Andy Newton’s ITV Racing Tips: Saturday Best Bets From Ascot, Haydock and Punchestown

1:30 Ascot – Ladbrokes 1965 Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m5f ITV

Some big names on show here, including last year’s King George VI Chase runner up Il Est Francais, who is the top-rated and also gets weight from most.

We can expect his normal bold front-running style and has gone well fresh in the past – has won first time out for the last three seasons.

But this will also be his first trip to Ascot and having been a ‘bleeder’ in the past, I’m just not sure.

Whereas it certainly won’t be the first run at the track for the winner of this race for the last two seasons – PIC D’ORHY. 

This Paul Nicholls chaser has also had the benefit of a recent run, when a close second to Djelo in the Charlie Hall Chase – plus the yard love this race.

Nicholls has won four of the last seven and the pot ten times in the last 22 runnings.

Pic D’Orhy Was Won His Last FOUR At Ascot 

Yes, it won’t be easy giving 6lbs to Il Est Francais, but I’ll take the current champ to extend that record with a horse we know loves this contest.

His recent runs at Ascot read 1-2-1-1-1-1.

Of the rest, after a good second in the Old Roan Chase, Master Chewy could nick some place money.

But Gidleigh Park can go well too – having won a decent Grade Two Chase at Windsor back in January.

And was last seen running Impaire Et Passe to 1 1/4 lengths at Aintree in April. The niggle with him would be the trip, especially in likely soft ground.

While last year’s Arkle winner Jango Baie is certainly of interest now up in trip.

It was probably not the best Arkle he won but has only had four chase run (two wins) and after a recent wind op could have a big season ahead for the Henderson yard who have won this race five times.

🥇PIC D’ORHY
🥈JANGO BAIE
🥉GIDLEIGH PARK

2:40 Ascot – Ladbrokes Ascot Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Ascot Hurdle) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m3½f ITV

Potters Charm was exiting last season for the Twiston-Davies team but seems to have lost his way a bit since – and was last seen falling in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby.

Kateira beat a very unfit-looking Golden Ace last time so that didn’t really tell us a lot but she does represent the in-form Dan Skelton team.

Celtic Dino is respected too after his Welsh Champion Hurdle win and that form has been franked since with the runner-up Alexei winning last Sunday’s Greatwood Hurdle.

This Sam Thomas runner is up in trip here too – which will be the furthest he’s gone, so some unknowns here.

But it won’t be easy having to give 7lbs away to the promising Gordon Elliott mare WODHOOH, who also rated 10lbs higher.

Meaning if these horses run to form, last season’s Martin Pipe Cheltenham Festival winner has 17lbs in-hand.

Plus is only aged five and could even have more to come.

CD winners Crambo and Altobelli are others that have place claims at a venue we know suits.

With the last-named of that pair having Ascot form that reads 2-3-1-1.

But the fact Elliott is send Wodhooh over here suggests he’s ready to rumble and looks one of the bankers of the weekend.

🥇WODHOOH
🥈CELTIC DINO 
🥉ALTOBELLI

3:15 Ascot – Castello Banfi Hurst Park Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m1f ITV

Teddy Blue is up 4lbs for his 3/4 length beaten of Gabriel’s Getaway here earlier this month and with only 2lbs difference this time shouldn’t be a lot in it again.

You feel Haldon Gold Cup third JPR One will be better for that run at Exeter and the Tizzard camp are in fine fettle – he can do better and is down two pounds.

But we’ve also got last year’s first and second – MARTATOR and Kotmask back this year – and it could be more of the same.

Martator is actually rated a pound lower now than 12 months ago after losing his way a big since – and had Ned Fox claiming 5lbs last year.

But is ‘three-from-four’ here at Ascot and will be another that will be better for a recent spin in the Haldon Gold Cup (fifth).

Ned Fox rides again too (claims five pounds) and there are small signs the Venetia Williams horses are running into form, at a time of the year we know she often does well at.

They also have a stonking 40% SR with their chasers here at Ascot. You feel this would have been the plan during this early part of the season.

Last year’s second Kotmask has also shown a liking for Ascot and blew away the cobwebs at Fontwell at the end of last month.

He’s only a pound higher than last year and could get in here with a much lower racing weight than last year.

🥇MARTATOR
🥈KOTMASK
🥉JPR ONE 

Haydock ITV Racing Tips: Take On Grey Dawning In Betfair Chase 

1:15 Haydock – Betfair Racing Podcasts Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m3f ITV

Florida Dreams and The Four Sixes head here in good heart too after a second at Carlisle and a win at Wetherby.

The last-named won over fences last time too and is back over hurdles today on the same mark and has a fairly decent jockey (ha, ha) in Sean Bowen riding.

But Florida Dreams is also a tad frustrating – with no wins in his last eight now.

While The Four Sixes beat Florida Dreams by six lengths at Ayr in April and is only 3lbs worse off. For me, he should uphold that form.

Andashan ran well on his return (third) at Newbury too, but the one I think that has most still to come is KABRAL DU MATHAN.

This five year-old has been moved from the Paul Nicholls yard to Dan Skelton and you feel he’ll be looking to hit the ground running with him.

He’s won 50% of this six starts for Nicholls last season and ended with a close second in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr in April.

Yes, that last race probably wasn’t the strongest renewal and the form has taken some knocks since. But I still think there is more to come from Kabral.

The horse also won first time out at Kempton last season, so goes well fresh and 10 of the last 13 winners of this have been won by a five or six year-old.

Take Kabral Du Mathan to get off the mark at the first time of asking for the Skeltons.

🥇KABRAL DU MATHAN
🥈THE FOUR SIXES 
🥉FLORIDA DREAMS 

1:50 Haydock – Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m5½f ITV

Some well-known faces here – including Grand National fourth Iroko, who you feel will have that race on his radar again come April – where he’s already favourite.

This JP McManus runner has been a tad frustrating though, with only one win from his last eight over fences and might just have some bigger staying targets later in the season.

However, he was a close second in this last season and being another year older and wiser has to be respected.

That said, with the National surely on the radar – I’m not sure his handicap mark would be done any favours with an easy win here.

Great To See The Jukebox Man ‘On Song’

But it’s also great to see The Jukebox Man back on the track today after last seen winning the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

That win made it two-from-two over fences and with the Ben Pauling yard in good order at the moment THE JUKEBOX MAN is the call to hit the right notes again before setting his sights on slightly better races.

Yes, Pauling has said the horse might just need this with the King George or other races on the agenda – but I still think a 80-90% fit Jukebox might be good enough here with questions over the others.

Butch also looks the sort to have more to come over fences with just two starts over fences, but will love the ground, has a fair record fresh and Sean Bowen rides.

He’s gutsy too and is surely overpriced if you are looking for something away from The Jukebox Man.

While it’s a race trainer Paul Nicholls has a top record in – winning seven of the last eleven runnings, so despite not running for 742 days his Knappers Hill is one for the radar.

But has done the bulk of his racing over hurdles (seven wins) and has only raced twice over fences (one win) – the betting will be a good guide to his chance.

In what would be some training performance.

🥇THE JUKEBOX MAN
🥈BUTCH 
🥉IROKO 

2:25 Haydock – Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 3m½f ITV

With 17 of the last 20 winners of this race aged between five and seven – this is a decent stat to note.

Most will fit the bill, but the eight year-old Joyeux Machin and last year’s winner nine year-old winner Shoot First don’t.

Shoot First is back rated 6lbs higher this time and hasn’t won since (three runs), but coming from the shrewd Charles Byrnes yard it’s hard to totally rule him out.

That said, despite this age stat against him – Joyeux Machin has had a wind op and it’s interesting the Skelton camp have booked Harry Atkins to claim 7lbs.

Ace Of Spades won well at Aintree last time and is only up 3lbs. Horaces Pearl won first time out last season and is noted too.

Could Emma Lavelle Have Another Paisley Park?

Ma Shantou was certainly impressive when winning at Cheltenham in October, plus recorded a good time and many are predicting better things for this six year-old.

The Emma Lavelle yard won this with Paisley Park in 2018 and despite there being a long way to go to get to those heights – could be on the right path.

He’s up 9lbs though and my slight niggle is the third and fourth behind him last time (Supremely West and Long Draw) didn’t run as well at Prestbury Park last week – albeit on softer ground.

So, the call is HARTINGDON, for the Tizzard team that continue in fair form.

This grey won well at Carlisle last time with Florida Dreams in second but is only up 3lbs and gets in here with 10st 3lbs.

But he stayed on well the last day over 2m4f, to suggest this step up to 3m 1/2f could eke out more.

Plus is by Jukebox Jury, who tend to get better over longer.

Sean Bowen takes over from Brendan Powell as he’s at Ascot – so not a bad sub, hey?

🥇HARTINGDON
🥈MA SHANTOU 
🥉HORACES PEARL 

3:00 Haydock – Betfair Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Lancashire Chase) (GBB Race) Cl1 (5yo+) 3m1½f ITV

Grey Dawning looks the one to beat and is the clear top-rated 166.

But, for me, does look short enough with a several things to cling to for those that want to take him on.

Firstly, he’s only one-from-six in Grade One races and was beaten in the race last year.

Any more rain would also put his stamina in question for me – I think he stays, but not so much if the ground is really soft.

And finally, has been beaten on his first run back for the last three seasons.

There are three decent Betfair Chase tips away from Grey Dawning too.

Handstands will be better for a recent second at Carlisle – but I’m not 100% sure over this longer trip and might have wanted it softer.

Royale Pagaille Looking For Third Straight Betfair Chase Win

So that leaves me with my old pal ROYALE PAGAILLE, who I’ve banged on about for the last two years in this race – and been right.

But he’s 11 now and would be the joint oldest winner with Kauto Star (2011) – that said, we know he loves Haydock (five chase wins here).

There is also HAITI COULEURS in here and even though he’s got 12lbs to find with Grey Dawning, I’m not sure there is that much between them.

He was a good winner of the Irish Grand National last season and the NH Chase at the Festival, plus will be fitter than some after a win over hurdles recently.

Sean Bowen rides again and I we know he’ll stay and he fine on the ground.

In short, he’s certainly the big potential improver in the race – whereas we pretty much know where we are with the rest (bar Handstands)

It’s a tricky call for me here – so maybe we just lay Grey Dawning – who, as I say, looks poor value to me.

Then hope for more improvement from Haiti or Pagaille to bring the roof down.

🥇HAITI COULEURS
🥈ROYALE PAGAILLE
🥉GREY DAWNING 

WATCH: Haiti Couleurs Winning The 2025 Irish Grand National 

WATCH: Royale Pagaille Winning The 2024 Betfair Chase 

Punchestown ITV Racing Tips: Penalty Kick For Lossiemouth

2:10 Punchestown – Unibet Morgiana Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+) 2m 1/2f ITV

So, we weren’t expecting this – were we?

Anzadam was the horse everyone thought Mullins would be running here, but it turns out something has not quite sparked with him and instead LOSSIEMOUTH goes here instead of the Hatton’s Grace, a race she won last year.

Those against her might look to the trip as many feel she’s better over 2m4f.

But this is a tester for a tilt at the Champion Hurdle surely – and hopefully a good run here and we can end all the ‘will she, won’t she run’ nonsense for the next four months.

Lossiemouth is a mare I love, and I really do hope she goes in the Champion Hurdle – we know she’ll win the Mares’ Hurdle with ease.

So – come on Rich Ricci we also know you’d love to land another Champion Hurdle.

She’s around 7/2 in the Champion Hurdle market and a win here will see that price come in a tad more.

This is also a race Ricci has done well in before – winning it twice with Sharjah, plus with Saldier and, of course, the mighty Faugheen.

Yes, Irancy will set a fair standard for Lossiemouth, having won the Grade One Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.

But that meeting often throws up strange results and it was clearly a race too many last season there for Kopek Des Bordes and Salvator Mundi.

He can still take the silver here and we’ll see where he ends up after this, but this race is all about one horse – Lossiemouth.

Who can not only win – but also hopefully put to bed finally her Cheltenham target – thank god!

🥇LOSSIEMOUTH
🥈IRANCY 
🥉NDAAWI