Saturday’s ITV Racing Tips: Henry Gibbs Previews 9 Races from Ascot, Lingfield and Haydock

1:55 Ascot

It’s a 1m handicap from Ascot for the fillies to start proceedings on ITV and it looks a decent contest on paper.

The one I like is DREAMLOPER (3/1). I don’t think we’ve seen the best of her yet and she was a very unlucky 4th on her reappearance effort last month at Haydock. I felt like she’d improve for that run anyway and she now returns to Ascot where she is a previous course and distance winner. Both jockey and trainer are in rude form at the moment and hopefully she can get us off to a winning start.

 

2:15 Lingfield

The Oaks trial is next up from Lingfield. It’s a listed contest but I’m sure it’ll provide us with a few clues for the Cazoo Oaks next month.

The one I like is NASH NASHA (5/1). I was encouraged with her effort last time out at Sandown where she was ridden close up with the pace and still displayed a useful turn of foot to win well enough. Again, I think she’ll improve for that effort and trainer Charlie Appleby has an excellent record in classic trials this season.

 

2:30 Ascot

The 2:30 from Ascot is the Buckhound Stakes, a listed race over just shy of 1m4f.

The one for me here is ALBAFLORA (11/2). On her final start as a 3 year-old she finished ahead of the current favourite Without A Fight and I see no reason why she won’t progress from the age of 3 to 4. Ralph Beckett is in decent form at the moment and we know he does well with his fillies and mares. I expect a bold bid.

 

2:50 Lingfield

The 2:50 from Lingfield is a Derby Trial which will again provide us with classic clues as we look ahead to Derby weekend.

I’ll chance SCOPE EW (13/2) here for the Beckett team again. He was gutsy on debut when battling well to hang on by a nose in what looked a decent enough race. He then ran a cracker when second under a penalty at Newmarket on his season reappearance and pardon the pun but he certainly has scope for further improvement. He looks a solid each way bet in a decent and informative contest.

 

3:10 Haydock

NH fans get their moment at 3:10 as we head to Haydock for the Swindon Handicap Hurdle. A wide open contest ran over the 2m trip.

The one for me here is COPPERLESS (11/2) who was travelling all of them when coming down at the second last at Aintree last time out. He’s only up 3lb and I think he is capable of defying this mark of 126 albeit this is a deeper contest. The strong pace will suit and I expect Aiden Coleman to sneak him into the contest from off the pace.

 

3:25 Lingfield 

The 3:25 from Lingfield is a Group 3 for the fillies ran over 7f.

I was really impressive with DOUBLE OR BUBBLE NB (11/4) on her last start at Newmarket where she powered clear to win by 4l. I think she can go in again here for the Chris Wall team who know her family well having done well with her relatives in the past.

 

3:40 Ascot

The 3:40 race is a tricky 7f handicap known as the Victoria Cup. There is likely to be a draw bias which makes life difficult but I expect the high numbers will be the beneficiary.

The one I like is ESCOBAR EW (16/1). He loves this type of race and he’ll appreciate this step down back to handicap company after being highly tried throughout his last two campaigns. He is drawn in 25 which is a lovely slot and this previous Ascot winner can at least hit the frame for us.

 

4:00 Lingfield 

Only four runners go to post for the 4:00 race from Lingfield so this 7f handicap is likely to prove tactical.

Therefore I like ETON COLLEGE NAP (11/4) who is likely to get his own way in front for the Mark Johnston team. Ben Curtis can set the necessary fractions from the front and I expect Eton College to lead all the way and prove difficult to peg back.

 

4:15 Ascot

The finale on ITV is a handicap from Ascot. It’s just shy of the 1m4f trip and Group One Power heads the market in a wide open affair.

The one for me here is ACED IT EW (8/1). I think he has been underestimated in the market due to his connections. He has won his last two starts in impressive fashion from held up off the pace. The likely strong gallop here will suit his style of racing and a 6lb rise might prove lenient.

 

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