Ruby Walsh’s Saturday ITV Racing tips
12:55 Haydock – Kelya Wood
13:50 Ascot – Jungle Boogie
14:05 Haydock – Credo
14:25 Ascot – Strong Leader
15:00 Ascot – Trelawne
15:35 Ascot – Fiercely Proud
*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.
12:55 Haydock – Kelya Wood
It’s interesting when you look at a Saturday card with Ascot down the road, and Nico de Boinville has gone all the way to Haydock, so Holloway Queen automatically jumps out at you for that simple reason.
But I was impressed by KELYA WOOD at Uttoxeter. She beat one of Nicky Henderson’s in Crazierthandaisy, winning, and when she bucked out, she went an excellent gallop and kept going. Haydock will suit her, too.
13:50 Ascot – Jungle Boogie
Iroko ran a blinder in a similar race at Haydock behind Trelawne but couldn’t catch him as he quickened down the straight. He’s the rightful favourite.
That said, I would say the horse with the single best piece of form in the race is, without a doubt, the outsider, JUNGLE BOOGIE.
In his Gold Cup run, he was way too free, and he pulled and dragged and hauled every step of the way and ended up getting beaten by 21 lengths.
He travelled much better than others in that field and stands out here to me.
14:05 Haydock – Credo
I’ll return to last year’s race – Famous Bridge won that day, five-and-a-half lengths ahead of CREDO. There were 2lbs between them that day and 12lbs between them now. Chuck in jockey Chad Bament is claiming 10lbs as well, and suddenly, there are 20lbs between them on Saturday.
Chad ran a winner earlier in December at Sandown and hasn’t had that many rides—two winners in 18 rides, from what I’ve seen—but 10lbs is a huge claim, and for that reason alone, I’m going for Credo.
14:25 Ascot – Strong Leader
I was impressed with STRONG LEADER in Newbury. He’s developing his technique in jumping, and he never looked like not winning that contest. It wasn’t the strongest race in the world, but he was always in control and is only a seven-year-old.
He improved throughout last season from his run behind Blueking d’Oroux at Ascot. He might have been a bit disappointing in the Relkeel but was better in the Cleeve, won at Aintree and did the same in his comeback run at Newbury.
He’s an improving horse, getting stronger and becoming a top-class stayer. He’s only going in one direction.
I know The Wall Park is improving, too, but I think he still has a bit to find to win this race, and I’m not sure Crambo has progressed from the heights he reached. I know he won this race last year, but he regressed at Cheltenham and disappointed at Aintree, so I’d take Strong Leader to win again.
15:00 Ascot – Trelawne
I was with The Changing Man at Newcastle when he couldn’t peg Frero Banbou back, and he got himself 5lbs for that, so that puts me off him.
I wouldn’t say Victtorino was unlucky at Newbury; he didn’t look like he had the pace for the Coral Gold Cup. He’s 1lb higher than when he won this race off 142 last year, beating Yeah Man. He’s only 143 this year and the obvious favourite, but I think TRELAWNE is improving.
He was the one for me in the Ultima last year, where he fell early on. He beat Iroko over 2m5f at Haydock. He wants every yard at 3m, and I’ll side with him.
15:35 Ascot – Fiercely Proud
This is competitive. The Greatwood does seem to hold the key with Dysart Enos and Be Aware in this, and there’s another one out of it at a higher price, which is FIERCELY PROUD, too.
He travelled well in it, but Ben Jones went down the inside, whereas others came down the hill on the wide outside by that Sunday – Fiercely Proud went inside and got tired from the last.
I could see him improving plenty, and he appeals to me at the price of around 11/1.
Ruby Walsh’s Saturday ITV Racing tips
12:55 Haydock – Kelya Wood
13:50 Ascot – Jungle Boogie
14:05 Haydock – Credo
14:25 Ascot – Strong Leader
15:00 Ascot – Trelawne
15:35 Ascot – Fiercely Proud
*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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