Mick Fitzgerald’s Saturday ITV Racing tips
13:15 Wetherby – William Cody
13:30 Ascot – Bhaloo
13:50 Wetherby – Luccia
14:05 Ascot – Saint Segal
14:22 Wetherby – Sandor Clegane
14:40 Down Royal – Gerri Colombe
14:58 – Wetherby – Conflated
15:15 Ascot – Secret Squirrel
15:32 Wetherby – Williethebuilder
15:45 Ascot – Amirite
*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.
13:15 Wetherby – William Cody
A 2m 4f Handicap Chase is the opening contest that ITV are showing at Wetherby and it’s hard to get a handle on them. WILLIAM CODY was a little unlucky last to finish second here 12 months ago and I’ll take a punt on him in this seven-runner field.
13:30 Ascot – Bhaloo
Leader in the Park will be popular for trainer Ben Pauling at the foot of the weights, but BHALOO has schooled quite well for the Nicky Henderson yard. He rarely debuts a runner over these Ascot fences, so that says plenty about his chances.
He doesn’t look badly treated by the handicapper on his hurdles form off 130 and carrying just 11st, he’s got to be a player in this five-runner contest.
13:50 Wetherby – Luccia
LUCCIA is short in the market, but decent ground should make all the difference for her. Last year, she was beaten in this race, but the conditions were very different. Take No Chances is respected with that run under her belt and the Skelton team in such fine form.
14:05 Ascot – Saint Segal
I never thought I’d say this, but I fancy SAINT SEGAL. If you look at this race 12 months ago, he looked all over the winner but fell at the last. He’s had a prep, which will bring him on. Plus, he seems to have a decent chance as long as his jumping holds up.
14:22 Wetherby – Sandor Clegane
We’re one shy of an each-way angle again, with just seven runners declared. The Skelton runner Kateira improved with each run last season and gets a bit of weight off the others, but the Irish challenger SANDOR CLEGANE is very interesting.
He never really took to fences, so they’ve reverted to hurdles and stuck the headgear on him. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and would love to see him win for an old pal of mine, Paul Nolan.
14:40 Down Royal – Gerri Colombe
GERRI COLOMBE, last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up and Aintree Bowl winner, is the field’s most progressive runner. While the quicker ground mightn’t play to his strengths, he’ll still be very hard to beat.
I’d love to see Hewick, who has had a prep run (third to French Dynamite at Punchestown), run a big race.
14:58 Wetherby – Conflated
The Charlie Hall Chase could be heading for export as the Irish have some strong challengers and Grey Dawning doesn’t line up. CONFLATED tipped up at the first on reappearance at Punchestown, but his overall profile is decent and he’s rated 1lb higher than Bravemansgame.
French Dynamite won that Punchestown contest but may find things a little tougher now.
15:15 Ascot – Secret Squirrel
SECRET SQUIRREL looks well treated and should appreciate the drier ground for trainer Hughie Morrison.
I put up Fiercely Proud at Cheltenham last week, but he never got to run as his rider had a problem with his ‘tack’ at the start. He’s a player again in this and can be involved at the business end, but I’m not sure he’s as ‘well in’ as last weekend.
15:32 Wetherby – Williethebuilder
We’ve no each-way angle again in this, but the fact that he’s already had a pipe-opener makes WILLIETHEBUILDER my pick. He had a wind operation in the summer and just chinned on reappearance at this venue a few weeks back when returning to the handicap company.
Hopefully, he hits the target in a race where Spirits Bay could be the danger, making his seasonal bow.
15:45 Ascot – Amirite
Henry de Bromhead’s runners are in great form, and you have to respect the ones he brings to the UK early in the season. AMIRITE is a nice price. The ground is in his favour; he travels strongly and jumps well in his races. He looks tailor-made for Ascot.
Mick Fitzgerald’s ITV Racing tips
13:15 Wetherby – William Cody
13:30 Ascot – Bhaloo
13:50 Wetherby – Luccia
14:05 Ascot – Saint Segal
14:22 Wetherby – Sandor Clegane
14:40 Down Royal – Gerri Colombe
14:58 – Wetherby – Conflated
15:15 Ascot – Secret Squirrel
15:32 Wetherby – Williethebuilder
15:45 Ascot – Amirite
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at the time of publishing but subject to change.
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