Five Group 1s make British Champions Day at Ascot the highlight of Saturday, with Newton Abbot, Market Rasen, Catterick, Stratford and Southwell also racing. Andrew Mount has horses to watch at both Ascot and Catterick, taking a pair of runners out of two races.
2.05 Ascot – Mitbaahy (0.5pt e/w – 25/1 generally with the firms paying four places)
The four places concession in the Champion Sprint Stakes is very attractive given the presence of short-priced favourite Almeraq and the three on my shortlist are Coppull, Paborus and Mitbaahy. The last-named is the biggest price of the trio and might prove to be the value call at 20-1+. Charles Hills has been responsible for a number of upsets in Group 1 sprints with these colours and the seven-year-old fits the profile of nine of the last ten winners – non-female, beaten last time out. He likes this track, finishing a 50-1 fifth of 17 in the Wokingham on his latest start, and the ground will be more suitable today.
2.20 Limerick – World of Fortunes (2pt win – 7/4 Sky Bet, Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook)
World Of Fortunes has a cracking record in the March to October period, recording form figures of 2111118P12124 (7-13) for a profit of £16.95 to a £1 level stake at SP. The two unplaced efforts can be forgiven – she was outclassed in Grade 1 company when eighth at Fairyhouse in April 2025 and jumped poorly on her chase debut when pulled up at Tramore in August of the same year (she has not run over fences since). James Kenny’s eight-year-old returned from a break with a respectable 11-1 fourth of 13 in a 1m6f Flat race last month and she was narrowly beaten (half a length) into second place in this mares’ Listed Hurdle 12 months ago.
2.40 Ascot – Tajlina (0.5pt e/w – 25/1 bet365, Sky Bet, Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook, all four places)
Stalls 1-5 are 0-55 in the last 11 runnings of the Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes which is bad news for backers of short-priced favourite Kalpana (stall 1 of 13). Some firms are paying four places and the Graffard runner Tajlina appeals at a big price. She’s been rested since disappointing in a small field in June and this hold-up performer will appreciate the tempo of a British race – her record in fields of eight or more runners stands at 21132 (2-5).
4.35 Ascot – Mister Winston (0.5pt e/w – 28/1 bet365, five places, 25/1 generally)
There’s hardly any pace in the Balmoral Handicap and there’s just a chance that Mister Winston could make all on the far side under Oisin Murphy. Andrew Balding’s four-year-old is a good statistical fit for this race – aged six or younger and beaten in a Class 2 handicap last time out – and he made all with a rail to his immediate right in a straight-mile handicap at Newmarket back in the spring. He also enjoyed the comfort of a rail to his right when sneaking down the stands’ side at Epsom’s Derby meeting and last month’s eight of 17 to Scoville at Doncaster can be forgiven on account of a high draw ins stall 17 of 17. Plenty of high-drawn runners from that contest have run well since, including Mezcala (stall 14), who finished a length ahead of him in sixth place and won here at Ascot next time out. Mister Winston bombed out next time, but he hated the heavy ground at Haydock.
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets Today
2.05 Ascot – Mitbaahy (0.5pt e/w – 25/1 generally with the firms paying four places)
2.20 Limerick – World of Fortunes (2pt win – 7/4 Sky Bet, Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook)
2.40 Ascot – Tajlina (0.5pt e/w – 25/1 bet365, Sky Bet, Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook, all four places)
4.35 Ascot – Mister Winston (0.5pt e/w – 28/1 bet365, five places, 25/1 generally)
FAQs: Today’s Racing Tips
Which racecourses run on Saturday 17 October? Ascot, Newton Abbot, Market Rasen, Catterick, Stratford & Southwell.
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 16 October.