Matt Chapman’s Saturday ITV Racing tips
13:50 Ascot – Jungle Boogie
14:05 Haydock – Famous Bridge
14:25 Ascot – Crambo (each-way)
14:40 Haydock – Luna De La Mer
15:00 Ascot – Victtorino
15:35 Ascot – Go Dante (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.
13:50 Ascot – Jungle Boogie
ITV Racing Saturday comes from Ascot and Haydock and gets underway with a Graduation Chase over 2m5f.
All four of these are closely matched, and of course, Fil For is in the mix, having cost a ridiculous 620,000 euros in February—a crazy price. JUNGLE BOOGIE has a real chance of getting an uncontested lead, and while he’s almost the least I fancy on form, he’s the one for me.
My selection stays very well and made all over nearly three miles at Tramore in January. He’s only run once since, finishing sixth in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He was only 16-1 for that but had no chance in my book. Farrah O’Keeffe rides for Henry de Bromhead.
The problem is he’s nearly 11, but that said, he is lightly raced.
14:05 Haydock – Famous Bridge
Haydock coverage on ITV gets underway here with the Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase over an extended 3m1f. This is quite open.
FAMOUS BRIDGE landed the contest for the blog last year, and I can see him following up for Nicky Richards and Sean Quinlan. A mark of 137 looks workable, as he was fourth in the Ultimate at Cheltenham two runs ago off 139.
Jumps well. Goes in any ground. Stays. Stable also in decent enough form.
14:25 Ascot – Crambo (each-way)
Up in class now to the feature Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle over an extended 3m. A big field for this because it’s an open division.
The Wallpark keeps winning, but this is a big test. Strong Leader has never won right-handed. It might not be a problem, but he has a few quirks.
I’ll chance CRAMBO on his return to action. The defending champion looked so promising in this last year, but his form tailed off at the end of last year.
Connections believe he’s going well again at home, and Fergal O’Brien teams up with Jonny Burke again. Stays and jumps when on form. I’ll have a few quid on each-way.
14:40 Haydock – Luna De La Mer
Now a handicap hurdle over nearly 2m. LUNE DE LA MER is the unexposed animal here, having only a fourth run for Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero.
The gelding has two promising wins at Kelso and Aintree under his belt and, to be quite frank could be chucked in off 110.
Only time will tell, but he has much more potential than most of these and Henry Brooke is useful on top.
15:00 Ascot – Victtorino
The Silver Cup Handicap Chase over 3m. It’s hard to get away from VICTTORINO here, who will be strong in the market for Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch.
He was a real eye-catcher at Newbury on his return, having jumped badly but staying on when the race was over.
There is a suspicion he’s much better going right-handed, and this is very winnable, with question marks over quite a few.
15:35 Ascot – Go Dante (each-way)
A big betting heat in a handicap hurdle over nearly 2m. Be Aware put up a terrific return at Cheltenham, but closing in from off the pace is not always easy.
I will chance GO DANTE each-way for the inform Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen.
I also put him up when he was miles behind many of these last Cheltenham. However, he goes well right-handed – he landed the Imperial Cup at Sandown – and has dropped 2lb for his Cheltenham effort.
I’d hope for more here as an each-way bet off just 3lb higher than Sandown.
So best of luck, and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me, Paddy?
Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing tips
13:50 Ascot – Jungle Boogie
14:05 Haydock – Famous Bridge
14:25 Ascot – Crambo (each-way)
14:40 Haydock – Luna De La Mer
15:00 Ascot – Victtorino
15:35 Ascot – Go Dante (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.
READ MORE
- Get all the latest Horse Racing News and Racing Tips at Paddy Power News
- David Power Jockeys’ Cup: All you need to know about the biggest prize in Jumps racing history
The latest racing odds are on PaddyPower.com now
THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO SAFER GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
