ITV Racing Tips: Check out our best bets for Ascot and Haydock on Saturday
Nine races will take place in front of the ITV Racing cameras on Saturday afternoon as Ascot and Haydock play host to some top quality action. The Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle will also be broadcast from Punchestown and is the highlight on that card. Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers has scoured the terrestrial action and has picked out his best bets from the ITV races...
Reigning champion Goshen is well fancied to retain his Ascot Grade 2 Coral Hurdle crown on Saturday and if the Gary Moore-trained star can replicate last season's performance then he looks the one to beat. However, the enigmatic gelding is not one to trust at short odds, so it could be worth taking him on with a potentially progressive rival in this trappy 14:05 contest.
Nicky Henderson's Theatre Glory is a fascinating runner, who makes her seasonal reappearance, while old stager Sceau Royal is a solid yardstick in this sort of events, but the one that could be open to significant improvement and still on the upgrade is the Paul Nicholls-trained BLUEKING D'OROUX, who was last seen bounding to victory in the Masterson Holdings Hurdle at Cheltenham's October meeting. The Ditcheat team opted to head to Ascot for this contest over last weekend's Greatwood Hurdle, and while it could be a fact finding mission to see how good he is, he did impress at Cheltenham and receiving significant weight from Goshen he can claim success here.
Fergal O'Brien's Crambo and the Emmet Mullins-trained Slate Lane both look hugely exciting staying handicappers that are looking to potentially kick on and into Graded company by the end of the season and both head into this event in the form of their life and rightly at the top of the betting. However, there are some proven yardsticks taking them on in what is always a really tough race to win and the young pairing could be worth taking on with a value alternative.
Nicky Henderson's BOLD ENDEAVOUR will have the burden of top weight in this event, but the Seven Barrows inmate showed when finishing a fine fifth in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival off a mark of 140 that he's a decent performer in these sort of contests. He's 3lbs higher here, so will have more on his plate, but he shaped with promise last time out when third at Newbury and while he has form to turn around with Emitom from that run, the seven-year-old will improve for that outing and the double-figured odds available look worth snapping up.
Harry Fry's Boothill is rightly heading the betting for this competitive-looking 2m handicap chase at Ascot as he was an impressive winner at the track last time out, but he's been handed a 6lbs rise for that victory and off top weight here he could prove vulnerable in what is a fascinating contest. Saint Segal and Corrigeen Rock were winners last time out and look to be huge dangers, but it's another last-time-out winner in the shape of TRIPLE TRADE that can continue to blossom over fences.
A fine winner at Cheltenham's November meeting last week, Joe Tizzard's seven-year-old stormed home in the closing stages to win going away of the smart Calico, and while he will have to carry a penalty here he looks like there's a lot more to come over fences. A proven stayer over 2m 4f, Triple Trade is sure to be kept off the pace during the early part of the contest and if Brendan Powell can produce him late again - like he did at Cheltenham - then he could well get the better of his rivals in the closing stages.
Anthony Honeyball's CREDO has been a real model of consistency over fences. finishing in the first three in six of her seven starts over the larger obstacles and she was an easy winner at Wincanton last time out, so heads to Haydock's 15:35 in terrific form and looks the one to beat here. The eight-year-old mare was a six-and-a-half length winner that day at Wincanton and she's been given a 7lbs rise by the handicapper, but she's all about stamina and this sort of contest will play to her strengths.
The likes of Famous Bridge and Eleanor Bob could be notable dangers and have to be respected, but Credo was hugely impressive on her last start four weeks ago and if she can build on that run on Saturday then she could still deliver the goods off a mark of 130 and she can end the afternoon with a winner.
