen
Dave Nevison
Finished: 7thSP: 18/1
Inox Allen has been beaten a distance in two runs over three miles at Haydock on two of his past four outings. He was also been beaten a fair way at Newcastle last year, but did run quite well in a small-field chase at Uttoxeter in November over fences.
He does not boast the most inspiring recent profile, but I believe there are still grounds for a positive view about his chances here.
Haydock's stamina-sapping ground causes most horses to tire quickly and they often come home at wide intervals, but Inox Allen ran well to a point in both contests.
Lucinda Russell drops him back down in trip here, and her charge now races off a rating of 121, so with the stable in excellent form, I think a better performance looks likely.
3.15 Doncaster: Erne River
Dave Nevison
Finished: 4thSP: 14/1
In a contest that is wide open, Erne River only really needs to show his customary Doncaster form to sneak into to a place here (I'll be backing him with a bookmaker offering extra places).
He has won twice over fences at Doncaster, and once over hurdles plus Charlie Hammond, who has guided Erne River to all of his victories under rules, is back aboard on Saturday.
Erne River showed his first piece of form this season when fourth last time out and it looks like he may now be very well suited by this staying test based on the way he was staying on at one pace.
The handicapper has been quite slow in dropping Erne River since his latest win in 2023, but he is now 4lb below his last winning mark, and ran well enough last time to suggest he can go close again soon.
Most of Nick Kent's team are going well, even though he hasn’t yet had a winner in 2025, and I am hopeful of a good run at a decent price from this ten-year-old.
3.30 Kelso: Favour And Fortune
Dave Nevison
Finished: 12thSP: 6/1
I have to stick with Alan King’s contender, even though he never looked like landing the win part of my each-way bet in the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury last time out. He travelled well enough throughout, though, so the place element always looked safe!
That contest is probably the strongest handicap ahead of the Cheltenham Festival every year, and this year's renewal looks no different, so Favour And Fortune will appreciate this slight drop in grade, even under top weight.
Who knows how much improvement Emmet Mullins has got out of eight-year-old mare Vischio, but the British handicapper has given her a stone for her win in a Listed Mares Handicap Hurdle last time out, which certainly makes things tougher for her, and 7-2 is too short for me.
Alan King’s charge looks primed to hit his very top form after two runs this season, and the slightly better ground might help. He looks an each-way bet to nothing, at least.
3.45 Newbury: Iroko
*This race is Iroko's second preference, and the seven-year-old is set to run in the bet365 Premier Chase at Kelso (1.45), live on Racing TV.*
The weights for the Randox Grand National are out now, and Iroko’s mark won’t change no matter what happens in this contest.
I am certainly not the only one who believed he might have been able to get closer last time out, and that Iroko is a well-handicapped horse.
He was good enough to run with real credit in Grade One novice chases last season and definitely looks to have a big race in him. It is quite possible this distance could be short of his best these days, but I think he may have almost won last time out had he been asked for maximum effort.
This could be the race to put him spot on for Aintree.
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