Ruby Walsh’s Saturday ITV Racing tips
13:40 Ascot – Kargese
13:55 Haydock – Royal Infantry
14:15 Ascot – Martator
14:30 Haydock – Imagine
14:50 Ascot – Wilful (each-way)
15:05 Haydock – Lossiemouth
15:32 Ascot – Jonbon
*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.
13:40 Ascot – Kargese
Willie Mullins’ Kargese looks really good and she’s strengthened up over her holidays. She’s a bit keen in her races but she’s got solid form from last season. This contest is a stepping stone for her and she can do herself justice on her seasonal debut. Paul Townend will likely take the lead on her and hopefully she stays there. The 1m 7f trip is the perfect distance for her too. The physical improvement will hopefully pay dividends.
13:55 Haydock – Royal Infantry
It’s hard to oppose Royal Infantry for Harry and Dan Skelton. There isn’t another runner rated high enough to beat him. He has course and distance form too so it’s a simple one!
14:15 Ascot – Martator
The handicapper seems to have a hold on a lot of the runners so I’ll side with Martator for Venetia Williams. Ned Fox’s 3lb claim will help. Hopefully the step up in trip to 2m5f will suit too.
14:30 Haydock – Imagine
Imagine only got going in the last 100 yards of the 2023 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey’s handicap hurdle at Cheltenham. I watched the race back, I can’t rule him out over the 3m 1f trip now as they just didn’t make the move early enough on him that day. He pulled up on seasonal bow when well fancied for the Paddy Power Gold Cup where connections felt the ground was too quick. He’s crying out for this step up in trip and he’ll love the softer ground.
14:50 Ascot – Wilful (each-way)
This is a difficult race to call so I’m on Wilful at a big price. Jonjo O’Neill’s runner got on a bit of a roll last spring and into the summer. He won at Worcester last August before finishing eighth at Taunton in December. He made the running and it looked like he blew up. With that run under his belt, he could go well at an each-way price.
15:05 Haydock – Lossiemouth
Lossiemouth – not that one! – finished fourth at Newbury in November after just under three years off the track. That was a solid effort and Polly Gundry has given him around 50 days to recover. That’s more than enough so I’ll side with him with Charlie Deutsch on board.
15:32 Ascot – Jonbon
Energumene will need to show improvement to beat Jonbon and the fact it’s not really heavy ground is also against Willie Mullins’ runner. Jonbon has achieved much more and he should win. The ground will suit him too so expect the favourite to get the job done.
Ruby Walsh’s Saturday ITV Racing tips
13:40 Ascot – Kargese
13:55 Haydock – Royal Infantry
14:15 Ascot – Martator
14:30 Haydock – Imagine
14:50 Ascot – Wilful (each-way)
15:05 Haydock – Lossiemouth
15:32 Ascot – Jonbon
*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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