2025 Lingfield & Ascot Saturday Preview

Last weekend didn’t go too badly at all. We had a nice 12/1 winner in the Thirsk Hunt Cup with Flight Plan, Betty Clover was mugged for us at 11s and our NB She’s Quality got second at 16s. Unfortunately, the lack of early pace did for Wimbledon Hawkeye (and Field Of Gold, whose jockey has been very harshly treated…again). Hopefully we can nick another winner or two this weekend, Dave Stevos’ 2025 Lingfield & Ascot Saturday preview is below.

1.15 Lingfield – Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes (Listed)

This is not a race that usually attracts a big field but to see just three horses declared is quite shocking. Normally, you’d have between 6-9 runners but this year there has been a diabolical turnout.

The 96 rated Giselle is 2/7 to win and she should do, but really fast ground is an unknown. She lacks a run too and also wears a hood for the first time and if she had to face more than two opponents, I’d be looking to take her on. However, Ballydoyle mopped up all the pattern races at Chester on Wednesday and Thursday and that theme is probably going to continue.

Love Talk is probably best on testing ground and Harpsichord hasn’t even raced on turf before. One thing is for certain though, all three fillies will be picking up precious black type so while it may not be a brilliant race for punters, the breeders will certainly be going home happy. No bet.

2025 Lingfield & Ascot Saturday Tip: No Bet

1.35 Haydock – Swinton Handicap Hurdle (Premier)

Just when I thought the jumps were gone and it was safe to go back in the water….up pops the Swinton. The one I am taking a chance on here is the rag, Lunar Sovereign. Chalked up at 33/1, Brian Hughes will ride this son of Dubawi for Sophie Leech. He shaped with promise off this mark at Cheltenham last time on his second start for this stable and given how well he ran in this race in 2023 for Dan Skelton, I am hoping he can repeat the trick off a much lower mark.

In that 2023 renewal Lunar Sovereign was beaten 6l into fourth of 17 behind Black Poppy off a mark of 122. He is back to try again off 114, so the handicapper has given him a real chance. He failed to reproduce that level of form in 2024 for Skelton and Leech splashed out the princely sum of three grand to buy him at the sales last July.

I would have had this race in mind for him if he were mine and the fact that Leech has booked Brian Hughes suggests she thinks this horse will be competitive. He has had six rides in total for the yard, finishing in the first three five times and winning twice. Hopefully he can steer Lunar Sovereign into the money at odds of 33/1.

2025 Haydock Saturday Tip: Lunar Sovereign e/w @ 33/1 (5 places)

2.40 Ascot – Victoria Cup Handicap (Premier)

Off a mark of 107 with Joe Leavy claiming 3lb, surely my nemesis Witch Hunter is overpriced here at odds of 22/1. This is a horse that has broken my heart in the last couple of years. I tipped him up for the Lincoln in 2023 and he finished last. On his next start he was beaten a short head at 14/1.

Two runs later I tipped him at Haydock and he finished second last. On his next start at Chester he finished second at 50/1 and then two runs after that he won at Royal Ascot at 50/1, and I didn’t put him up on either occasion.

However, we finally got rewarded for our loyalty in 2024 when we backed him at 66s in the Lockinge and he grabbed the place money in third. On his final start of 2024 he ran a blinder in Balmoral here over 1m off 109 and while he was disappointing in first time blinkers in a 1m listed here last month, he shaped as though retaining plenty of ability when beaten 0.75l in a listed race at Wolves in March three runs ago.

The blinkers are left off here and he is effectively 5lb lower than when running so well in the Balmoral thanks to Leavy’s 3lb claim. 7f on quick ground is what he wants and once he doesn’t miss the break by too much, Witch Hunter can hopefully finish fast and late for place money at odds of 22/1.

2025 Lingfield & Ascot Saturday Tip: Witch Hunter e/w @ 22/1 (5 places) NAP

3.00 Lingfield – Derby Trial Stakes (Listed)

This may not be a great producer of Derby winners, but it has been won by some pretty decent animals over the years. In 2019 the ill-fated Anthony Van Dyck did the double, only the ninth horse since 1932 to do so. In 2021 Adayar finished second before going on to win the big one so it is still a race worth noting.

Aidan O’Brien has won it six times since 2008, his most recent victor being United Nations in 2022. We managed to find the winner with Third Realm in 2021 so hopefully we can repeat the trick. O’Brien runs two this year and Ryan Moore prefers the more experienced and top rated Puppet Master, who is 13/8. He ran on well over 10f at Leopardstown last month and the son of Camelot should be well suited by the step up in trip.

Bigger Odds

At bigger prices, the interesting one is Nightime Dancer. By Ghaiyyath, a dual G1 winner at 1m4f, and out of a Sea The Stars dam who is from the family of Dubai Millenium, this colt got off the mark at the second attempt in a 12f novice on the AW at Southwell. It took him a while to hit top gear but when he did, he ran on strongly to score by almost 2l.

He ran well on his sole start on turf at two, keeping on for a 2.5l third in a 7f Newmarket novice on good ground. He had the now 95 rated Noble Champion behind him in fifth so there is a bit of substance to that form,  hopefully he will be just as effective back on turf as he was on the AW last time. At odds of 14/1, Nightime Dancer is the e/w selection.

2025 Lingfield & Ascot Saturday Tip: Nightime Dancer e/w @ 14/1

3.15 Ascot – Peroni 0% Handicap (Class 3)

The interesting one at a price in this class 3 handicap is the Anthony Charlton trained Victory Shout. A two-time winner on fast ground for Karl Burke, he last scored in a 1m4f Hamilton handicap off 85 last July.

Since joining this yard he has run three times. Pulled up on soft ground in a Grade 2 hurdle at Cheltenham in January, he ran much better the next twice back on the flat on the AW at Southwell when beaten 3.25l into second off 88 and at Kempton when beaten 5l into sixth off a pound higher.

He has since been gelded and he now returns to turf off the same mark, just 3lb above his last win. The booking of Sam James is a plus as he has form figures of 1221 when riding this son of Frankel, as is the form of Anthony Charlton, who has sent out a winner and a second from his last three runners. At odds of 20/1, Victory Shout is worth chancing e/w.

2025 Lingfield & Ascot Saturday Tip: Victory Shout e/w @ 20/1 (4 places) NB

-DaveStevos