Wetherby and Ascot Saturday Tips by Dave Stevos
Wetherby and Ascot Saturday Tips: All Live ITV4 Races
On what was a mixed day last Saturday, at least we landed a nice winner. Orvar just missed out on a place and Champagne Court either blew up or didn’t stay the distance. Autumn Twilight found the going too tough and Sensulano ran a nice race before fading late on. At least Mac Swiney did the job for us, advised e/w at 18/1. He looks an out and out stayer and he’ll surely be back for the Leger in 2021. We have action from three national hunt meetings on Saturday with 9 races live on ITV4. Check out Dave Stevos’ Wetherby and Ascot Saturday tips below…
Ascot Saturday Tips: 1.20pm – Novice Handicap Chase (Class 3)
The first live race of the day on ITV4 from Ascot is this 19f handicap chase for novices. A field of 10 go to post and the ground will be just on the soft side. It is good to soft currently and with showers forecast it is unlikely to dry out. One that has the potential to go well at a decent price is Copper Coin for the Michael and Tom Scudamore. This 7yo Sulamani remains a maiden after 7 starts but he has a couple of decent placed efforts in the book.
He was a decent 3rd in a maiden hurdle on his last outing (20f gd), beat 2L by the 130 rated Minella Encore, conceding 6lb. His best previous efforts came on soft/heavy so easy ground holds no fears. This is his handicap and chase debut and he should take to the larger obstacles on pedigree. His dam was a winning chaser and his half-brother won over fences too. Michael Scudamore is flying with 3 winners from his last 5 runners and at odds of 14/1, Copper Coin is worth chancing e/w.
Wetherby and Ascot Saturday Tips: Copper Coin e/w @ 14/1
Wetherby and Ascot Saturday Tips: 1.35pm – Handicap Chase (Class 3)
A field of 12 are due to go to post for this 19.5f class 3 handicap chase. One that could go well at a nice each way price is Niven for Phil Kirby and Tommy Dowson. Formerly trained in Ireland by Noel Meade this son of Elusive Pimpernel had a run here over 15f to blow away the cobwebs last month. He was well beat but it was probably badly needed and he should strip a lot fitter now.
He is 4lb above his last winning mark of 122 and all of his jumps wins have come at the minimum distance. However, he has some cracking form in the book over 19f, including a close 2nd to Delta Work in November 2018. He ran a lovely race on Boxing Day over C&D off 124 in 2019 when beat 3L by Beau Bay. That came on soft ground and he has also won on good so he won’t mind what the weather does. Phil Kirby’s jumpers are going well too so at odds of 20/1 Niven is the each way pick.
Wetherby and Ascot Saturday Tips: Niven e/w @ 20/1 (4 places)
Ascot Saturday: 1.55pm – Handicap Chase (Listed)
Eight horses go in search of black type in this 17f Listed handicap chase. It is a trappy affair and with the benefit of a run, Little Light could go well from 2lb out of the handicap. Jack Tudor takes 5lb off which negates that and she ran a nice enough race when 3rd over 18f on her seasonal reappearance at Fontwell. Her two wins since moving to the UK have come on soft but she won on good to yielding when trained in Ireland by Joseph O’Brien so today’s ground should pose no problems.
The daughter of Walk in The Park is only a 6yo so there could still be more to come from her. Last season she signed off with an impressive win off 117 at Southwell and with Tudor’s claim she is only 2lb higher here. This is clearly a much tougher assignment and she is up against some decent types from big yards. Unlike the top two in the betting she has a run under her belt though and at odds of 8/1 she should give e/w players a run for their money.
Wetherby and Ascot Saturday Tips: Little Light e/w @ 8/1
Wetherby: 2.10pm – Mares’ Hurdle (Listed)
Just 7 mares have been declared for this 16f Listed hurdle. Verdana Blue is odds on and if the ground is decent she will be hard to beat. With a rating of 155 she is miles ahead of these on ratings and barring mishaps she looks by far the most likely winner. With only two places on offer for each way players this is not a race I will be getting involved in. Rosie And Millie hails from an in-form yard and could sneak into the frame at a price but I won’t be having a bet.
Wetherby and Ascot Saturday Tips: No Bet
Down Royal Saturday: 2.25pm – Champion Chase (Grade 1)
We get a nice bonus from Ireland on ITV4 on Saturday. The Grade 1 Champion Chase at Down Royal is the best race of the day and 9 go to post in this intriguing contest. Delta Work is just about the favourite for Elliott and Kennedy. Rated 170, the son of Network won two Grade 1s last year after disappointing in this race on his comeback. There is a good chance he may well need the run again and at the odds, I’ll be looking elsewhere. Presenting Percy is next best in the betting and he is now with Gordon Elliott. The 9yo is very lightly raced for his age and it will be fascinating to see what Elliott can do with him. He is probably best watched at the prices.
The one I like at massive odds is the Noel Meade trained Snow Falcon. This horse is a talented performer on his day and he goes well fresh. A 12 time winner under rules, including 4 chases, he hosed up on his seasonal reappearance last season. He then went on to flop in this race so presumably connections have decided to start him back off in it this year rather than having a prep run. His only other start at this track resulted in an easy Grade 2 win (19.5f gd/yld) and if there is yielding in the description it will be right up his street. His form figures first time up read 131141 and I would not be surprised to see him run a huge race at odds of 33/1.
Down Royal Champion Chase Tips: Snow Falcon e/w @ 33/1
Wetherby Saturday: 2.45pm – Bet365 Hurdle (Grade 2)
A field of 9 go to post for this Grade 2 heat over a distance of 3 miles. Last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle shock winner Lisnagar Oscar is the fav for Adam Wedge and Rebecca Curtis. He has run well fresh before but at lower levels than this. It would be no big surprise if he needed the run. Roksana gets a nice bit of weight from the Curtis horse but she also lacks a recent outing. She has tended to need a run to put her right. One horse who looks sure to be primed for this contest is the Noel Kelly trained Décor Irlandais.
A Grade 2 runner up behind Mossy Fen last season at Warwick, the ground should really suit this fella. He proved his stamina for today’s trip last time out when winning a handicap hurdle at Killarney off 139 (23f yld) and his rating of 149 puts him right in the mix in this contest. The booking of Sean Bowen suggests that connections mean business and at odds of 9/1 Decor Irlandais is the e/w selection.
Wetherby and Ascot Saturday Tips: Decor Irlandais e/w @ 9/1
Ascot Saturday: 3.05pm – Sodexo Handicap Hurdle (Listed)
10 go to post for this 15.5f handicap hurdle and it looks wide open. If the rain arrives it will be on the softer side by the time of this race and that will really suit the favourite Kid Commando. He had some decent form in bumpers last year and his win came on soft at Plumpton. Anthony Honeyball’s charge then ran a lovely race in a Grade 2 at Kempton (16f gd/sft) when 3rd behind Highway One O Two. On that form he could be well treated off 136 on handicap debut and he looks to have a favourite’s chance.
The one I like at a bigger price is Dear Sire for Donald McCain and Theo Gillard. This fella comes into this race in sparkling form. He won easily at Chepstow last time out (16f gd) and he more than deserves to take his chance in a race like this. He has winning form on soft so he shouldn’t be inconvenienced too much if it rains. Theo Gillard takes off 7lb so he is effectively in off 135, 2lb lower than the mark off which he beat Forth Bridge at Musselburgh back in 2018. Donald McCain is in great form and Gillard is 5/24 with 8 top 4s when riding for the yard this season. With 4 places on offer from Skybet, Dear Sire is the e/w NB bet of the day.
Newbury Saturday Tips: Dear Sire e/w @ 11/1 (4 places) NB
Wetherby Saturday: 3.20pm – Charlie Hall Chase (Grade 2)
The feature at Wetherby on Saturday is the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase. A field of 10 chasers will go to post and Cyrname is the favourite for Cobden and Nicholls. This fella was spectacular over 21f last season before flopping in the King George. It remains his sole try at today’s 3 mile trip. That has to rate as a big worry to his supporters. He is undoubtedly a class act over shorter and how he runs in this will probably determine his seasonal plan.
One that comes into the race somewhat under the radar is Aye Right. Trained up North by Harriet Graham, this 7yo ran a nice race when 5th behind Champ at Cheltenham (24f sft). He didn’t jump as well as he can that day and if he cuts out the mistakes he could make a big impact here. His comeback run at Kelso (17f gd/sft) behind Nuts Well was franked by the winner at Aintree and considering the trip it was a superb effort. Going back up in distance will suit, as will the ground, and at odds of 20/1 Aye Right is the e/w NAP of the day.
Wetherby and Ascot Saturday Tips: Aye Right e/w @ 20/1 NAP
Ascot Saturday: 3.40pm – Sodexo Gold Cup (Grade 3)
14 will go to post for the final live race of the day on ITV4, the 3 mile Grade 3 Sodexo Gold Cup. Andrew Martin had a very nice winner on Friday with Can You Call. His stable star Militarian is of interest here on his first run this season. This 10yo hacked up on his comeback last year, beating Top Wood by 4L over today’s C&D off 138. His form tailed off afterwards, though he did run a very nice race when 4th over 26f at Cheltenham behind Doing Fine off 143. He never landed a blow at the Festival in March and he returns to action off 139. That is just 1lb higher than he was for his win last season.
The son of Kayf Tara has run well first time up for the past 3 seasons (221) and he is likely to be primed for this. Ground ranging from soft to good to soft suits best so conditions look ideal. Shane Quinlan takes off 5lb and he was on board Can You Call on Friday. Militarian has a lovely racing weight of just 9st 13lb and he will think he is running loose. There has been a few quid around for him already but if you hurry you might get 16/1. At those odds, Militarian is the e/w selection.
