A bumper Saturday features the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes at Newmarket and the Grade 1 Champion Chase at Down Royal, with jumps action at Ascot and Ayr too before Southwell takes over under the lights. Andrew Mount has horses to watch at both Ascot and Wetherby, taking a pair of runners out of two races.
1.25 Ascot – Dance And Glance (1pt win – 5/2 Hills, bet365, 9/4 generally)
The 3-1 and 11-4 has gone since I napped Dance And Glance on GG’s Weekend Watch but 2-1 or bigger will suffice and Anthony Honeyball’s six-year-old, best when fresh, is a good trends-fit for this 2m3f novices’ limited handicap chase. His record when rested for more than six weeks, combined with racing on genuinely good or faster going, reads 11111 (5-5) for a profit of £12.23 to a £1 level stake at SP. In the 12 renewals of this race since 2014, horses rested for 150 days or longer were nine from 40 for a profit of £19.25 at SP (expected wins = 6.02, A/E = 1.49). Those returned to the track sooner – and that includes the other four runners – were just three from 42 for a loss of £29.38 (expected wins = 5.70).
2.00 Ascot – Haas Boy (1.5pt win – 13/2 generally)
Seniors’ handicap hurdles are few and far between but, like with veterans’ handicap chases, the best punting angle is to side with relative youth. Since these races were introduced, eight-year-olds – the youngest age group eligible to take part – are 15 from 95 (15.8% strike-rate (for a profit of £7.60 to a £1 level stake at SP (+£27.62 at Betfair SP after 2% commission). Nine-year-olds are seven from 63 (11.1%, -£33.50 at SP), ten-year-olds are four from 44 (9.1%, -£15.00), while those aged 11 or older failed to register a win from 22 attempts. Haas Boy fared best of those aged nine or older when a narrow second to Gower Prince in seniors’ handicap hurdle company at Chepstow last time, doing clear best of those to come from off the pace, and will come on for that run. Trainer Chester Williams an 11 from 31 record with his runners returning from a break of six weeks or less (+£17.25 to a £1 level stake at SP) and the return to fences in what should be a strongly run race will suit.
3.43 Ascot – Moveit Like Minnie (0.5pt e/w – 10/1 bet365, Hills, both five places)
October is usually when to side with team Twiston-Davies and Moveit Like Minnie was strong in the betting ahead of his reappearance in a 2m Class 3 handicap hurdle at Hexham 29 days ago. The 3-1 shot pressed the early pace and looked dangerous on turning into the home straight but had no answer to 13-8 favourite Mr McLoughlan, who came through late to score in ready fashion by just over two lengths. Moveit Like Minnie now has form figures in handicap company on left-handed tracks of 26599P1URR292 (1-13) and, having landed five of his 21 handicap starts the other way round, will appreciate this change of direction to right-handed Ascot today. He’s yet to win above Class 3 level but often runs this track well, hitting the frame in six of his eight starts. I’ve saved on Brenda’s Asking.
3.50 Down Royal – Kala Konti (1.5pt win – 100/30 bet365, Hills, 3/1 Hills)
The Gordon Elliott-trained Kala Conti has a great record in the early months of the peak jumps season, recording form figures for her current yard from October to December of 12112211 (5-8), as compared to figures of 5702F (0-5) in other months. The six-year-old fell when with every chance in the Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree when we last saw her and can be backed to regain the winning thread in this 2m3.5f Grade 2 contest, a race her trainer has won in five of the last six years.
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets Today
1.25 Ascot – Dance And Glance (1pt win – 5/2 Hills, bet365, 9/4 generally)
2.00 Ascot – Haas Boy (1.5pt win – 13/2 generally)
3.43 Ascot – Moveit Like Minnie (0.5pt e/w – 10/1 bet365, Hills, both five places)
3.50 Down Royal – Kala Konti (1.5pt win – 100/30 bet365, Hills, 3/1 Hills)
FAQs: Today’s Racing Tips
Which racecourses run on Saturday 31 October? Newmarket, Wetherby, Ayr, Ascot, Southwell & Down Royal.
Who is Andrew Mount? Andrew Mount is a professional tipster with over a decade of experience following UK and Irish racing. He combines form study, market moves and trainer intelligence to identify value bets each day, and shares his tips daily on X as @TrendHorses.
When was today’s article published? Today’s article was published at 4.40pm on Friday 30th October.