Mick Fitzgerald’s ITV Racing Tips
13:50 Ascot – Apple Away
14:05 Wincanton – Colonel Mustard
14:25 Ascot – Jay Jay Reilly (Each-Way)
14:40 Haydock – Botox Has
15:00 Ascot – Victtorino
15:15 Haydock – Iron Bridge
15:36 Ascot – LHomme Presse
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
13:50 Ascot – Apple Away
Apple Away is a Grade 1 winner over hurdles when winning at Aintree on soft ground on that occasion. Last time out she had a very good run at Warwick behind Grey Dawning in a Grade 2. This jumping test should be perfect for her as she is a very good jumper. Brave Kingdom will be a hindrance as that free-going sort will pop out.
14:05 Wincanton – Colonel Mustard
The ground is the key to this race. If it was good ground, I would be confident of Rubaud winning. The ground is soft, heavy in places and with a dry forecast it could be very hard work. That would be a concern for Paul Nicholls’ charge as he does not look a strong stayer. He is all speed.
Colonel Mustard, on the other hand, has good form on very soft ground. He just lacks an extra gear but does stay well and that may well be what is required here. He is favoured by conditions and the fact he receives weight from the others in this contest swings a lot of things in his favour. The nagging doubt in the back of your mind is it’s been a while since he visited the winners enclosure.
14:25 Ascot – Jay Jay Reilly (Each-Way)
I have gone far Dan Skelton‘s Jay Jay Reilly as I feel it is a very open race with question marks about quite a few of these, especially some of the horses at the head of the market. Monviel is very interesting back over hurdles. I have always thought plenty of him and back as Ascot should definitely suit him. However, I feel the market has overlooked Jay Jay Reilly and watching back the Lanzarote there is no reason he can’t back that up with a good run here.
14:40 Haydock – Botox Has
Botox Has got found out in the Cleeve Hurdle, but still ran a very good race only getting beaten 5 1/2 lengths behind some of the top stayers. He loves a flat track as he showed when winning here previously and the ground is not an issue. He revels in it. Butch is the improver and is a thorough stayer as we saw when he won at Cheltenham.
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15:00 Ascot – Victtorino
I loved Victtorino when he won at this track a couple of times in November and December. He is only 8lbs higher for his win against Two For Gold when a couple came down late on. That’s good form and he seemed to get out of sync at Cheltenham. Keep half an eye on Larry as he loves this track too.
15:15 Haydock – Iron Bridge
A race I felt was a bit of a toss-up between Iron Bridge for the Jonjo O’Neill team and Yeah Man for Gavin Cromwell. I have gone with Iron Bridge as he is proven at Haydock. I know it was a two horse race he won but he was enjoying himself around there. The ground is not an issue for him and he was a distant second in the Welsh National but you know he stays and he’s actually 2lbs lower than when running at Chepstow. Yeah Man has run a couple of very good races at Ascot, coming down later on when finishing strongly on soft ground, then next time finishing a good second on quicker ground. The slower surface will help him and he is definitely a player with cheek pieces on for the first time.
15:36 Ascot – LHomme Presse
Venetia Williams’ charge LHomme Presse is such a bonny horse. The only negative you have is that he has shown a tendency to jump to his left. He showed that when he would’ve been second in the King George won by Bravemansgame. The only way he gets beat is if he bounces on his second run after a layoff. It has happened before and you just have to be aware of it.
If he performs anything near his best he will win. Pic D’orhy will love the slightly drier ground here but will fall short if the favourite runs to his mark. He is a very good jumper and this looks a cracking race with Ahoy Senor in here also.
Mick Fitzgerald’s ITV Racing Tips
13:50 Ascot – Apple Away
14:05 Wincanton – Colonel Mustard
14:25 Ascot – Jay Jay Reilly (Each-Way)
14:40 Haydock – Botox Has
15:00 Ascot – Victtorino
15:15 Haydock – Iron Bridge
15:36 Ascot – LHomme Presse
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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