Saturday’s ITV action comes from Ascot and Wetherby, where the Grade 2 bet365 Charlie Hall Chase heads a card that also features the West Yorkshire Hurdle and the Listed Montagu Mares’ Hurdle, with six declared for the feature.
Matty Sutcliffe, who has already highlighted the Cheltenham Festival contenders in action this weekend, picks out four horses to watch.
13:25 Ascot – Ascot Underwriting Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4yo+)
JET TO VEGAS appeared to get his act together over fences on his seasonal debut, having previously been 0-3 over them last season, and he looks to be well handicapped off 135, with Lucas Murphy taking off a further 7lb.
The Jet Away gelding was a talented hurdler with form figures of 22114, the latter win coming in the Grade 2 Premier Novices’ Hurdle at Kelso, and connections obviously deemed him classy enough to step up to the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree, where he finished a 24-length fourth behind Salvator Mundi.
The switch to chasing last season was far from a disaster at a time when the yard was quiet, as he finished second on debut to Kingston Pride at Perth before splitting the 142-rated Thomas Mor and the 153-rated Lucky Place, the former finishing second to Kitzbuhel in the Kauto Star.
He failed to justify favouritism on his handicap debut and subsequently returned to hurdles after wind surgery, finishing sixth in a valuable handicap at Aintree.
His return to fences saw him put in a dominant performance at Market Rasen, travelling all over the field and pulling a length clear of a subsequent winner.
Given the aforementioned form, and the fact connections are happy to travel down to Ascot, I’d suggest they share the view that he’s well handicapped off 135 and can continue his progression.
13:45 Wetherby – bet365 Montagu Mares’ Hurdle (Listed Race) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)
Kateira is the obvious candidate in here, and it’s tough to write off the Skeltons, but I’ve a suspicion she’s regressive, and she failed to land a blow for the most part last season, despite a 28-length win in this race, albeit ahead of Golden Ace, who blatantly didn’t give her running.
She was also well beaten at this meeting on her seasonal debut two years ago, and I’m keen to take her on. WATAMU has 10lb to find with the favourite on weight-adjusted figures, but she’s certainly not stopped improving and can bridge the gap.
She was too raw and green for her own good last season, winning just twice and pulling up when only 6/1 for a competitive Newbury handicap. The talent was evidently there, however, and she made a taking seasonal debut at Stratford earlier this month.
Sent off a strong 5/4 favourite, she barely came off the bridle under Jonathan Burke, comfortably carrying top weight to victory. She has to improve again, but she’s bred to be talented and strikes me as one not all that far away from being at the level required to take this.
14:00 Ascot – Sodexo Live! Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-150)
HAAS BOY has form figures of 11226112 since joining Chester Williams, who’s clearly unlocked improvement in him via the tongue tie and cheekpieces, and there appears to be plenty left in the tank.
He signed off last season with a course-and-distance success over Authoceltic, and that came after beating a progressive rival by ten lengths at Wincanton. He shaped as if in need of the outing on his reappearance this season, when beaten a neck over hurdles at Chepstow. Chester Williams had a winner over fences earlier this week with one who’d had a spin over hurdles, so Haas Boy looks to have been well primed for this, and he looks to have an excellent chance off bottom weight.
15:43 Ascot – Lavazza Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (3yo+)
PARCHMENT came highly recommended from France last season and was evidently well regarded enough to make his debut in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.
He was a non-runner on account of the ground, and was subsequently sent off a warm favourite at Kempton under a 7lb penalty. He jumped well throughout, but shaped as if miles behind his rivals physically and was looked after once his chance had gone.
He had wind surgery thereafter and returned from a 149-day break to finish a 14-length fourth at Taunton. It was a similar scenario, as he again weakened late on despite initially travelling well. I’d suggest he’s a typical French horse who’s required plenty of acclimatising to Britain, and given how positive the reports were, he’s not one to give up on.
He beat Pourquoi Pas Papa, who’s now rated 130 for Paul Nicholls, on his sole French start. Off a mark of 116, he’s bound to come good at some point, and given he goes well fresh, this looks a good race in which to begin getting his career back on track.
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Four to Watch for Saturday 31 October
13:25 Ascot – Ascot Underwriting Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4yo+) – Jet To Vegas 9/4 1pt WIN
13:45 Wetherby – bet365 Montagu Mares’ Hurdle (Listed Race) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Watamu 13/2 1pt WIN
14:00 Ascot – Sodexo Live! Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-150) – Haas Boy 7/1 1pt EW 4 places
15:43 Ascot – Lavazza Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (3yo+) – Parchment 16/1 1pt EW 5 places
FAQs
When was Matthew Sutcliffe’s article published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s article was published at 10.05am on Friday 30 October.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GG’s newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
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