Haydock and Ascot Saturday Tips by Dave Stevos
Haydock and Ascot Saturday Tips: All Live ITV Races
We had to make do with a solitary winner last Sunday at Cheltenham. Ramses De Teillee, advised at 8/1, prevailed in a thrilling finish from Yala Enki. Jason The Militant ran an absolute blinder, just missing out on a place (and the win) narrowly. Defi Du Seuil clearly wasn’t right and was pulled up. Strong Glance was ridden far too aggressively and it was a head scratching ride. Jungle Junction was outclassed and needs to drop in grade. The ITV cameras are at Haydock and Ascot on Saturday and the big race of the day is the Betfair Chase. You can check out Dave Stevos’ Haydock and Ascot Saturday tips below …
Haydock and Ascot Saturday: 1.50pm – Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
Despite the poor effort from Strong Glance last weekend I am backing another Olly Murphy horse in this 19f handicap hurdle. Endlessly, a two time Novice hurdle winner on soft last season, disappointed on his first run back at Cheltenham. However, it was his seasonal return and the ground was plenty quick for him and he should be a lot more comfortable on the softer surface at Haydock. He was dropped 2lb for that last run and he runs off 123 today. I think the son of Nathaniel could be potentially well treated off that rating.
The form of his second novice win at Newcastle isn’t up to much, but his win at Ayr reads better. The horse he beat that day went on to hack up in a similar heat next time out and the 3rd (15L behind) ran well in a handicap off 108 last month. This will be just his second handicap start over timber and he should have learned plenty at Cheltenham. The booking of Paddy Brennan catches the eye too. He has yet to ride a winner for Murphy but he is 1/2 for this owner and he finished 2nd on the other ride. This race is chock full of early pace and that will suit this strong travelling hold up sort. At odds of 22/1, Endlessly is the e/w pick.
Haydock and Ascot Saturday Tips: Endlessly e/w @ 22/1 NAP (6 Places)
Ascot Saturday: 2.05pm – 1965 Chase (Grade 2)
First up at Ascot on Saturday is a 4 runner, 21f Grade 2 chase. It is a dire turnout for a nice pot and it is not a race I’ll be having a bet on. They all have claims, but if I had to pick one it would be probably be Black Corton. Bryony Frost gets on famously with this son of Laverock and he shaped nicely on his return in a handicap behind Regal Encore. Frost will likely be positive on this horse, just like she was when he won a 4 runner race at this track over 24f back in February 2018. Soft ground suits, he likes the track and he gets weight from his 3 rivals. However, as it is just win only I’ll be happy to just watch. No bet.
Haydock and Ascot Saturday: No Bet
Haydock: 2.25pm – Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
The first Graded race of the day at Haydock is this 24f handicap hurdle. A maximum field of 17 are due to go to post and it looks wide open. The one I like at a huge price is former course and distance winner Flashjack. Trained by Henry Daly, this 10yo ran a nice race on his comeback behind Unowhatimeanharry. He should strip a lot fitter with that run under his belt and underfoot conditions will suit him.
The son of Soapy Danger is in off a mark of 137 here, just 3lb above his last winning mark. That last win was over C&D last December on heavy so if there is more rain it will boost his chances even more. Michael Nolan takes the ride and he is 1/2 on board this fella. The two Irish raiders, Relegate and The Jam Man, will surely go close but Flashjack should run a rock solid race and with 6 places available a small each way bet is advised at odds of 66/1.
Haydock and Ascot Saturday Tips: Flashjack e/w @ 66/1 (6 Places)
Ascot 2.40pm – Coral Hurdle (Grade 3)
Another woeful turnout for this £40k Grade 2 hurdle with just 3 runners taking their chances. Laurina will likely go off favourite on her first run for Paul Nicholls. She is a very talented mare on her day but she needs to bounce back to form after three below par efforts. Call Me Lord ran alright on his return at Aintree and he has a fitness edge over Laurina and the other runner Song For Someone. That could make all the difference but his price isn’t tempting in the slightest. Another race that I’ll just be watching, no bet.
Haydock and Ascot Saturday Tips: No Bet
Haydock 3.00pm – Betfair Chase (Grade 1)
A field of 5 will go to post for this year’s Betfair Chase and it is a small but select field. The winners of the last three renewals are back to try and repeat the trick. The 2019 winner Lostintranslation will be hoping to retain his crown while Bristol De Mai, the winner in 2017 and 2018, will be trying to regain it. The Tizzard horse had the benefit of a run before winning this last season and he subsequently ran a massive race in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He is the joint top rated with a mark of 171 and he should appreciate the ground.
Bristol De Mai chased Lostintranslation home in this contest last year. He is having his first run of the season too, just like when he won this in 2018. I fancy him to turn the form with Lostintranslation around as he hasn’t had a prep run this time. Clan Des Obeaux has tended to need his comeback run in previous years and this race will be a stepping stone towards a hat trick bid in the King George.
Another Grade 1 winner in the field is Bellshill. He has his first start for Sandy Thomson and if he was at his very best he might have a squeak. However, he has stacks to find on the figures and connections would probably be delighted to see him finishing 3rd. I am a big fan of Thomson and I hope he runs a big race, but with just 2 places on offer, a win bet on Bristol De Mai is advised at odds of 3/1.
Haydock and Ascot Saturday Tips: Bristol De Mai win @ 3/1
Ascot 3.17pm – Handicap Chase (Class 2)
A field of 8 chasers will go to post for this 17f heat. Regular readers will be familiar with Drumconnor Lad. Trained by Adrian Keatley, this fella did us a big favour at Leopardstown last Xmas. His form has gone from strength to strength since and bar one poor run on his seasonal comeback at Market Rasen he has produced form figures of 121 since that Leopardstown victory. He is now up to a mark of 145 but there could yet be more to come on the evidence of his last win at Ayr. He beat Flowery quite handily by almost 4L off 140 with Kevin Brogan taking off 7lb.
Brogan, unsurprisingly, keeps the ride and with his claim Drumconnor Lad has to carry just 10st 5lb. That will be a big help on soft ground and 17f is probably his ideal distance. Keatley has his string in flying form and it looks as though the move across the water has rejuvenated him. I think 8/1 is a more than fair price about Drumconnor Lad and at those odds he is worth backing e/w.
Haydock and Ascot Saturday Tips: Drumconnor Lad e/w @ 8/1
Haydock 3.35pm – Stayers’ Handicap Chase (Class 3)
The finale on ITV on Saturday is this 28f handicap chase and a dozen are due to go to post. I’d love to see Perfect Candidate win this again but he is a 13yo now and he looks short enough in the betting. At the prices I’ll be taking a chance on Fortified Bay for Jennie Candlish and Sean Quinlan. This 8yo son of Makfi ran a decent enough race when 4th of 12 on his return at Carlisle. He was beat a distance for the win but the ground was bottomless and he should appreciate the better ground here.
Fortified Bay won two races last season, over 21f at Market Rasen (sft) and 23.5f at Newcastle (sft). Those wins came off 120 and 125 respectively and he is in off 130 today. The form of the Newcastle win has since been boosted by the runner up who absolutely hosed up on his next start off a 5lb higher mark.
This will only be his sixth chase start so more improvement is possible and his yard is in great form. Candlish’s last 4 runners have produced form figures of 2112 and she has had 4 winners in the past fortnight. The step up to this far is an unknown but he looked an out and out stayer when winning at Newcastle so it could well suit. Sean Quinlan gets a great tune out of this fella and at odds of 16/1 Fortified Bay is the each way pick.
