Haydock and Ascot Saturday Tips by Dave Stevos
Haydock and Ascot Saturday ITV4 Racing Tips
Last week was almost a complete write off. Golan Fortune was running a big race until a late jumping error cost him any chance. Oscars Leader ran a stinker and Pure Bliss was extremely disappointing too. Chidswell was only out for a spin and he didn’t run too badly at all. Petite Power never raised a gallop and Chosen Port wasn’t up to the task either. Mr Harp did at least manage to nick some place money and with a better ride he may have won. The big race of the weekend is the Clarence House Chase at Ascot while Buveur D’Air makes his long awaited return at Haydock. Check out Dave Stevos’ Haydock and Ascot Saturday tips for all live ITV races below…
Haydock and Ascot Saturday: 1.15: Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
A five runner, 23.5f Grade 2 for the mares kicks off the live action on ITV4 this Saturday. The ground is soft, heavy in places and last year’s winner Magic Of Light is back to defend her crown in a race she has won for the past two seasons. Jessica Harrington’s versatile mare looked as good as ever last time at Newbury (23f sft). The 10yo is probably best on better ground than this but she handles it fine.
Her main rival in the market is Roksana for the Skeltons. She ran a blinder last time out when just 2L behind Paisley Park at this track (24.5f hvy) and the bookies have made her favourite for today’s race. On ratings she should win but Magic Of Light won’t go down without a fight.
Message Could Nick Black Type
Eglantine Du Seuil made a welcome return to form at Cheltenham last time (20f sft). The former festival winner was beat 2L off 143 in a mares’ handicap and she will need to improve on that to feature here. Maybe the step up in trip will help her but I am not so sure. Coded Message will definitely stay and she could well beat Eglantine Du Seuil for 3rd.
She ran a nice race at Kempton last time and she has won on heavy ground. However, she was over 7L behind Magic Of Light in this last season and the best she can hope for is some black type in 3rd. Coded Message should outrun her odds but with Midnight Tune a doubtful runner this could be a win only affair and I am going to sit it out. No bet.
Haydock and Ascot Saturday Tip: No Bet
1.30 Haydock: Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
Another Grade 2, this time over 15.5f, and another poor turnout with just 5 horses declared. The going will be extremely testing at Haydock and hopefully it passes an early inspection. Llandinabo Lad is the current favourite for Tom Symonds and Nico De Boinville. Symonds has had a superb season so far and this horse has run three solid races this term.
His reappearance novice hurdle win at Bangor (16.5f sft) has worked out really well (Minella Drama 5L behind in 2nd). He followed that up with a decisive win in a Listed heat at Haydock (15.5f sft). He ran a huge race in defeat upped to this level at Ascot last time out (15.5f sft) and he has earned an official rating of 141. Llandinabo Lad does have to carry more weight than his rivals though and that is not ideal on ground this demanding. His sole heavy ground start resulted in defeat.
Can Minella Strike For McCain?
On paper Minella Drama looks the biggest danger to the market leader. Donald McCain’s charge dotted up in a novice at Bangor last time and the horse he beat won by 18L next time out. He proved no match for Llandinabo Lad when they met at that track on his seasonal return but he was giving that rival 5lb that day and this time he gets 5lb. A 10lb swing is very substantial and he has improved since that race. He will surely make a very bold bid from the front and unlike the fav, he has winning form on heavy ground.
Nada To Prada will love the ground too and she was a Listed winner against her own sex last time. That came over 19f on heavy at this course and she has won both starts over 16f on heavy. Those came in a bumper and a maiden hurdle though and this is undoubtedly the toughest assignment of her career to date.
Love A Lively Outsider
One to keep a close eye on is Jamie Snowden’s Anythingforlove. This daughter of Black Sam Bellamy is a half sister to Gold Cup winner Sizing John. He was also an excellent horse over 2 miles and this mare is unlucky not to be unbeaten coming into this race. Her sole defeat came when Gavin Sheehan had to ride almost an entire race with no stirrups but otherwise she has been flawless. She is 2/2 on heavy ground, 2/2 in bumpers and 2/3 over hurdles.
This mare won well last time out but her jumping was far from fluent on a number of occasions. She put in a couple of iffy leaps when winning easily at Lingfield too so that has to be a negative. However, she clearly has an engine, she is exceedingly well bred and there are no worries regarding ground. A rating of 122 may underestimate her and she gets a nice bit of weight from her rivals. At odds of 10/1 a small each way interest is advised.
Haydock and Ascot Saturday Tip: Anythingforlove e/w @ 10/1
1.50 Ascot: Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
A dozen will go to post for this Grade 3 handicap hurdle and it looks a tricky race for punters. Former C&D winner Nordano is an interesting contender at a big price. Neil King’s son of Jukebox Jury is rated 138, 11lb higher than he was when winning by 16L here last February. Things haven’t quite gone to plan since but the return to this sort of trip and this track are causes for optimism.
He has run three times since that easy win and one of those outings came on the flat on his return to action in October (18f sft). He likely needed the run badly that day and good ground was no use to him on his first run back over hurdles at Cheltenham.
Nordano again finished well down the field last time out at Chepstow but the 23.5f trip was too far for the 5yo. This distance will suit much better, as will the very testing conditions. Nordano has form figures of 21 at Ascot, the 2nd coming behind Goshen on heavy ground.
The booking of Jamie Moore also catches the eye. He has had 35 rides for this yard, yielding 5 wins and 13 top 4 finishes. Given his last couple of runs it is hard to be too bullish about this horse but given his fine course record and his liking for heavy ground, at odds of 28/1 he is worth chancing each way for small stakes.
Haydock and Ascot Saturday Tip: Nordano e/w @ 28/1 (4 Places)
2.10 Taunton: Portman Cup Chase (Class 2)
We get to watch a rare race from Taunton live on ITV4 this Saturday. A field of 7 stayers will line up at the start for this 28.5f Class 2 chase and bundles of stamina will be required. Yala Enki has no worries in that department and he is odds on for Nicholls and Frost. He ran a massive race in the Welsh National and he is top rated here. The big worry is whether this race may come too soon for him after that herculean effort. It is only two weeks since that contest and at the odds I would prefer to look elsewhere for a bet.
Don To Relish Trip
The one I like upped markedly in distance is The Mighty Don. This fella was very useful over hurdles and he is just as good over the bigger obstacles. He has failed to complete on a number of occasions in the past but this season his jumping has improved markedly. The son of Shantou has shaped like an out and out stayer in his last two starts. He stayed on strongly on soft ground for 3rd at Exeter two runs back and it was the same story on good to soft at Cheltenham last time out.
This will be his first go at a trip this far and I think it could really suit him. His trainer evidently thinks it will play to his strengths too as he holds an entry for the Grade 2 Amateur Jockeys’ Chase over 30f at Cheltenham. He is as big as 66/1 with some firms for that race but if he can win or run well in this those odds are likely to shorten. If he can put in a clear round I think he could go very close and at odds of 11/1 The Mighty Don is the each way selection.
Taunton Saturday Tip: The Mighty Don e/w @ 11/1 NAP
2.40 Haydock: Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (Grade 2)
Another high quality handicap chase and the 25.5f trip will take some getting on this ground. One horse that will enjoy the prevailing conditions and who looks handicapped to run well is Claud And Goldie for Sandy Forster and Stephen Mulqueen. This horse ran well in this race last year to finish 4th off 136, 13L behind the winner Vintage Clouds. The conditions were identical to those he will encounter tomorrow and he is back for a repeat bid off 3lb lower when you take his jockey’s claim into account (even if he is 4lb ‘wrong’ at the weights).
This 12yo is very lightly raced for his age but he has been very consistent when he has made the track. He has 2 wins and 4 places from 10 chase starts and he was only beat 2L off 135 at Kelso back in October. His trainer has likely has this race earmarked as his seasonal target and he has been freshened up since a decent effort when 4th over C&D back in November. The likes of Royal Pagaille and Sam Brown are the class horses in the race but I’m not sure how much wriggle room they have with their handicap marks. With 4 places on offer Claud And Goldie looks a solid e/w bet at odds of 18/1.
Haydock and Ascot Saturday Tips: Claud And Goldie e/w @ 18/1 NB (4 Places W Hill)
3.00 Ascot: Bet365 Handicap Chase (Class 2)
This 21f handicap chase has attracted the biggest field of the day. 14 horses will fight it out for the £32k first prize and a case can be made for quite a few of them. One that could well be laid out for this race is last year’s winner Domaine De L’Isle. Sean Curran’s son of Network has failed to reproduce that form in 5 runs since. However, that means he is racing off the same mark that he won off last season. Two of his four runs this season have come over hurdles, on good ground at Cheltenham and on heavy last time at Wetherby just 11 days ago.
He was well beat on both occasions and he had two poor chase efforts sandwiched between those runs. However, all roads have likely led back to this race for Domaine De L’Isle and David Bass is back on board for the first time since his win last season. Curran has decided to give the blinkers a try and hopefully they sharpen up his concentration and stop him from getting too far behind in the early stages. The presence of bold front runner Dashel Drasher should ensure that Domaine De L’Isle gets the type of strongly run race he relishes and at odds of 14/1 he is worth chancing each way.
Haydock and Ascot Saturday: Domaine De L’Isle e/w @ 14/1 (5 Places P Power)
3.15 Haydock: Unibet Hurdle (Grade 2)
I don’t often get excited by three runner races but this is an exception. I cannot wait to see how Buveur D’Air gets on after a long absence due to injury. Nicky Henderson’s two time Champion Hurdler is a favourite of mine and it would be wonderful to see him return to action with a victory. Now a 10yo, it is unlikely that he still possesses the turn of foot that served him so well in the past but he should have the necessary class to prevail in this contest. The son of Crillon handles heavy ground, though in my opinion he is a much better animal on a sounder surface.
His last run resulted in a short head defeat to Cornerstone Lad on heavy at Newcastle but that is when he sustained his horrific hoof injury. Clearly he will come on for this run and both Ballyandy and Navajo Pass are no mugs. However, Buveur has reportedly been working really well and he gets 6lb from Ballyandy and 3lb from Navajo Pass. On those terms he has every chance of making a winning return and I really hope he gets the job done. Odds of 8/13 make zero appeal though and this is a race to just watch and enjoy. No bet.
Haydock and Ascot Saturday: No Bet
Haydock and Ascot Saturday: 3.35: Clarence House Chase (Grade 1)
The feature race of the weekend is the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase. 8 are due to go to post and it is a fascinating renewal. Politologue is the favourite and he is on a hat-trick. He absolutely hacked up on his return to action in the Tingle Creek and he landed the Champion Chase on his previous start. Paul Nicholls’ grey is 2/3 at Ascot with both wins coming over 21f. He is usually a reliable jumper, he is an uncomplicated ride and he has all the credentials to run a massive race.
We were on Waiting Patiently e/w in the King George at 25s and he ran a blinder to grab 2nd. Frodon got first run on him but he finished with a wet sail and Brian Hughes will be kicking himself that he got his timing wrong. Ruth Jefferson has decided to take a marked drop in trip and she will be hoping that her stable star produces the type of effort that saw him finish a close 3rd in the 2019 Tingle Creek behind Defi Du Seuil. The heavy ground should help him over this distance and he is an intriguing runner.
Disappointing Defi
Up until Cheltenham last March Defi Du Seuil was viewed by many as the future 2 mile Champion Chaser. He took this race in thrilling style in 2020, beating Un De Sceaux by almost 3L. However, he ran a lifeless race in the big one at the festival and something looked badly amiss with him on his seasonal return. To produce two below par efforts like that back to back has to be a massive worry and you couldn’t have any confidence in him on the back of those runs. However, there is no denying his ability on a going day. If the real Defi Du Seuil turns up he will be a danger to all.
Flow Could Pounce For Place Money
This race looks to be between the top two in the betting as far as winning it is concerned. With doubts persisting about Defi Du Seuil 3rd could be up for grabs so hopefully there are no late non-runners. At a price it could be worth taking a chance on First Flow each way. Kim Bailey’s charge has won his last 5 and he has only finished out of the first 2 once from 10 chase starts (6 wins). He is a former course and distance winner and he will also enjoy the ground. A rating of 156 means he has a bit to find with the top 3 but if he puts in a decent round of jumping he is more than capable of challenging for place money.
