2020 Ascot Saturday Tips For ITV4 Live Races

Our struggles unfortunately continued last weekend at Newbury. Versatility was well backed but ran no sort of race. I am still scratching my head as to how he ran so poorly. I thought Altior was class and while yes, he hit a flat spot, none of the 2 mile chasers have the turn of foot he showed after jumping the last. He will win the Champion Chase at Cheltenham again and he will hopefully go off odds against. I thought Nelson River ran alright and he had no excuses. Perhaps connections are lining him up for something like the County Hurdle in March. We are back for more punishment today, check out Dave Stevos’ 2020 Ascot Saturday tips for live ITV races below…

2020 Ascot Saturday Tips: 1.50 – Reynoldstown Chase (Grade 2)

The opener on ITV today is the 3 mile Grade 2 Reynoldstown Chase for Novices. Pym is sure to be popular for Henderson and de Boinville at around 11/4. He scored by 3L in a soft ground C&D handicap off 137 back in November. Pym then followed up with a facile win in a Class 2 Novice Chase at Cheltenham (25f gd/sft). The ground is currently described as soft, heavy in places, at Ascot but with showers forecast it is likely to deteriorate.

That may not be to Pym’s liking ( a big defeat his only run on heavy ground) but one horse that will relish any rain that falls is Sam Brown. Anthony Honeyball’s string continues to sparkle and 2 of his last 6 runners were winners. This son of Black Sam Bellamy loves when the mud is flying. He is 3/3 on heavy ground (2/2 chasing).

He hosed up in a 24f Novice at Lingfield on his return from 2 years off and then followed up with a 15L romp in a 20f Grade at Haydock, both on bottomless ground. If he can cut out the errors like he made 3 out last time, he is capable of leading these on a merry dance. I don’t like tipping favourites but Sam Brown is the most likely winner, especially if the ground is very testing. At odds of 9/4 he is the selection.

ASCOT SATURDAY TIPS: SAM BROWN WIN @ 9/4 NB

2020 Ascot Saturday Racing Tips: 2.25 – Swinley Handicap Chase (Listed)

This Listed Handicap Chase has attracted a field of 8 and it is an open little race. Rapid improver Domaine De L’Isle goes in search of a four timer off 26lb higher than for the first of those wins. He scored over shorter here on heavy last time and stepping back up to 3 miles could help eke out a bit more from him. It will need to though as this represents his toughest test yet. Ballyoptic looks fairly handicapped and was running a blinder when falling at the last on his only previous run at Ascot.

At a price, Like The Sound could go well here. He stays further than 3 miles and he got outpaced over this trip on good to soft on his last visit to Ascot. However, on heavy ground 3 miles should suit him well, especially if you consider how strongly he travelled and how weakly he finished at Cheltenham last time over 2f further. He won his maiden hurdle on heavy (20f) by making all. Perhaps Paddy Brennan could adopt similar tactics here. Off a nice racing weight and the same mark as last time, Like The Sound could go well at odds of 16/1 for e/w players.

2020 ASCOT SATURDAY RACING TIPS: LIKE THE SOUND E/W @ 20/1

2020 Ascot Saturday Racing Tips: 3.00 – Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)

We all have cliff horses and I am not ashamed to admit Garo De Juilley is one of mine. Trained by Sophie Leech, this son of Ungaro has had his last five starts over fences. He has run in a couple of Grade 2s, including one at Cheltenham on heavy (20f) when he chased home Slate House. His last win came at Chepstow back in October 2018 (19.5f gd) in a Grade 3 handicap hurdle off 134. He subsequently ran well next time at Haydock when beat 5L off 138 (19f gd).

Garo De Juilley was then pitched into the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at this track (soft). He ran a more than respectable race behind the imperious Paisley Park (6th of 11 beat 13L). That earned him an RPR of 140, equalling what he achieved on heavy behind Slate House. He races off a mark of just 132 here. On that run in the Long Walk he looks very well handicapped. Paddy Brennan is back on board and at odds of 14/1 he looks well worth following headlong over the cliff just one more time. Garo De Juilley is the e/w NAP of the day. 

2020 ASCOT SATURDAY RACING TIPS: GARO DE JUILLEY E/W @ 14/1 NAP (5 PLACES CORAL)

Ascot Racing Tips: 3.35pm – Betfair Ascot Chase (Grade 1)

The supposed highlight at Ascot on Saturday is the Grade 1 Ascot Chase. However, just four go to post and as far as betting goes, it is a non-runner. Cyrname has a rating of 177, 13lb higher than his nearest rival. Off level weights he should be winning this 21f contest doing handstands. He just didn’t stay 3 miles in the King George but a small field like this over a shorter trip should play more to his strengths.

However, if it comes up heavy that might be an issue for Cyrname. He has yet to race on very testing ground and he did look laboured on soft last time at Kempton over 24f. Ridersonthestorm will relish it if the mud is flying and he won on heavy over C&D last time. He is a strong traveller suited by a strong pace so theoretically at least, Cyrname should ensure he gets the race run to suit. I can’t see Janika being good enough, and Traffic Fluide would prefer better ground. Ridersonthestorm looks the value if it is bottomless, otherwise Cyrname should win. At the prices I will be sitting this one out.

2020 ASCOT SATURDAY TIPS: NO BET