The first Grade 1 weekend of the year occurs in Britain on Saturday with Ascot hosting the Clarence House Chase among its seven-race card.
However, there is excellent racing across the board on the day, with Haydock‘s Peter Marsh Handicap Chase another big race to look out for, as two Cheltenham Gold Cup entries face off, while Navan‘s meeting in Ireland is also a high quality card to enjoy.
GG tipster Joe Napier is responsible for our lucky 15 best bets on Saturday, as he visits the three aforementioned tracks for his tips.
Ascot Racing Tips (Saturday 17 January 2026)
Ascot’s opening jumps card of the year includes the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase, but our two Lucky 15 selections come earlier on the card in a handicap chase and Grade 2 mares’ hurdle.
1.00 Ascot – Kap Vert (1pt win – 10/1)
The youngest horse in this field, Kap Vert looked immediately to have made up into a much better chaser than a hurdler when a rampant winner at Taunton in the second week of December. He easily defied top-weight and put in a brave effort up 8lb at Kempton on the 27th when making a terrible mistake early on and yet still holding every chance turning for home, eventually finishing third. Given he has as much potential for progression here as any of his rivals, it is surprising that the bookmaker is affording his supporters some rope, as but for that Kempton blunder he has otherwise looked a slick jumper on the up over staying trips.
1.40 Ascot – Joyeuse (1pt win – 9/2)
The start of this season has not panned out as hoped for Joyeuse, but she came good to start the new year last season and it may be the same here in Grade 2 company, as this could well be a good opportunity for connections to pick up some further black type. She was only second as a short-priced favourite on both her chase starts, but a novice career in that sphere looks to have been aborted in favour of hurdling opportunities. Her ninth in a very competitive handicap here just before Christmas is not seen as a concern, as that was an extremely strong contest and this should be much easier, with the 1m7½f trip on this ground likely to suit her much better than either Nurse Susan or Sunset Marquesa, while Ooh Betty is wildly out of form and La Conquiere is only a promising novice as yet.
Navan Racing Tips (Saturday 17 January 2026)
Navan’s is the only meeting in Ireland on Saturday, with our selection running in the beginners’ chase in the middle of the afternoon.
2.25 Navan – Spread Boss Ted (1pt win – 7/1)
With Willie Mullins beginning to strike at regular intervals and neither of Slade Steel or Wingmen the most prolific types, preference is for Spread Boss Ted to make up for lost time in this beginners’ contest. The nine-year-old was a two-time winner in his novice hurdle season in 2023/24, finishing a game fourth in the Albert Bartlett that season behind Stellar Story and The Jukebox Man, but in front of the likes of Lecky Watson, Gidleigh Park and Johnnywho. He subsequently missed over 400 days when returning in a Grade 2 hurdle event at Fairyhouse, but acquitted himself well to be sixth. He was outpaced late on, but kept on well enough in that Albert Bartlett to suggest going back up to 3m on this belated chase debut is a good piece of placement and he may well have the quality to come good.
Haydock Racing Tips (Saturday 17 January 2026)
It is Peter Marsh day at Haydock, with that handicap chase attracting a very high quality line-up this season. However, our lucky 15 tip runs in a handicap hurdle and could be very well-treated by the handicapper.
2.35 Haydock – Dalston Lad (1pt win – 10/3)
Dalston Lad’s victory at Sedgefield on Boxing Day took a slight hit when the runner-up was only fifth next time out, but Dan Skelton’s charge possesses a useful engine, with his bumper form looking especially useful. He beat subsequent Grade 2 runner-up The Blue Room, conceding him 4lb, in that sphere, but has taken his time to warm to hurdles, finishing last of seven at Cheltenham, then a runner-up at Doncaster. However, under an aggressive ride by Harry Atkins, he got off the mark by 13 lengths last month, simply possessing too much quality and he looks a ready-made stayer on that evidence, and that of his point-to-point victory in April 2024 A mark of 121 will surely be too light to prevent him from winning at some point, and that point could well be today.
GG Lucky 15 Tips – Saturday 17 January
1.00 Ascot – Kap Vert (1pt win – 10/1)
1.40 Ascot – Joyeuse (1pt win – 9/2)
2.25 Navan – Spread Boss Ted (1pt win – 7/1)
2.35 Haydock – Dalston Lad (1pt win – 10/3)
Dalston LadGG Lucky 15 Tips – Saturday 17 January
Today’s Meetings & Start Times
- Navan – first race 12:10
- Haydock – first race 12:15
- Ascot – first race 12:25
FAQs: Today’s Racing Tips
What are today’s GG Lucky 15 tips?
Joe Napier provides the GG Lucky 15 tips on Saturday 17 January, which include selections at Ascot, Haydock & Navan.
Which racecourses run on Saturday 17 January 2026?
Ascot, Haydock, Lingfield, Navan, Southwell & Taunton.
When were Saturday’s Lucky 15 tips for Ascot, Haydock & Navan published?
GG’s Lucky 15 tips for Saturday 17 January were published at 2.15pm on Friday 16 January.
Who is Joe Napier?
Joe Napier is the deputy editor of GG who gives tips and opinion throughout the week. He has been writing for GG for over four years and is hugely passionate about racing.
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