Matt Chapman’s Saturday ITV Racing tips
13.15 Haydock – Beat The Bat
13.30 Ascot – Pic DOrhy
13.50 Haydock – Trelawne
14.10 Punchestown – State Man
14.30 Haydock – Kerryhill (each-way)
14.45 Ascot – Salver
15.05 Haydock – Bravemansgame (each-way)
15.20 Ascot – Kotmask (each-way)
15.40 Haydock – Credo (each-way)
*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 Haydock – Beat The Bat
ITV Racing Saturday comes from Haydock, Punchestown, and Ascot, where I will be, and the action starts here with a handicap hurdle over 2m3f. A big field, and remember to keep an eye on the weather as loads of rain may come on the day.
Lots of unexposed types here so hard to be dogmatic. BEAT THE BAT is the interesting one but he comes into this without a recent run.
My selection went up 7lb for chasing home the talented Dysart Enos at Cheltenham when last seen but that was over shorter and he looked as though he was crying out for this trip which he had scored over at Ascot the time before. Huge chance if fit for Harry Fry and Bryan Carver.
13.30 Ascot – Pic DOrhy
Ascot coverage starts with this Grade 2 chase over 2m5f. Not much to say here as PIC DORHY will be a short price to win the race once again.
Provided he jumps round, I can’t see a danger to the Paul Nicholls runner under Harry Cobden. This was the event Shishkin, sadly no longer with us, refused to start in twelve months ago.
13.50 Haydock – Trelawne
Here’s a graduation chase over nearly 2m6f. Impossible to think Hillcrest can score after such a long lay off. Iroko and Trelawne are also back from a break.
TRELAWNE was once behind Tahmuras last season over shorter and was last seen falling at the Festival. I love this horse. I was at Ffos Las when he won as a hurdler, and I thought he was an absolute monster.
Time will tell what he can do after that tumble, but he stays and will go in the mud should the rain lash down. Kim Bailey trains with the excellent Tom Bellamy on top.
14.10 Punchestown – State Man
ITV show one from Punchestown, which is this Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle over an extended 2m.
I don’t expect Lossiemouth to turn up for this, but even if she does I strongly fancy the Champion Hurdle hero STATE MAN to confirm how good he is in Ireland for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.
14.30 Haydock – Kerryhill (each-way)
A handicap hurdle over an extended 3m. Another open event. Doyen Quest keeps winning but is up another 7lb for a success last time at Cheltenham.
I don’t know if he can win this after a 301-day break, but KERRYHILL might just be very useful for Ruth Jefferson and Brian Hughes. The giant six-year-old looked very promising at Doncaster when last seen and is a strong stayer. One day he will be a lovely chaser, but he might still have more to give as a hurdler. An each-way chance.
14.45 Ascot – Salver
The Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle over an extended 2m3f. Golden Ace might not run if loads of rain comes and it is forecast.
I’m going to chance SALVER, provided it lashes down, so keep a close eye on the forecast, and if it looks like pouring have a few quid on.
Salver loves the mud and looked really good for the Moore family when winning at Chepstow and third in the Triumph Hurdle. It’s not easy for him being a four-year-old, but if the rain comes, his price will shorten under the talented Caoilin Quinn.
15.05 Haydock – Bravemansgame (each-way)
The big one of the day for many in a Grade 1 chase over an extended 3m1f. Grey Dawning did this column a right turn when scoring at the Cheltenham Festival and I loved this chap from the moment he won over hurdles at Warwick.
This trip might see him improve, but he needs to. A mark of 157 is way off what he needs to score here.
I’ve never been a fan of BRAVEMANSGAME, but he’s just overpriced here with the blinkers on for the first time. If they spark him up once again to anything near the form which saw him second in the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup then he has to have a major each-way chance for Paul Nicholls and new partner Sam Twiston-Davies.
15.20 Ascot – Kotmask (each-way)
A handicap chase over 2m1f. KOTMASK was staying on well behind the re-opposing Martator at this track last time and is now a bit better off at the weights as well.
I would think he’s another for the Moore family who has an each-way chance off 130 and Caoilion Quinn once again gets the big chance. Soft ground should not be an issue and hopefully he can get a bit closer to the Venetia Williams runner.
15.40 Haydock – Credo (each-way)
Here’s a handicap chase over an extended 3m1f. CREDO might be the each-way play here for Anthony Honeyball and Sam Twiston-Davies. The nine-year-old is a very strong stayer and will be fit after a spin at Wincanton.
A mark of 128 is workable and the same as when he was fifth at Punchestown in May. Chased home Famous Bridge (who won for this column) in this race last year and was 2lb higher. A fantastic each-way chance for me.
So best of luck, and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?
Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing tips
13.15 Haydock – Beat The Bat
13.30 Ascot – Pic DOrhy
13.50 Haydock – Trelawne
14.10 Punchestown – State Man
14.30 Haydock – Kerryhill (each-way)
14.45 Ascot – Salver
15.05 Haydock – Bravemansgame (each-way)
15.20 Ascot – Kotmask (each-way)
15.40 Haydock – Credo (each-way)
*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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