Mick Fitzgerald’s Saturday ITV Racing tips
13:50 Ascot – Iroko
14:05 Haydock – Famous Bridge
14:25 Ascot – Strong Leader
14:40 Haydock – Jilaijone
15:00 Ascot – Threeunderthrufive (Each-Way)
15:35 Ascot – Favour And Fortune (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 – Iroko
IROKO is the favourite and, according to the conditions of the race and his rating, he should win. What he needs is a strong pace to aim at and he’s going to get that. If there was to be a surprise, it’s that one of the frontrunners gets away and can’t peg it back, but he should win.
14:05 Haydock – Famous Bridge
Course form can count for a lot at Haydock, so for that reason I’m going for FAMOUS BRIDGE. Nicky Richards got out of hospital this week and it would be a lovely tonic for him if this horse were to go and win the Tommy Whittle, and I don’t see any reason why he won’t.
He had a really good run at Kelso, this is his track as he loves it around there, so he’s the horse for me.
The interesting horse here is Credo. If you were looking to back something at a bigger price, it would be him. Chad Bament takes 10lbs off and this he is 10lbs better off from last year’s run against Famous Bridge. Added to the jockey’s claim and that makes him dangerous.
14:25 Ascot – Strong Leader
The key to the Long Walk Hurdle is the jumping. I’ve no doubt STRONG LEADER is a horse that’s getting better all the time, but the key is his jumping. He has made mistakes and, if anything, he goes a little left when he jumps, so that is a bit of a worry.
Crambo is a horse you have to respect. The only thing is, he’s had two runs and looked sharp by the time he got to the Long Walk last year. He hasn’t this year.
Strong Leader is the horse to beat, and I’ll stick with him, despite concerns about his jumping.
14:40 Haydock – Jilaijone
The safest option is JILAIJONE. There are question marks about a lot of them in in this race and just with Jilaijone you’re not guessing.
15:00 Ascot – Threeunderthrufive (Each-Way)
Victtorino had a very good run in the old Hennessy, and if he can cut out the mistakes, he could be hard to beat.
But I’m going to take a punt on an outsider. There’s a little bit of value here with THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE (E/W). He runs well fresh, he likes it at Ascot, winning over course and distance in February and making a lot of the running. He’s only 3lbs higher since then, and as an each-way bet, he’s a solid one.
15:35 Ascot – Favour And Fortune (Each-Way)
A very valuable handicap to end proceedings at Ascot, with the front two placing in the Greatwood, so their chances are pretty evident.
The one I like is a very strong traveller in FAVOUR AND FORTUNE (E/W). I don’t think this horse is badly treated by the handicapper. He’s run some good races, finished sixth in the Supreme Novices Hurdle, and off a mark of 141 he’s a very good each-way bet. The ground isn’t going to be bad at Ascot and I think he’ll cope with conditions.
Mick Fitzgerald’s Saturday ITV Racing tips
13:50 Ascot – Iroko
14:05 Haydock – Famous Bridge
14:25 Ascot – Strong Leader
14:40 Haydock – Jilaijone
15:00 Ascot – Threeunderthrufive (Each-Way)
15:35 Ascot – Favour And Fortune (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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