Free racing tips at Ascot, Haydock and Wincanton

ITV viewers will be treated to seven excellent races from across three tracks on Saturday afternoon. Four races will be shown live from Ascot, where the Ascot Chase headlines the action. We'll also enjoy the Grand National Trial and Rendlesham Hurdle live from Haydock, before heading over to Wincanton for the Kingwell Hurdle.

Saturday's ITV Racing Schedule

ITV Racing Tips - Saturday 18th February

Race 1 - Reynoldstown Novices' Chase Tips

I'm happy to take Bold Endeavour on and the obvious alternative is KINONDO KWETU. Sam England's seven-year-old has won all five of his starts over fences and was last seen scoring under top-weight in a Class 3 handicap at Aintree back in October.

Jonathan England held onto Kinondo Kwetu until the last minute that day, hitting the front after the field bypassed the final flight, before pulling a length clear on the short run to the line. Kinondo Kwetu's first chase win came around a right-handed track and he'll have no trouble seeing out this trip.

Race 2 - Rendlesham Hurdle Tips

When you compare this race with recent equivalents that have taken place in Ireland - which have been won by genuine Stayers' Hurdle contenders in Teahupoo and Blazing Khal - the turn-out for this Grade Two is dreadful. 

Erne River tops the betting, having finished second in a handicap on his return to hurdling last month. Green Book has been lumbered with a penalty for his Grade Three triumph at Sandown two weeks ago, while Itchy Feet returns to Haydock on the back of a shock victory in a Pertemps Qualifier.

In short, this could be an excellent opportunity for Aintree-bound ASHTOWN LAD to win a Graded race en-route to either the Topham or the Grand National. Dan Skelton's charge has run well in two handicap hurdles either side of that impressive victory in the Becher Chase, finishing third behind Remastered on his reappearance at Aintree, before losing out narrowly to the well-handicapped Glimpse Of Gala at Warwick last time out. This is far from a vintage Grade Two and Ashtown Lad's seasonal form is as good as anyone else's.

Race 3 - Swinley Handicap Chase Tips

On the back of a solid fourth at Cheltenham on Trials Day, PHOENIX WAY looks ready to strike on his return to Ascot.

Harry Fry's ten-year-old finished a good second behind Annsam in the Silver Cup over this course-and-distance last season, before going on to beat Fanion D'Estruval and Larry in the bet365 Handicap over a slightly shorter trip. Phoenix Way has dropped back down to his last winning mark of 140. I'll expect to see Lorcan Murtagh's mount coming fast and late from the rear of the field.

Race 4 - Grand National Trial Tips

Bristol De Mai can never be counted out around Haydock. However, the three-time Betfair Chase winner was beaten under a lesser weight in this race 12 months ago and good-to-soft ground is far from ideal for Nigel Twiston-Davies' teenager.

I'm going to back a couple at longer prices, starting with FORTESCUE, who won the Swinley Chase off this very mark 12 months ago today. Henry Daly's nine-year-old struggled in the Welsh National last time out, but had run a promising race in the Becher on his penultimate start and was only narrowly beaten in last year's Peter Marsh Chase here at Haydock.

Another who holds appeal is SAINT XAVIER, who cruised to victory in a Veterans Handicap at this venue back in November. Richard Hobson's charge didn't jump well in the Veterans Final around Sandown, but still managed to finish a decent fifth. Despite his advancing years, Saint Xavier has maintained a good level of form this season and he could run well at a massive price.

Race 5 - Box4Kids Handicap Hurdle Tips

Gary Moore's horses have been going well over the last couple of weeks and there's no doubt that FIFTY BALL is well-handicapped over hurdles.

Niall Houlihan's mount ended last season with a fine handicap victory here at Ascot, beating Sizable Sam over 21-and-a-half-furlongs off a mark of 127. Having been pulled up in the Lanzarote Hurdle on his reappearance, Fifty Ball has dropped back down to a mark of 128 and he should be even more effective over this shorter trip.

Race 6 - Kingwell Hurdle Tips

Three classy young hurdlers will clash in this fascinating renewal of the Kingwell. With Knappers Hill and I Like To Move It likely to take each other on at the front, the race could set up perfectly for the strong-travelling FIRST STREET.

Having kicked off this season with a decent victory in the Gerry Feilden, Nicky Henderson's star kept on to place third in the Cleeve Hurdle last time out, finishing a long way ahead of his two main rivals today. Like the other two, I don't think First Street is a natural over two-and-a-half miles. He'll be much more comfortable in a quickly-run race over this minimum distance.