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What a Betfair Chase we have in store on Saturday at Haydock Park. It’s fantastic that Henry de Bromhead has sent over one of his stable stars and Gold Cup runners up A Plus Tard to really spice this contest up. Meanwhile, the card at Ascot isn’t bad either and the meeting is part of seven contests being show on Saturday’s ITV Racing.
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13:50 Haydock – Bravemansgame
If you could guarantee me a clean round of jumping from Itchy Feet, I would take him to upset the likely odds-on favourite with his experience. The problem is he can make too many mistakes. You can’t do that at the top level and get away with it.
BRAVEMANSGAME was foot perfect at Newton Abbot and can only be better for that experience. He put up a very good performance on good ground last season at Newbury, so Saturday’s conditions won’t bother. We need to see a good showing from him to bolster the home challenge for the Festival next March.
14:05 Ascot – Defi du Seuil
The former Triumph Hurdle and JLT Novice Chase winner has had a wind operation, which should help him get his career back on track. DEFI DU SEUIL will be running on nicer ground than he has done for a while, so maybe worth chancing on his first run since January. Matt Griffiths did a great job on Dashel Drasher to win at Ascot last season and he will be missed as this horse is not an easy ride.
It’s a massive boost for young Rex Dingle to get the ride after Griffiths unfortunate injury in a car crash, so good luck to him. Lostintranslation is a fascinating runner. The Tizzard team are flying and it would not be the biggest shock to see him run a mighty race. I am sticking with Defi this time though.
14:25 Haydock – Bass Rock
I chased my tail to try and narrow this race down as I was really impressed with Orbys Legend at Chepstow. He is up 8lbs for that win, which isn’t enough to stop his progress. However, I also loved the way BASS ROCK won at Carlisle. He had a wind operation in the summer and as a five-year-old is still improving. He also won on decent ground at Ayr which is a very similar track to Haydock.
14:40 Ascot – Buzz
It is very hard to get away from Nicky Henderson’s Cesarewitch runner BUZZ, particularly on decent ground. He finished last season off at the Grand National meeting with a very good second to Abacadabras in a Grade One hurdle. He has no penalty to carry in this race and in fact gets weight off Goshen and Song for Someone. He has to be the selection, but don’t dismiss Song for Someone as he’s shown a real liking for the track in the past.
15:00 Haydock – Bristol De Mai
A Plus Tard is the highest-rated runner in the field having won the Grade One Savills Chase at Leopardstown last Christmas over three miles and then finishing runner up to Minella Indo in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The problem is he has been beaten first-time up for the last three seasons, that is a worry when taking a short price ahead of his seasonal debut.
Waiting Patiently has a very good record when coming back after a break and was placed in a King George Chase at Kempton after nearly a year off, when trained by for Ruth Jefferson. He will be ready for this and has to be a player on his debut run for former jockey-turned-trainer Christian Williams.
The ground at Haydock doesn’t seem soft enough for Royal Pagaille or last season’s Caspian Caviar Gold Cup winner, Chatham Street Lad (who beat last week’s Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Midnight Shadow by 15 lengths that day.)
That brings me to the galloping grey, BRISTOL DE MAI, who is already a three-time winner of this race and could even be going for his fifth victory in this Grade One race, but he was beaten by Lostintranslation in 2019. He’s such a course specialist and is ready to rock at this time of year.
15:15 Ascot – Before Midnight
A tricky handicap to end ITV’s coverage of the Ascot races, but I was so impressed with BEFORE MIDNIGHT’s jumping last time when he won at Cheltenham beating Sky Pirate. He loves to front run and that is a massive asset at Ascot. He will take a bit of pegging back.
15:35 Haydock – Ramses De Teillee
David Pipe is claiming 3lbs off the top-weight with Fergus Gillard and RAMSES DE TEILLEE won a handicap chase at Cheltenham’s November meeting last season beating Yala Enki (who won the corresponding race last weekend this year.) Ramses de Teillee races off a 2lb lower mark now and with Gillard’s claim can go close in a competitive heat.
Mick Fitzgerald tips summary:
13:50 Haydock – Bravemansgame
14:05 Ascot – Defi du Seuil
14:25 Haydock – Bass Rock
14:40 Ascot – Buzz
15:00 Haydock – Bristol De Mai
15:15 Ascot – Before Midnight
15:35 Haydock – Ramses De Teillee
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