There are a host of competitive and intriguing clashes in store on Saturday, including this seasons renewal of the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle from Ascot. Our experts have highlighted some of the top runners set to line up this weekend in Britain and Ireland. Check those out below, alongside an exclusive Betfair offer which provides £50 in free bets.
THYME HILL (14:25 Ascot Howden Long Walk Hurdle)
Last season’s race saw a titanic tussle up the home straight between star stayers Paisley Park and THYME HILL, with Emma Lavelle’s charge coming out on top close home by just a neck. Emma Lavelle’s charge has seemingly regressed in recent starts and has plenty to prove after four poor performances, but there should be more to come from Philip Hobbs’ seven-year-old this campaign after a recent return at Auteuil.
It was disappointing to see Thyme Hill beaten 41l in Grade 1 company in France last time out, however, the seven-year-old was racing on a very testing surface on seasonal reappearance and that may have contributed to the below-par run.
He should strip a lot fitter for that return to action and the seven-year-old is likely to take a big step forward on Saturday and connections will be confident that he can go one better after his agonising defeat in last year’s renewal.
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REMASTERED (14:40 Haydock Virgin Bet Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase)
Trainer David Pipe has enjoyed plenty of success in this event in recent years with the likes of Broadway Buffalo in 2014 and more recently with Daklondike in 2018’s renewal. The Devonshire based handler will have high hopes again this time around with REMASTERED who has won three of his five starts over the larger obstacles and was unlucky to not make it four in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury last time out.
The eight-year-old was in the process of running a big race in the Newbury showpiece before coming to grief four from home when mounting a serious challenge under 3lb claimer Fergus Gillard. Remastered returns on Saturday off the same mark and he certainly looks like a horse that is well handicapped at present.
The attritional conditions that are forecasted for Haydock on Saturday will ensure that this will be a slog over the extended 3m1f and it’s worth noting that David Pipe’s charge has produced all of his career wins on a soft/heavy surface.
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AMERICAN MIKE (15:30 Navan Future Champions Flat Race)
The former 3mile winning Irish point-to-pointer AMERICAN MIKE certainly didn’t look devoid of speed when making a real statement on stable debut to win a bumper by 7l at Down Royal under jockey Jamie Codd.
The four-year-old certainly looks like another high-class recruit for owners Bective Stud who already have a star-studded outfit including the likes of Riviere D’etel, Ginto and the unbeaten Hollow Games.
Gordon Elliot’s charge is currently the ante-post favourite for the Champion Bumper at next year’s Festival and it’s highly likely we will see another dominant and taking performance from him on Saturday afternoon.
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GOSHEN (15:35 Ascot Betfair Exchange Trophy)
There are many horses that divide opinion amongst punters but do any of them divide opinion in the way that GOSHEN has in the past? Gary Moore’s runner has shown he can compete at the highest level on more than one occasion during his career but has also shown his frailties and his quirky antics on the racetrack numerous times too.
Goshen started the year in impressive form when cantering to victory in the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton by 22l. The five-year-old then lost all winning chance in the Champion Hurdle at the Festival by hanging badly right throughout, before over-racing in the Irish Champion Hurdle to finish a well-beaten fifth once again behind superstar mare Honeysuckle.
Goshen made a pleasing reappearance when returning off a 204 day-break when finishing fourth to Buzz in the Coral Hurdle. Despite beaten 11l come the winning post, Goshen will have certainly needed that run after a layoff and was never going to be as effective over the extended 2m3f trip as he is over 2miles.
Gary Moore’s charge makes his handicap debut on Saturday and will have to shoulder top weight against some improving sorts including the likes of Samarrive and No Ordinary Joe who will both be fancied by many. The five-year-old is certainly an enigma of the NH scene and it will be fascinating to see how he fares this weekend with that reappearing run under his belt.
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