ITV Racing Tips for Saturday 2nd November from Ascot and Wetherby
1:30 Ascot
We have four live races from Ascot. The first is the 1:30 and it is a handicap chase over 2m3f.
The one for me is LEADER IN THE PARK (5/2). This previous point-to-point winner looks sure to relish going over the larger obstacles. He has shown plenty of promise over hurdles and albeit they were often over slightly further, I think jockey Ben Jones will sit prominently and try and get into a nice jumping rhythm from the front. That is a good plan here at Ascot on the chase course and the fact we know he stays further than 2m can be considered a positive. I’d be disappointed if he doesn’t win this.
1:50 Wetherby
The 1:50 from Wetherby is the Mares Hurdle, a listed race over 2 miles.
I’d expect LUCCIA (8/11) to take a fair bit of beating here. She ran a cracker last season when finishing third in the Champion Hurdle on ground that wasn’t ideal for her. She then backed that up with a decent effort at Aintree finishing 4th again at Grade 1 level in the Aintree Hurdle. That was over 2m4f but this 2-mile trip is her ideal. She’ll get the decent ground she relishes and she looks a class apart here.
2:05 Ascot
The 2:05 from Ascot is a trappy handicap chase over 2m1f.
I think MASTER CHEWY (7/2) NAP can make a winning return to action this season. He did just that last year when winning well at Aintree last October on his return. He went on to have a brilliant season which finished with a fine second-placed effort back at Aintree at Grade 1 level. He was not beaten far that day and he has to be considered one of the best 2 milers in the country heading into this season. Twiston-Davies always has his horses firing early in the season and I think Master Chewy can defy top weight here before bigger targets may await further down the line this season.
2:22 Wetherby
The 2:22 from Wetherby is the bet365 hurdle, a Grade 2 over the 3m trip.
The one for me is KATEIRA (11/4). Despite being 7 years of age, I think she’s arguably still got room to improve this season. She was last seen at the Aintree Grand National Festival when winning a deep handicap hurdle off a mark of 136. That is not far off the best for these anyway. The market rivals have doubts. Sandor Clegane returns to hurdles which is a strange enough move, Dashel Drasher in now 11 and Thunder Rock has his jumping concerns. Kateira can continue improving and they should go a good gallop here which should suit her down to the ground.
2:58 Wetherby
Next up we have the feature, the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase over 3 miles.
This is BRAVEMANSGAME’s (11/8) Gold Cup really and I’d expect him to be fully revved up for this seasonal return. A winner of the race in 2022, he was 2nd last season when a last fence mistake arguably cost him victory. The ground was softer than ideal in 2023 and the quicker surface he’ll get today is right up his street. The Irish have to take a big step forward in my opinion and as soon in past seasons, Grey Dawning tends to improve a good deal for his seasonal return. Therefore, it’s Bravemansgame for me here.
3:15 Ascot
The 3:15 from Ascot is a handicap hurdle over 2m.
I like TAPLEY (12/1) EW here for the Sue Smith yard. He was last seen bolting up at Plumpton a couple of weeks ago defying strong market support to win well. A 6lb rise is fair and Elizabeth Gale takes 7lb on this occasion so Tapley is effectively 1lb lower than last time out. A decent gallop on good ground is right up his street and he looks a tad overpriced to my eye. He comes here in good form and with a fitness edge over some of his rivals which could be key.
3:22 Wetherby
The final race from Wetherby is a 2m handicap hurdle.
It’s WILLIETHEBUILDER (5/2) NB for me. He made his return to action here at Wetherby last month over this course and distance where he went down by a short head finishing second. He should have won I thought as I’m sure the jockey would have loved another chance at it. The 5 year-old can come on for that effort and with this being his second run after a wind operation a mark of 125 could look very lenient.
3:45 Ascot
Our final race on ITV is the competitive Gold Cup Handicap Chase over 3m.
It’s OUR POWER (15/2) EW for me. The Sam Thomas stable has started the season strongly and the yard always have to be respected with their runners in these competitive handicaps. Our Power has a fine record when fresh as proven when landing this race back in 2022 off 136. He followed that up with a victory in a similar handicap at Kempton off 141. He’s effectively off 140 here with the 3lb claim of Dylan Johnston so if he’s on a going day, he looks sure to go close. Ignore last season as he had a hurdles preparation before falling early on in the Coral Gold Cup. He looks a fair each-way selection given the fact he should be well-prepared for this return to action.
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