Horse Racing tips: Mick Fitzgerald’s 6 best bets for Saturday’s ITV Races

Mick fancies Ronald Pump to take the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.

Mick Fitzgerald

By / Horse Racing Tips / 3 years ago

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13:50 Ascot – Diego Du Charmil

Ascot can be a specialists’ track over fences and DIEGO DU CHARMIL and Sully D’Oc AA are both regulars who perform well at this venue. The longer trip is the question mark for both of them however. I feel Diego Du Charmil is back to a mark where he can be competitive.

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14:05 Haydock – Boss Man Fred

Dan Skelton has a lot of runners on Saturdays and BOSS MAN FRED had been over fences, but some of his form over the smaller obstacles is smart. I was a little disappointed with Mackelduff last time and this race looks winnable.

14:25 Ascot – Ronald Pump

The feature race of the day and the terrible news about Buzz has cast a little shadow over the contest. Let’s hope we see him back on track someday.

The big question now as far as the race is concerned is where will the pace come from? On the Blind Side and Lisnagar Oscar may lead – but they won’t go Flat out from the front. Thyme Hill was really disappointing in France last time and needs to bounce back, but was just pipped here last season by the re-opposing Paisley Park who has also lost a bit of sparkle – so Thyme Hill is of interest.

The Irish raider RONALD PUMP is a fascinating runner and was second to the mighty Honeysuckle in the 2m 4f Hattons Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse last time. He was also third in the Grade 1 at Punchestown over this trip before and should definitely hit the places at least.  

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14:40 Haydock – Remastered

David Pipe’s REMASTERED looked like he was going to play a huge part in the finish of the Ladbroke Trophy at Newbury, but tipped up four out just as he jumped into the lead. Tom Scudamore is back on board today and that makes him a confident selection for me. It looks the perfect race for him, and I couldn’t see any off this field being able to win a Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot as a novice like he did.

15:00 Ascot – Jerrysback (Each-Way)

His form is far from inspiring, but this race look tailor-made for JERRYSBACK. There’s plenty of pace in this contest and he is normally a good jumper, despite falling last time. There are question marks about a few of these and in the end, it was a toss-up between him and Cloth Cap. I just worry the soft ground will be too much for Cloth Cap. Fingers crossed though.

15:35 Ascot – Drop The Anchor (Each-Way)

Pat Fahy sends the JP McManus-owned DROP THE ANCHOR over and he ran a cracker in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last March, not beaten all that far in seventh. He has to be of interest in this contest, which will be competitively run. The fact that he has experience in big-field handicaps will help and he is a bit of value against the field.

JP’s other runner, No Ordinary Joe, is trained by Nicky Henderson and will be better for his run at Cheltenham behind West Cork. You would expect him to turn the tables on that runner on these revised terms. But, I am happy to take a chance on Drop The Anchor to hit the places at least.

Mick Fitzgerald tips:

13:50 Ascot – Diego Du Charmil
14:05 Haydock – Boss Man Fred
14:25 Ascot – Ronald Pump
14:40 Haydock – Remastered
15:00 Ascot – Jerrysback (Each-Way)
15:35 Ascot – Drop The Anchor (Each-Way)

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