ITV Racing Tips - Ascot, Haydock Park and Wincanton

With less than four weeks until the feature event of the National Hunt season, a lot of people are really focusing on the Cheltenham Festival.

However, there's still plenty of top-class racing to be had before then, and we've got an excellent weekend of action in store.

Saturday is headlined by the Grade 1 Ascot Chase, though a number of other graded races and intriguing handicaps are in store.

Matchday FM regulars Harry Reynolds, Ben Wignall and Joseph Richardson are here with their picks for the seven races to be shown live on ITV from Ascot, Haydock Park and Wincanton.

Cyrname destroyed his rivals in the Ascot Chase in 2019, but now has something to prove.

13.50 - Bateaux London Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)

Harry Reynolds – Despite being the lowest-rated horse in the race, I really like REMASTERED’s chances here. He’s unbeaten in two starts over fences, and although there hasn’t been much in behind him I think he’s a nice prospect for chasing. Sevarano was disappointing when upped in trip last time out, and Hurricane Harvey may struggle to give away a five pound penalty away for his Grade 2 success at Doncaster in December.

Ben Wignall - This is an interesting race with a few of these stepping into graded company for the first time. Kalooki has been tried at the top level in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase but was pulled up after making multiple blunders, whilst Grade 2 winner Hurricane Harvey has to concede weight here to everyone. He hasn’t beaten much but FULL BACK for Gary Moore gets my vote. He probably needs to step it up a level here but there’s no reason as to why this six-year-old can’t improve.

Joseph Richardson - A competitive looking renewal of the Reynoldstown but I would be most interested in DEMACHINE for Kerry Lee. He is proven over course and distance and has some solid form in the book behind the likes of Dickie Diver and Alnadam in his hurdling days. A wind operation since his last run at Newbury will assist his chances of improving.

14.25 - Betfair Swinley Chase (Limited Handicap)

HR – JP McManus fields four of the 12 entries here, and has the favourite with Jerrysback. However, he hasn’t won in over two years, and despite a nice effort behind Dashel Drasher on his previous start I’m happy to look elsewhere. NEWTIDE has long been thought of as a potential Grand National horse for Kim Bailey, and he ran a screamer under top weight on his only run so far this season, staying on when many horses had cried enough on testing going. He’ll see out this trip, and with Bailey posting four winners from five starts, I think he’s got a great chance.

BW - JP McManus holds a strong hand in this race with four entries, and I’m going with the top weight REGAL ENCORE to produce another bold performance at Ascot. He’s 13 years old now but showed he is all class in the Sodexo Gold Cup back in October over course and distance. He will carry a stone more today but I feel as though another bold showing is coming after his third-placed finish to Mister Malarky and The Conditional last time out in December.

Regal Encore (right) is an Ascot specialist, and always gives his best at the track.

JR - I’m struggling to look for reasons to oppose JERRYSBACK here. Third in two Ascot handicaps, he is weighted to win. Track, ground, jockey and trainer all get a tick but the only obvious concern is that he hasn’t won since December 2018.

15.00 - Betfair Cheltenham Free Bet Pot Builder Handicap Hurdle

HR – ALBERT’S BACK didn’t get past the first hurdle on his most recent outing, but had won his two races before that impressively, and is proven on testing going. If that fall hasn’t affected him too badly, he could be decent each-way value. Gladiateur Allen is probably the rightful favourite having won at Ascot last time and should give another good account, and Arrivederci has plenty of potential too.

BW - There’s a Grade 1 winner in this race in the form of L’Ami Serge, but he’s not been seen since Cheltenham last year when pulling up in the Stayers’ Hurdle and may need this run. I’ll go with KATESON, who is now on level weights with one of the leading fancies for this in Arrivederci. Kateson was just over three lengths behind that horse at Ascot last time carrying two pounds more, and I think he can run into the frame once again.

JR - After a disappointing campaign over fences, STOLEN SILVER reverts back to hurdles and Saturday could be the perfect time to catch him. He ran a cracker in last year’s Betfair Hurdle which convinced me to back him in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham. He was pulled up that day, but he runs here off 140, which is what he was rated when winning a Supreme trial at Haydock, beating the smart Edwardstone.

15.35 - Betfair Ascot Chase

HR – You’d have to be crazy to take odds-on about Cyrname in this race. He’s been awful on three of his last four starts, and was well beaten in this race a year ago behind some pretty modest horses before a horrible fall. Master Tommytucker stood up on all of his starts this term for a change, but his jumping is still pretty sketchy and couldn’t carry my money. Therefore, I’ll chance on DASHEL DRASHER, who has applied excellent front-running tactics to win his last two starts over course and distance. He was a long way behind Master Tommytucker in November, but may have improved sufficiently. Last year’s winner Riders Onthe Storm has been very poor since winning this race, though Benny’s King could easily reverse the form with Dashel Drasher, and is now two pounds better off.

Dashel Drasher is looking to give trainer Jeremy Scott his first Grade 1 success since 2013.

BW - Cyrname may have won this race in 2019, but I am not keen on him for this whatsoever after his run in the King George on Boxing Day. MASTER TOMMYTUCKER proved his class last month with a 12-length win in the Silviniaco Conti Chase, although that may have been different if Imperial Aura had stood up. He’s ironed out the jumping flaws this season though and has proven to have some engine, and I think that he could show his true potential here.

JR - We will all remember this race last year when we feared that Cyrname may have perished after a horrible fall at the last. He really is an enigma and I would not want to be siding with him at a shade of odds-on. Master Tommytucker’s jumping has improved, but the stiff Ascot fences provide another difficult challenge. He will go forward you would expect, along with DASHEL DRASHER, who I could see making all under Matt Griffiths, a jockey who has had success this year aboard exciting novice hurdler Bear Ghylls.

Haydock Park

14.05 - William Hill Rendlesham Hurdle (Grade 2)

HR – I’m really looking forward to seeing EMITOM back over hurdles. He failed to win over fences in two starts, but the first of those was a narrow defeat to subsequent Grade 2 winner Hurricane Harvey, so the form wasn’t bad at all. He was exceptional in winning this race last year, and can do so again. On The Blind Side has been much better this season, but hasn’t beaten much of note, while Itchy Feet reverts to hurdles like Emitom, but always seems to find a way to lose.

BW - This is a pretty good renewal of the Rendlesham and we have a few interesting charges coming back to these obstacles after spending time chasing, such as Itchy Feet, Ballyoptic and last year’s winner Emitom. ON THE BLIND SIDE is a progressive horse though, having come second to McFabulous in the Relkeel Hurdle last month and I fancy him to go one better here.

JR - An intriguing Grade 2 clash where I think Nicky Henderson's ON THE BLIND SIDE should be favourite. A two-and-a-quarter length defeat to McFabulous reads well, and he was game as anything in defeating Lil Rockerfeller on his last start. Gavin Sheehan's decision to ride last year's winner Emitom over Itchy Feet could be significant, but a six pound penalty from last year is enough to oppose him.

On The Blind Side may still be improving at the age of nine.

14.40 - William Hill Grand National Trial (Grade 3 Handicap)

HR – This looks very competitive. I wouldn’t be surprised if any of the top five in the market won, but I’ll have a punt on SOJOURN for Rex Dingle and Anthony Honeyball. Conditions couldn’t be testing enough for him, and he looks a solid stayer. Notachance could be very tough to beat however, given he’s proven over further than this, and probably has the most realistic chance of making it into the Grand National.

BW - I’m not sure any of these will be winning the Aintree showcase, but I’ll go with THE TWO AMIGOS to go one better than his last race, which was a very good second to Secret Reprieve in the Welsh National. Nicky Martin’s charge has gone up a few pounds in the handicap but produced a very good front-running performance at Chepstow, only to be defeated by the absolute Evan Williams good thing.

JR - In these marathon races on testing ground, I like to look for horses that may be fresher and have not had a hike in the weights. Even with a seven pound penalty Notachance may still be good enough to win this, but I would rather chance SOJOURN for Anthony Honeyball. He has been off since December and travelled well in finishing second to Sam’s Adventure in the Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase at the track.

Wincanton

15.18 - Betway Kingwell Hurdle (Grade 2)

HR – SONG FOR SOMEONE is a terrific price in this at odds-against, given all the question marks hanging over Goshen. The former has won two Grade 2s already this season and is so consistent, you’re guaranteed to get a good run for your money. I can’t understand how anyone could tip Goshen; he was terrible at Cheltenham behind Song For Someone in December, and was pretty rancid on two starts on the flat before that. Navajo Pass managed to beat an unfit Buveur D’Air at Haydock last month, but shouldn’t be good enough to beat a peak Song For Someone.

BW - This is probably do or die day for Goshen, who flopped at Cheltenham last time but was found to have a fibrillating heart post-race. I can’t take him to beat SONG FOR SOMEONE though who looks really progressive having now won three on the bounce. Navajo Pass was good at Haydock last time out when dispatching Champion Hurdle hero Buveur D’Air but I doubt he will get his own way here.

JR – SONG FOR SOMEONE is undoubtedly one of the most improved horses of the season. From being an outsider of three to win in the Ascot Hurdle, he duly backed it up by winning the Grade 2 International Hurdle at Cheltenham, which is Champion Hurdle form in beating Silver Streak. I believe connections’ first thoughts to bypass Cheltenham in favour of the Aintree Hurdle is the right way to go, but if he was to win as I expect with a bit in hand, they could be wrong not to turn up on day one of the Festival at Prestbury Park.

Selections

Harry Reynolds

Ascot

13.50 Remastered 7/2

14.25 Newtide 13/2

15.00 Albert’s Back 10/1

15.35 Dashel Drasher 6/1

Haydock

14.05 Emitom 4/1

14.40 Sojourn 4/1

Wincanton

15.18 Song For Someone 6/5

Ben Wignall

Ascot

13.50 Full Back 4/1

14.25 Regal Encore 10/1

15.00 Kateson 10/1

15.35 Master Tommytucker 3/1

Haydock

14.05 On The Blind Side 10/3

14.40 The Two Amigos 11/2

Wincanton

15.18 Song For Someone 6/5

Joseph Richardson

Ascot

13.50 Demachine 7/2

14.25 Jerrysback 10/3

15.00 Stolen Silver 17/2

15.35 Dashel Drasher 6/1

Haydock

14.05 On The Blind Side 10/3

14.40 Sojourn 4/1

Wincanton

15.18 Song For Someone 6/5