The last ITV Racing Saturday action before Christmas comes from Ascot and Haydock with at least six races broadcast on terrestrial television. Headlining the card in Berkshire is the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle, while Merseyside has the Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase.
Supporting races on the schedule include a Listed novice hurdle for mares at Haydock Park, plus two Premier Handicaps at Ascot. These provide some of the larger fields and that means more competitive prices on horse racing betting sites for later TV races.
Ascot has the Silver Cup over fences and the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle reverting to its historic name and sponsorship at this pre-Christmas fixture. Our horse racing experts assess the best of the action from both the Berkshire track and on Merseyside with detailed analysis below.
ITV Racing Saturday Preview for 21 December from Ascot & Haydock
12:55 Haydock – Listed 2m 2f 191y Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
This race registered as the Abram can go to Nicky Henderson runner HOLLOWAY QUEEN, who readily accounted for a dual bumper winner by a length on her Rules debut around Lingfield last time out. The front two pulled well clear of the third, so that gives the form a solid look.
Holloway Queen has already proven her effectiveness at this trip and on testing ground. Nico de Boinville comes north to ride her instead of staying closer to home on the Ascot card. That may be a tip in itself, and Holloway Queen is the one top online bookies say the rest must beat.
Of the others, unchallenged Uttoxeter scorer Kelya Wood may not have things all her own way in front this time. Like Holloway Queen, she’s a four-year-old open to plenty of improvement though, for training duo Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero.
A bigger threat may emerge from locally-trained Millie Supreme, who has chased home rivals now rated 136 and 129 on her two starts for Donald McCain. Carlisle conqueror Bill Joyce came out and subsequently landed a Sandown Grade 2. Jennie Candlish’s Fromheretoeternity looks exposed after progressing out of handicaps, meanwhile.
1:15 Ascot – 2m 2f 175y Class 2 Howden Handicap Chase (0-150)
Newbury Winter Carnival second and third Scarface and Galop De Chasse take each other on again on another ITV Racing Saturday but, based on how he shaped at this venue in the autumn, KOTMASK should appreciate stepping up in trip. Gary & Josh Moore’s six-year-old twice placed behind Martator in similar events over 2m 1f.
An unchanged mark of 130 looks workable, provided he gets going sooner. While Scarface blew his Newbury chances at the start last time out, there were fewer excuses for Galop De Chasse. Going down in trip might help the latter, one of the Venetia Williams runners to note on this card, more than Joe Tizzard’s charge.
Even lower down the handicap than Scarface is Prince Quali, whose Chepstow form from earlier in the year still reads well. Robert Walford’s seven-year-old shapes as though he will be effective now stepped up in trip. He is less exposed than elder statesmen Solo and Kotmask stable companion Black Gerry at any rate, and should come on for his reappearance.
1:50 Ascot – 2m 5f Class 2 Graduation Chase
Fil Dor faces stiff competition from Iroko, who reportedly has the Grand National as his spring target. If that’s the case, however, then Greenall & Guerriero’s runner will find this plenty sharp enough. Iroko should strip fitter for his reappearance second in a similar event over roughly this trip at Haydock last month.
The other Irish raiders in the line-up, Jungle Boogie and James Du Berlais, return to action. After joining Henry De Bromhead, the former has gone chasing pretty late in life and hasn’t been straightforward for his handlers. Jungle Boogie, an erstwhile stable companion of James Du Berlais, who fell when we last saw him, looks a vulnerable if very lightly-raced veteran.
2:05 Haydock – 3m 1f 125y Class 2 Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase (0-145)
Credo is another Haydock regular, but Anthony Honeyball books an inexperienced 10lb claimer for the ride. That takes plenty of weight off the mare’s back, yet conditional jockey Chad Bament hasn’t ridden a winner over fences so far. East Street is an in-form rival over both sets of obstacles with James Owen turning to Callum Pritchard in the saddle.
He claims the full 7lb, rather than just 3lb when last successfully partnering the eight-year-old to hurdles success here earlier this month. Frenchy Du Large is still above his last winning mark, so bottom weight Jacks Parrot may still have further improvement in him. As only a five-year-old, he came on tons for his first start in the UK last season and may do so again.
2:25 Ascot – 3m 97y Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle
He is the same age and off the same mark as when Paisley Park first won this. The Wallpark could be a similar type that potentially progresses out of handicaps, thus giving Elliott a second string for the staying division to Teahupoo. Subsequently purchased by JP McManus following his Cheltenham Pertemps Qualifier win in October, he is up 7lb for that here and seeks a five-timer with Mark Walsh now taking the ride.
Hiddenvalley Lake goes well fresh, meanwhile, and doesn’t have a lot to find with Strong Leader on Liverpool Hurdle form. De Bromhead brings the Robcour runner over after winning the Boyne Hurdle from Beacon Edge last term. That suggests he has the beating of Dan Skelton mare Kateira, who has stamina to prove.
Shoot First and four-year-old Eagle Fang complete the Irish challenge, but face respective questions of backing up Haydock Premier Handicap success and youth for such a stamina test. That means the leading British hopes Strong Leader and Crambo can have a say in the finish.
3:00 Ascot – 2m 7f 180y Howden Silver Cup (Premier Handicap Chase)
Off just 1lb higher than when successful 12 months ago, VICTTORINO looks an obvious one to follow-up for Williams. This course and distance brings out the best in Charlie Deutsch’s mount after landing both the Sodexo Gold Cup and this race last year. Venetia saddling big winners on recent ITV Racing Saturday cards is something we’ve come to expect now.
If the favourite can’t build on his Coral Gold Cup third down in trip back at his happy hunting ground, then Kim Bailey has a strong hand. An 8lb rise for Trelawne defeating Iroko in a Haydock graduation chase isn’t insurmountable if more rain hits Ascot. Two For Gold has course and distance form figures of 21224, so should give another good account.
Topweight Threeunderthrufive is only 3lb higher than the mark he won the Swinley Chase off in February, meanwhile. Harry Cobden is back riding at Ascot for the Paul Nicholls stable over this two-day festive fixture, but the remainder of the field don’t really appeal.
3:35 Ascot – 1m 7f 152y Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
Those in the frame from the Greatwood Hurdle take each other on again on a clockwise track now. Dysart Enos may strip fitter for her return to action and reverse placings with Be Aware, who seems to keep finishing second. Both sit at the head of the market for the final ITV Racing Saturday race, so value may lie elsewhere.
There are alternative form-lines for punters to consider here, and SECRET SQUIRREL may turn the tables on Our Champ off 6lb better terms from their course and distance meeting in November. Hughie Morrison’s charge only has about three lengths to find with the Chris Gordon runner.
Topweight Steel Ally split Be Aware and the selection when third around Sandown in the spring, but may now want further after proving his stamina at Haydock. Lightly-raced and unbeaten four-year-old Kabral Du Mathan could be anything for the Cobden-Nicholls combination, meanwhile.
Last season’s Scottish Champion Hurdle hero Favour And Fortune is a big price, but has a slight injury setback to get over for Alan King. At bigger odds, meanwhile, the likes of in-form Irish raider Impero, Ben Pauling’s Fiercely Proud and Fighting Fifth third Kihavah dropping markedly in grade could also spring surprises.
