Mick Fitz: I’m backing this Super Seven on Saturday at Ascot & Wetherby

Mick Fitz is delighted the jumps are back centre stage, and has given us his picks for a busy Saturday of racing...

The cards have been affected by this recent dry spell, but nobody will mind if we can back a few winners!

The opening TV race is at Ascot and that’s where we start.

Ascot 13:50

This Novices handicap chase could be all about jumping and our selection Amour de Nuit is pretty good at that after two wins over the larger obstacles. He had a pretty good rating over hurdles and I take him to just edge it over Sternrubin.

Ascot 14:25

I am a big fan of Dan and Harry Skelton, and they have Shantou Rock in here.

I see him winning this from Champagne At Tara who has had a great run of it lately. The ground should not be a hindrance as Shantou Rock had good winning form at Newton Abbot on decent ground.

Ascot 15:00

This race sees the return of Global Citizen. This horse put up a clock-busting display at Kempton in the Dovecote and many will feel he is still well handicapped on his mark of 145.

He is probably the one to be on but I recommend backing Caius Marcius each-way, as this horse beat Theclockisticking at Market Rasen – that’s good form.

Ascot 15:35

Traffic Fluide has the benefit of a run under his belt and that could definitely swing it here. Go Conquer was a very good winner for Jonjo at this track and Nigel Twiston-Davies is bound to have him ready, so he gets the nod. He was a very good winner from the front and if Sam gets it easy up front he will be hard to pass. Traffic Fluide will make life difficult though.

Wetherby 14:05

Irish Roe is your favourite here but I would be worried that she got beat first out last season off a much lower mark. Lady Buttons is hard to pass and I think Phil Kirby will have her wound up for this.

Wetherby 14:40 – The Charlie Hall

The Charlie Hall is a race I have managed to win a few times with See More Business and Marlborough.

The ground drying has scuppered things for a few of them, but Black Corton has no such worries. He likes all types of ground and will be ready for this. Paul Nicholls did brilliantly with this lad last year and with Bryony Frost in the saddle again this partnership will be tough to beat.

I have a vested interest in this as I coach Bryony and the fact she won on Frodon last week in the Old Roan at Aintree is massive for her confidence. She loves this horse and with the small field it all looks to have fallen into place for this combo.

Meanwhile, Double Shuffle needed his first run last year but if fit would be a major danger.

Wetherby 15:15

The West Yorkshire Hurdle has Wholestone as favourite. His third behind Penhill at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival reads pretty good but beware that it took him a couple of runs to come good last year.

For that reason I am going for a Paul Nicholls/Bryony double with Old Guard. He ran a belter behind Verdana Blue at Kempton in a very fast time. No disgrace there and he is a nice price to boot.

As ever – Happy Punting!

Find the latest odds from Ascot and Wetherby over at paddypower.com