ITV Racing Tips: Saturday Each-Way Double for Ascot

The LK Bennett Swinley Handicap Chase has attracted a field of 14, which includes the teenager Regal Encore, a former winner of this race, who is now 15 and is more than likely making his final appearance in it. Despite his age, he has an each-way chance but a win seems far-fetched.

While the well-treated and subsequent Sky Bet Chase second Cap Du Nord is another key player, who is back on the same mark as when winning comfortably at Kempton last year. Harry Fry’s Revels Hill is an improving chaser but he makes a lot of mistakes and always seems to get-going far too late, practically when the race is over and he might just get taken out of his comfort zone again here.

Nocte Volatus ran well at Cheltenham last time but he has to prove he stays. Phoenix Way was one on my shortlist, who travels well, and was given a beautiful ride to win here last January by Kevin Brogan. He is back on that same mark now and was second over track and trip to Annsam a month earlier. He has probably been campaigned with this race in mind but I suspect he might find one or two too good.

Paul Nicholls’ Danny Kirwan travelled like a dream over course-and-distance last time in the London Gold Cup and looked home and hosed jumping the second last fence before the petrol gauge emptied on the run-in and he was eventually overhauled by Our Power. He is of some interest off only a three-pounds higher mark, especially with Harry Cobden reunited.

A few of the others have a bit to prove and that includes the Philip Hobbs-trained SPORTING JOHN (best price 14/1) who needs to cast aside a pretty dismal display in the Rowland Meyrick when pulled up last-time. However, the eight-year-old does possess plenty of ability and if this former Grade 1 winner is on a going day, he could represent some great each-way value in a race that should be right up his street.

His profile is frequently patchy, but this trip around this course should be ideal. Some of his key performances have marked him out as being extremely well-handicapped enough to go close in a race like this and that’s even with his big weight taken into account. He was a very smart novice hurdler as a five-year-old, winning his first three starts and was sent off just 5/1 for a Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle behind Envoi Allen.

Unfortunately it didn’t materialise into any reward when beaten into seventh and his chase debut got off to a less-than auspicious start as well when a distant third at Exeter. In two of his next three chase starts he failed to complete but mixed in between this efforts was a victory in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase and he made a triumphant return to hurdles over this trip in a Listed race at Cheltenham, winning very smoothly despite the burden of top-weight.

That was off a mark of 146 and he bounced back from a lesser effort next time to win the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Warwick off a mark of 151, where he had two Cheltenham Festival winners in behind him. He made his belated reappearance this season in a Grade 2 at Wetherby and whilst he returned a beaten favourite, he shaped pleasingly in fourth, so it wasn’t a bad effort by any degree.

A return to chasing last time didn’t go according to plan but that seemed a funny old race, as half the field failed to complete or show their best and the ones that did finish were strung out like washing with the exception of the front pair. I am incline to draw a line through that race and it is fascinating to see his connections have elected to pursue the larger obstacles with him here.

He has a lot of weight to carry again, but he is the highest-rated runner in the field and the addition of recent wind surgery might just give him a bit of a perk and help him travel and jump better this weekend. Another positive observation about his credentials here is that this will be his first run right-handed since he claimed his Grade 1 win over fences, in which he defeated the likes of Shan Blue and a host of other horses who have won since.

His record going this way around, reads 11131, and his only previous start at this course, which was in a Novices’ Hurdle, resulted with an easy success. Clearly, he isn’t the easiest of horses to train, as he’s comparatively lightly-raced for his age, but will find this easier than last time. With various firms offering four places, and the Philip Hobbs stable amongst the winners recently, this eight-year-old, who remains unexposed after just five starts over fences, could go well.

Later on, in the Ascot Racecourse Supports Box4Kids Handicap Hurdle, 13 runners go to post. Venetia Williams’ Djelo returned a good winner on his return/yard debut at Exeter in November and has placed in both starts since. He should have more to come, especially now tackling this longer trip, but I really like the claims of one participant in this race, who makes a lot more appeal from a betting stance.

The one I like is WHIZZ KID (best price 11/1) who sneaks into this race off bottom-weight with Luke Scott’s seven-pound claim taken into consideration. The seven-year-old, who is trained by Dr Richard Newland, has taken well to hurdles and ran a good race when runner-up to Homme Public at Huntingdon last time. He kept on strongly in the closing stages to only be beaten two lengths and meets the winner on much more favourable terms here. I think this longer trip will really suit him as well.

He is Richard’s only runner on the card plus the form of this smart hurdler’s latest second has received a welcome boost due to the third, Impulsive One, winning a good race at Wetherby earlier this week off a mark of 129. In addition, Richard Newland’s charge is only three-pounds higher than last time (123), which is only two-pounds lower than when a close-up fourth at Aintree last year. Luke Scott maintains the partnership and the pair could be set for a big performance with four places widely available.

Bonus ITV Racing Tips for Haydock

The Grade 2 Betfred Rendlesham Hurdle doesn’t look the strongest of renewals on the face of it and it would come as a disappointment if Venetia Williams’ GREEN BOOK (best price 3/1) couldn’t land a blow here. He was only fourth on his last visit to the track but the ground was against him and the race he won recently at Sandown looked a much stronger race on paper compared to this event.

In turn, he was winning that race for the second year in succession, an achievement worthy of recognition, while his fifth in the Albert Bartlett behind The Nice Guy is probably the best form on offer. He will need improvement to give weight away here but that is a possibility, as the likes of Ashtown Lad and Erne River blew really good chances last-time-out when second to lower-rated winners.

A lot of chances in the Grand National Trial, but I am drawn to the claims of two runners, who represent attractive value at the initial odds with four places generally available. 

Venetia Williams has three intended runners but the fact that Charlie Deutsch has opted to stick with Fontaine Collonges, speaks volumes. This mare has won three of her six chase starts and her defeat of The Big Breakaway here in November is a strong piece of form, given the second has since filled that same spot in the Welsh National. 

I am not sure she will be as effective on better ground though, and her price seems skinny for a race where others have equally pressing claims, if not stronger over this trip. Furthermore, her stamina for this test has to be taken on trust and given she was beaten off this mark last time, I will pass her over. 

Instead, I want to give a chance to the Henry Daly-trained FORTESCUE (best price 12/1), who looks nicely treated. The nine-year-old actually won on this day 12 months ago at Ascot, where he produced a power-packed finish to lift the Listed Swinley Chase. In that race, he beat Grand National fifth Fiddlerontheroof and Welsh National fourth Truckers Lodge, and that is really strong form in the context of this race. 

He unfortunately unseated his rider in the Grand National but made his return this season over hurdles and ran a remarkable race to finish fourth in the Becher Chase at Aintree. He was required to carry nearly top-weight and came from miles back to be nearest the finish, finishing fourth of 22. That was off a mark of 145 and while he turned in a lacklustre performance at Chepstow, you can excuse that effort, as not many even completed. 

The assessor has reduced his mark a couple of pounds, effectively meaning he is back on the same mark as when winning that race at Ascot last year. In addition, he has valuable course form, as he ran a good race when third behind Royale Pagaille in last season’s Grade 2 Peter Marsh Chase here. He was briefly outpaced but stayed on strongly to only be beaten around three-lengths and that form is really strong, especially when you reflect on the front two being rated 163 and 159. 

He will love conditions this weekend, will relish the trip back at this course that yielded one of his best performances last season and is back on his last winning mark as well. There is a lot to like about his chances and, with his stable in good form too, he holds stronger claims than his largish odds would imply here. Five places widely available with bet365, William Hill, Paddy Power, Sky Bet and Betfair. 

First Lord De Cuet and Omar Marreti also make some appeal and cannot be discounted, especially the latter, who shaped well on his return at Ayr. However, I just think the odds about recent Welsh National winner THE TWO AMIGOS (best price 10/1) is completely wrong in the betting here. Nicky Martin’s strong stayer has twice made the frame in this race in the past, including two years ago from a 12 pounds higher mark. 

He showed plenty of tenacity and heart to fend off The Big Breakaway at Chepstow last time in the Welsh National, a race he had placed twice in the past, and is only five-pounds higher for this easier race. This 11-year-old remains well-treated on the pick of his form and, in the likelihood he will try to take on Bristol De Mai for the lead, he looks sure to be thereabouts with a similar performance to last time. Five places widely available with bet365, William Hill, Paddy Power, Sky Bet and Betfair.