ITV Racing Tips: Best Bets for the Live Action from Ascot and Haydock

The final weekend before the festivities begin in earnest sees the ITV crew split their resources between Ascot and Haydock. Six contests feature on the menu, with a four-race salvo from Ascot headlined by the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle. Elsewhere, we have a trio of quality handicap contests to sink our teeth into, including a cracking pair of staying events in the Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase and Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase.

Six races on offer means six winners to find. Here, using analysis presented by NewBettingSites.uk, we pick out our best bets in all six races.

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Haydock 12:55 – Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

Nicky Henderson landed the 2023 edition of this with Pawapuri and is responsible for the likely market leader, Holloway Queen, this year. Second in her Point-to-Point, she stepped up on that to beat a useful yardstick in Jasmine Bliss on her debut under rules at Lingfield. There was much to like about that effort, but she’s a little short for our liking at around the 7/4f mark.

Having won three of her five starts this season, the Jennie Candish-trained Fromheretoeternity makes the shortlist, but the one to be on is Kelya Wood.

Hailing from the Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero operation, this one would surely have won her Point-to-Point in Ireland, but for falling at the last. With that tumble in mind, she was allowed to start at odds of 16/1 on her rules debut at Uttoxeter in November. Not long into the race, those odds began to look way too big. Sent straight into the lead by Craig Nicholl, Kelya Wood had many of her rivals in trouble by halfway and ultimately cruised home by ten lengths. With the prospect of more to come, she can lower the colours of the Henderson-trained jolly.

• Best Bet - Kelya Wood @ Best Morning Price

Ascot 1:50 – Howden Graduation Chase

The Greenall/Guerriero partnership also boasts strong claims in the first televised race from Ascot. Iroko put the yard's name up in lights when landing the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, only for injury to write off much of the 2023/24 campaign. That said, he returned in the spring to finish second in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree and posted an encouraging performance when second on his recent comeback at Haydock. He shouldn’t be far away, but we just prefer another.

Considering he was last sighted finishing sixth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Jungle Boogie looks a touch underestimated in this four-runner field. Whilst no match for Galopin Des Champs on the day, that still rated a fine effort on only his fourth start over fences. Having won at up to 2m7f, he should see this 2m5f trip as well as any and is the value call in an open heat.

• Best Bet - Jungle Boogie to win @ 7/2 with BetGoodwin

Haydock 2:05 – Betfred Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase

Nine go to post in the big handicap of the day from Haydock. Having won each of his last three starts, including a hurdle event at this track last time out, the James Owen-trained East Street is understandably proving popular in the market. However, he was pulled up on his only previous chase outing at Haydock and is 9lbs above his most recent winning chase mark.

Having only recently returned home following injuries sustained in a nasty fall on the gallops, Nicky Richards could do with a pick-me-up. He may get it here, as his representative, Famous Bridge, is the one to get our vote. Successful in the 2023 edition of this, he’s only 2lbs higher here and should be fit and well following a solid comeback effort at Kelso.

• Best Bet - Famous Bridge to win @ 11/4 with LiveScoreBet

Ascot 2:25 – Howden Long Walk Hurdle

Having ended the 2023/24 campaign with an excellent win in the Liverpool Hurdle and returned with a Long Distance Hurdle success, Olly Murphy’s Strong Leader boasts solid claims in the feature event. However, he hasn’t been missed by the market, and this may just be a little more open than the odds suggest.

Gordon Elliott’s The Wallpark arrives on a high, having won each of his last four; the youngster Blueking d’Oroux may have more to offer as a stayer this term, and Shoot First looked like he was back on track following an extended injury absence last time.

All have claims, but the horse who looks a couple of points too big in the market to our eyes is the defending champ, Crambo. This Fergal O’Brien runner went off the boil in the spring but was in excellent heart at this time last year. Scoring first time out at Aintree, he backed that up with a most unlucky second at Haydock before mastering Paisley Park in a vintage renewal of this event. If in anything like the same form here, he surely won’t be far away.

• Best Bet - Crambo each way @ 15/2 with QuinnBet

Ascot 3:00 – Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase

In a strong day for reigning champions, the Venetia Williams-trained Victtorino returns to defend his crown in the 3m affair. A 3lb higher mark for a ¾l win makes life tougher, but he loves it around here and ran well to finish third in the Coral Gold Cup on his seasonal return.

Having finished second in Grade 2 company last season and mastered Iroko last time out at Haydock, Kim Bailey’s Trelawne is another who should go well. However, we prefer an each-way punt in the penultimate contest.

The evidence of recent seasons suggests runners making the trip over from France merit the utmost respect in big Saturday events. As such, the Arnaud Chaille-Chaille representative Heloy Delabarriere looks interesting in this field. Tried at up to Grade 1 level in his homeland, his most recent effort saw him stay on well for second in a top-tier 3m event at Auteuil. This ground will be quicker than he is used to, but the likely strong pace should bring his stamina into play, and he can hit the frame.

• Best Bet - Heloy Delabarriere each way@ 8/1 with BetGoodwin

Ascot 3:35 – Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle

The biggest field of the day rounds off the action as 13 go to post in this competitive 2m handicap. Dan Skelton’s Be Aware heads the betting, having finished an excellent second in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle last time and should go close despite this 7lb higher mark. The unbeaten Kabral Du Mathan is another to note from the yard of Paul Nicholls, having posted a comfortable success at Kempton on his seasonal return.

Alan King’s Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Favour And Fortune makes some appeal at a double-figure price, but it may be worth giving another chance to the Fergal O’Brien-trained mare Dysart Enos. Unbeaten in three starts last season, she boasts an impressive 9l verdict over Cheltenham Festival scorer Golden Ace on her CV and is a bigger price here than she was for a red-hot Greatwood Hurdle. She finished only third that day but didn’t help her chances by jumping out to her left at times. Hopefully tuned up by that outing, she is taken to resume her ascent through the ranks.

• Best Bet - Dysart Enos to win @ 4/1 with QuinnBet

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