See below Andy Newton’s Saturday ITV Racing tips as it’s jumping all the way this weekend – with top-class action from Ascot, Wetherby and Down Royal.
Andy Newton’s ITV Racing Tips: Saturday 1st November 2025 – TEN Live Races From Ascot, Wetherby and Down Royal
The ITV Racing schedule is also taking in three races at the Breeders’ Cup in America on Saturday night.
But on the home front it’s jumping all the way, with TEN races being shown LIVE on Saturday afternoon from Ascot, Wetherby and Down Royal in Ireland.
At Ascot, the Sodexo Live! Gold Cup is their main event at 3:45pm – where the consistent The Changing Man is back in action.
The Charlie Hall Chase is the big contest at Wetherby at 2:57pm as trainer Paul Nicholls looks for a sixth win in the race.
While over in Ireland, the Champion Chase at Down Royal will see the two-time winner Envoi Allen back for more.
To take you through the afternoon, you can see Andy Newton’s ITV Racing tips and 1-2-3 best bets.
Plus Andy, who is a regular on the Final Furlong podcast, gives Sportscasting his daily Lucky 15 horse racing tips – including NAP, NB and Each-way picks.
Free ITV Racing Tips From Ascot On Saturday
1:30 Ascot – Underwriting Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl3 (4yo+) 2m3f ITV4
The Moore team have won two of the last eight runnings and have an interesting French recruit in Lylian – any market support should be respected.
It’s a race the Nicky Henderson yard have done well in too – winning two of the last seven, including last year – so their Don’t Tell Su (non-runner), who was formerly with Paul Nicholls, is also respected.
But NO QUESTIONS ASKED looks the safest call here, despite running down the field in the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival last time.
Prior to that had caught the eye with good runs at Huntingdon and Ludlow, while you feel chasing was always the plan for this Ben Pauling runner.
With several non-runners, the Paul Nicholls-trained Viroflay is the only other heading to post. He’s the likely favourite after running a fine second in a good Hunters’ Chase at Punchestown back in May.
But with ALL of the last 12 winners aged 7 or younger, this 8 year-old is overlooked.
🥇NO QUESTIONS ASKED
🥈LYLIAN
🥉VIROFLAY
2:05 Ascot – Byrne Group Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m1f ITV4
L’Eau du Sud is a horse I liked last season but just didn’t quite cut the mustard at the top Novice Chase table.
He can have another good season but in this handicap chase does have a big weight to shoulder (11-12), which is the worry.
Boothill won this in 2023 but has only won once since and fallen in three of his last six. While Sans Bruit is more of a spring horse for me.
However, waking up this morning – both L’Eau du Sud and Boothill are now non-runners.
And I’m just seeing a previous fancy and last year’s winner of the race – Martator is also been taken out.
So this leaves GENERAL MEDRANOas the main pick, for in-form trainer Emma Lavelle.
He was 8th in the Grand Annual at the Festival last season and behind Sans Bruit at Aintree but is 9lbs better off here.
The horse went well fresh last season – running well twice in November and is also 13lbs better off with another runner here Petit Tonnerre, who he was second to at Doncaster back in January.
Last year’s runner-up Issar d’Airy can get involved too with Freddie Mitchell claiming a handy 5lbs.
While recent Kelso winner Shakeyatailfeather looks a tad over-priced, despite being up 9lbs for that win. She gets in with just 10-2 in this better race and Harry Atkins takes off a further 7lbs.
🥇GENERAL MEDRANO
🥈ISSAR D’AIRY
🥉SHAKEYATAILFEATHER
3:10 Ascot – Lavazza Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl2 (3yo+) 1m7½f ITV4
19 of the last 21 winners of this race were aged between 4 and 6 year-olds, which might be seen as a negative for the 9 year-old Washington and 8 year-old Moveit Like Minnie, who were first and second at Chepstow last time.
Alexei ran well to be second to Celtic Dino in the Welsh Champion Hurdle and is off the same mark.
Ooh Betty is respected too, having won first time out last season and has the useful Toby McCain-Mitchell booked to claim 5lbs.
But I like the two Paul Nicholls runners here – FASOL and AFADIL, for the same owners.
Fasol ran well on debut at Chepstow in October (5th) – having been sent off favourite that day but after travelling well, just got a bit tired in the final stages.
In this better race gets in with just 10st-7lbs and jockey Freddie Keighley takes off another 7lbs – meaning he’ll have a featherweight of just 10st.
The other Nicholls runner Afadil hasn’t won in 12 but has dropped down the ratings as a result. He was also 4th in this race last year and back rated 5lbs lower.
Yes, he’s been a hard horse to win with, but a recent wind op might have helped and he’s certainly looking well-treated off a mark of 122.
Oh and also lost a shoe in this race 12 months ago – which wouldn’t have been ideal.
🥇FASOL (e/w)
🥈AFADIL
🥉OOH BETTY
3:45 Ascot – Sodexo Live! Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 3m ITV4
Bhaloo won on this card last season (1:30pm) so we know the track suits, but a lot more rain could be a worry.
The consistent THE CHANGING MAN is sure to be in the mix and his only chase win (from 12) came here at Ascot.
He’s gone well fresh in the past too and after a busy season will be better for the break.
This Tizzard runner looks the safest option in a race that cases can be made for many, but only many having question marks over the trip.
Of the rest, CD winner Henry’s Friend will be popular too, but took s a few races last season to get going.
Marble Sands is interesting if staying the trip – he won the NH Flat race on this race in 2020 and ran well on the flat last time at Goodwood (2nd) so will be fitter than most.
While, at a price we can’t ignore the 12 year-old Two For Gold, who was second in this race in 2023 and 4th last year. He’s, of course another year older, but is also rated lower in the handicap.
At 20/1+ he could sneak into the frame in a race we know he’s gone well in before.
🥇THE CHANGING MAN
🥈MARBLE SANDS
🥉TWO FOR GOLD
Free ITV Racing Tips From Wetherby On Saturday
1:15 Wetherby – Position Payout At bet365 Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl3 (4yo+ 0-125) ITV4
This can go to the Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies-trained LIGHTNING FLASH, who has impressed with wins at Perth and Chepstow.
He’s still only 5, so will have more to come and showed a great attitude the last day at Chepstow to run on well when challenged by Pure Carbon.
A 5lb rise for that looks fair and the yard like to win this race too – taking the spoils in 2024 and 2019.
Of the rest, we’ve also got the 2022 winner Ladronne back at the age of 11 and the 2021 winner Geryville.
With Ladronne liking Wetherby – form figures here 1-3-1-5-2-4-4-4-1 – a saver on him might not be the worst call.
🥇LIGHTNING FLASH
🥈LADRONNE
🥉GERYVILLE
1:50 Wetherby – bet365 Mares’ Hurdle (Listed Race) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m ITV4
Just the three runners here, which is a shame.
Still some big names on show though – including Dysart Enos, who is on a recovery mission and the Skelton-trained Kateira.
But really this should be going to last year’s Champion Hurdle winner GOLDEN ACE, who might have been a lucky hero that day but is probably not quite getting the credit she deserves.
She’s won six of her nine starts over hurdles now and certainly wasn’t disgraced when last seen running second to State Man in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle back in May.
This Jeremy Scott runner can take this before a possible tilt at the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.
🥇GOLDEN ACE
🥈KATEIRA
🥉DYSART ENOS (non-runner)
2:22 Wetherby – bet365 Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The West Yorkshire Hurdle) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 3m ITV4
Another small field here of just five runners but still a fascinating little race.
The 11 year-old Winter Fog comes over from the Willie Mullins yard as the second top-rated in the field.
But it will be disappointing if some younger legs can’t see him off.
Potters Charm did well at this time of the year last season and after a break should be ready to go again, having also had a wind op over the summer.
While STRONG LEADER is the clear top-rated (157) and comes from the in-form Olly Murphy team.
He won first time out last season, when taking the Long Distance Hurdle so the 210-day break isn’t a worry and was last seen running well in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree in April.
He’s not the most reliable, but the in-form Sean Bowen rides and looks the most likely winner still.
That said, I do think Take No Chances is a tad over-priced.
She will be fitter for a recent run at Chepstow (6th) and came on for her first run last term to win at this meeting last season too.
This Dan Skelton runner also gets weight from both Potters Charm and Strong Leader, which helps and we know this track suits.
🥇STRONG LEADER
🥈TAKE NO CHANCES
🥉POTTERS CHARM
2:57 Wetherby – bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 3m ITV4
A tricky renewal of the Charlie Hall Chase – despite there only being six runners.
Last year’s winner The Real Whacker will be looking to become the first ‘back-to-back’ winner since See More Business in 1999 and 2000.
A recent spin over hurdles (2nd) will have him spot-on for his title defence.
But this does look a harder race than last year with 2023 King George winner Hewick, Protektorat and Pic D’orhy in the field.
Hewick will be hoping there is no more rain and if so will be dangerous – he won over hurdles recently at Thurles but hasn’t won over fences since that King George win.
Protektorat would have be looking to give trainer Dan Skelton a first win in the Charlie Hall and looks the likely favourite. But is now a non-runner.
Paul Nicholls Has Won The Charlie Hall Chase FIVE Times
PIC D’ORHY will be hoping to give trainer Paul Nicholls a sixth win in the race and he’s reported him in fine order for this.
He’s another that’s gone well fresh before (won first time out for the last four seasons), but does have to give 6lbs to Hewick and Protektorat – five of his chase wins have come at Ascot.
That said, this front-runner could easily lead them a merry dance out from the off – it’s just if he’ll last out as this will be the furthest he’s gone trip-wise.
Of the rest, Djelo is respected too – he beat Protektorat in the Peterborough Chase last season by 6 lengths but is now 9lbs worse off – which makes his chance harder.
But he’s still only 7 (the youngest in the field) and might just have the more improvement to come.
Pic D’Orhy is still the call though and can become the oldest Charlie Hall winner (10) since Grey Abbey in 2004.
🥇PIC D’ORHY
🥈DJELO
🥉THE REAL WHACKER
WATCH: The Real Whacker Winning The Charlie Hall Chase in 2024
3:30 Wetherby – Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap Hurdle Cl3 (3yo+ 0-130) 2m ITV4
Not a race to get too involved in – but it’s hard to ignore the good form of the Olly Murphy yard at the moment – they had intended to run the 9 year-old Go Dante, but has been scratched.
But 9 of the last 11 winners of this race were aged 4-6 years-old, while 10 of the last 11 carried 11st+
With those stats in mind, the Alan King-trained 5 year-old DON’T MIND IF I DO would have ticked a lot of boxes – but is yet another non-runner on the day.
Proven CD winner Max Of Stars is respected too and it’s interesting that trainer Pam Sly also has a runner.
The former 1000 Guineas winning handler won this race twice with Fransham in 2019 and 2020 and tries again with Takeit Easy.
Of the rest, the consistent Saligo Bay was only two lengths behind Max Of Stars last time at Wetherby and is 2lbs better off this time.
He looks sure to be involved from the Sam England team.
🥇TAKEIT EASY (e/w)
🥈SALIGO BAY
🥉MAX OF STARS
Free ITV Racing Tips From Down Royal On Saturday
2:40 Down Royal (Ire) – BetVictor Champion Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+) 3m ITV4
The improver in the field looks to be Western Fold, who has won this last four for Gordon Elliott – but is taking on the big boys here and it’s interesting jockey Danny Gilligan prefers Stellar Story.
Spillane’s Tower ran a blinder in the John Durkan Memorial Chase last season but hasn’t really kicked on from that – being a beaten jolly in the King George and has also never run at Down Royal.
Found A Fifty is the top-rated in the line-up, is a proven course winner too but the step up to 3m is the unknown.
So this could be left to a horse we know loves this race and adores this track – ENVOI ALLEN.
He’s won this prize twice in the past 2022 and 2024, while his overall form here at Down Royal is nothing short of sensational – 1-1-1-1-2-1.
Yes, he’s now aged 11, but is still fairly lightly-raced for his age (29 races) and we know he’s a good horse to catch after a break – winning first time out in five of the last six seasons.
🥇ENVOI ALLEN
🥈STELLAR STORY
🥉FOUND A FIFTY
