Saturday’s ITV Horse Racing Tips from Ascot, Wetherby and Down Royal

1.35 Wetherby

My first selection comes up in the Bet365 Handicap Chase which is a class 3 event ran over 2m 3f. This is a wide open contest and I could make a case for the vast majority of the runners here. 

The selection here is the lightly raced Guy (3/1) NB who won impressively by 13 lengths on chase debut last time out at Huntingdon. The Nigel Twiston Davies charge has been penalised with a 12lbs hike by the handicapper although I expect the selection to put up bold showing.

Another horse to keep an eye on here is Bollin Ace E/W (10/1) who makes it seasonal reappearance today after performing admirably last season in a higher grade. The sire of Bollin Eric ran a decent race at this track back in February finishing third behind the improving Nuts well and I am hope of grabbing some place money here.

2.45 Wetherby 

The bet365 Hurdle is a grade 2 event contested over 3m and may well provide some stayers hurdle clues. The horse I like here is Roksana (2/1) who has been running over shorter trips in her last few races.  The Dan Skelton charge will appreciate the step back up in trip today and is receiving plenty of weight from her main market rival Lisnagar Oscar which was the deciding factor for me in not putting up the stayers hurdle winner as my selection.

3.20 Wetherby 

The feature race of the day is the Bet365 Charlie Hall Chase contested over 3m. We have a real competitive renewal here as opposed to the last few years. 

I’m going against the highest rated steeplechaser in training Cyrname who will either hack up or not see the trip out in my opinion.  There is also doubts as to whether Cyrname can perform going left-handed and can he also perform away from Ascot?

My selection here is Vinndication (5/2) who will be attempting to stake his claim as a Gold Cup horse today. The selection put all concerns to bed about going left handed with a decent performance at the Cheltenham Festival back in March. 

Kim Bailey has been quoted as saying Vinndications preparation for the festival had been hampered by a stone bruise suffered at home and providing there have been no further complications we can expect to see a fully tuned up Vinndication. 

Another horse I like here is Aye Right (16/1) E/W who didn’t disgrace himself in the RSA Chase earlier this year. The Mrs Graham trained gelding has already made his seasonal reappearance and stayed on well to only finish behind the impressive Old Roan Chase winner Nuts well. The selection will come on for that run which was more than likely a prep run for today. Aye Right is being backed heavily in the market which can only be a positive. 

1.20 Ascot

The Ascot Underwriting Novices Limited Handicap Chase is a class 3 event ran over 2m 2f and I thik there could be a few decent Novice chasers in this race to follow this season. I’m taking Sully D’oc Aa (6/1) NAP to win on his seasonal reappearance here. 

The Anthony Honeyball trained gelding has some decent form in the book namely finishing a good second to the promising Fanion D’estruval at Newbury last season. I believe todays trip will be ideal and we can be hopeful of a winning Nap to start the day with the horse returning on the back of wind surgery.

3.40 Ascot 

My Final selection of the day comes in the Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase which is contested over 2m 7f.  I think the likes of Walk in the Mill and Blaklion will be having a run out today in preparation for future targets so I’m ruling them out here. 

I’m taking Bryony Frost here to win another big Saturday ITV Racing contest aboard the consistent Black Corton 6/1 who is returning today on the back of wind surgery. The Paul Nicholls trained charge carries top weight today but is 2lbs lower than when third in this race last year and I’m confident of any a bold showing from the front today. The main danger will more than like come in the shape of Commanche Red who is getting plenty of weight from my selection and has previously beaten the impressive Simply the Betts.