The titular Grade 1 Ascot Chase is the feature race of the weekend on Saturday. It is the final top level race pre-Cheltenham, though Haydock & Wincanton also host top-class meetings.
Matty Sutcliffe goes to Ascot and Haydock with his best bets on Saturday. He has four top tips in all for you to follow.
Haydock Racing Tips (Saturday 14 February)
Haydock’s card includes the Grade 2 Rendlesham Hurdle and the Grand National Trial. Matty has selections in both contests, as well as the Prestige Novices’ Hurdle.
2:05 Haydock – Zyn Rendlesham Hurdle (Grade 2) (Gbb Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Beauport 11/1 1pt EW 2 places
Kabral Du Mathan is the progressive one who they’ll all have to beat here, but I’d be of the opinion he’s a horse with enough speed to drop back in trip as opposed to going up to this three miles and given all of his best form has come on a sounder surface, he does have something to prove on what will likely be soft going on this first try over three miles.
Nigel Twiston-Davies won this an eleven year old in 2022 and while Beauport has something to prove himself having pulled up in the Long Walk last time out, the ten year old was a good second in this last season and if a subsequent wind surgery has ironed out any issues, he could prove tough to pass from the front in his bid to go one better.
Though better known for his chasing exploits, he was a credible one length third in the G1 Long Walk last season to course specialist Crambo with the subsequent Grade One Liverpool Hurdle winner Hiddenvalley Lake in second, and that is arguably the best form on offer here. He is generally versatile ground wise, but he was a convincing winner of the Midlands Grand National on heavy going in 2024 and second in the London National off top-weight in 2023.
He receives 6lbs from Kabral Du Mathan which puts him best off at the weights here, and I suspect Toby McCain-Mitchell will try and make it a good test from the front on favourable going in a race that appears to lack graded quality.
2:40 Haydock – Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (Gbb Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Reckless Spending 3/1 1pt WIN
This looks far from a vintage renewal of this graded contest especially given the second favourite didn’t look to have that much in hand when winning a class three handicap off 121 last time out, though with six last time out winners you’d like to think something can become a smart stayer for the future and I’d suggest Sholokov gelding Reckless Spending has an element of star quality about him.
He was second to the now 145 rated Grade One winner Skylight Hustle in his sole point to point before looking as if two miles was certainly sharp enough for him when third on bumper debut, and it was as similar scenario when third on hurdles debut to Kripticjim at Ascot. That was a promising effort however, and the winner has franked the form twice since latterly in Grade Two company at Cheltenham.
Connections must’ve thought a lot of him to pitch him in deep in Grade Two company next time out despite being third on his hurdles debut, but he still looked incredibly raw having been keen throughout and never travelling fluently.
However, he clearly learnt a lot there as he settled much better at Kempton next time out when taking the lead two out, quickly putting distance between his rivals albeit still running around a touch prior to the last. Nicky Henderson won that race with Ok Corral in 2018 who went on to finish second in the Albert Bartlett next time out, and given the manner within which he won at Kempton there’s a suspicion that the 66/1 for the Albert Bartlett for Reckless Spending could become much shorter after Saturday.
Given how he bolted up despite still looking inexperienced there, I think Reckless Spending has a ton of ability we’re yet to see, unsurprisingly as he’s a half brother to last years Dawn Run winner Air Of Entitlement. Seven Barrows won this with Chef Des Obeaux in 2018 who was also coming off the back of an impressive success at Kempton, and this step back up to three miles can suit Reckless Spending given what he’ll have learnt from this latest two efforts.
3:15 Haydock – William Hill Half A Mill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Gbb Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Deafening Silence 3/1 1pt WIN
I’ve made the mistake of taking on some of the Skelton runners on Saturday’s of late but there’s becoming an increasing inevitability about them striking at these big meetings and with £56,950 on offer to the winner, second season chaser Deafening Silence looks to have a strong chance of taking this Grand National trial.
We only saw him three times as a hurdler, with the last outing coming in a gruelling renewal of the Grade Two Winter Beacons Novice Hurdle at Sandown which likely took enough out of him, hence the 351 day layoff prior to his chase debut here last season. That was an eye-catching performance behind Trelawne and Iroko, though he took a backward strep when well beaten at Cheltenham next time out.
The addition of cheekpieces saw him get off the mark over fences at Warwick but once again he blew out at Uttoxeter on his handicap chase debut. He’s looked a much stronger horse this season, coming from well back in rear to split an always prominent pair in the Rehearsal Chase on seasonal debut with the winner now rated 21lbs higher and the third also winning next time out, and he then posted a career best effort when a four length third in the Welsh Grand National behind the subsequent Denman Chase winner Haiti Couleurs.
Staying chases on soft ground look to be his forte, and if he can continue his progression from those excellent last two runs then he could prove tough to beat the inevitable Skelton pairing.
Ascot Racing Tips (Saturday 14 February)
Ascot’s meeting is the feature one of the week. Matty’s selection runs in the class 2 handicap hurdle at 2.25.
2:25 Ascot – Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+) – Lightningupourdays 8/1 1pt EW 4 places
Telescope gelding Lightningupourdays is still relatively unexposed after five starts over hurdles but he appears to be going the right way and a mark of 119 could easily underestimate him. He showed promise in bumpers despite being 0-3 in that sphere before an eye-catching hurdles debut behind Valgrand at Uttoxeter in May 2024, and he returned last season with a five length second to Wendigo at Ludlow. The winner has evidently franked that form to be rated 143 over hurdles after finishing second in the Challow to The New Lion next time out and an excellent fifth in the Albert Bartlett.
He then dropped back in trip to two miles on soft ground to comfortably land a Uttoxeter handicap off 112, before looking in need further when outpaced over that trip at Newbury when only third next time out.
Potentially he mightn’t have been right there as he was off for 339 days prior to returning at Hereford last month back up in trip, where he caught the eye travelling strongly under Jack Hogan, settling much better than what he has in the past. He was only beaten three lengths into third when weakening on what understandably looked to be on account of fitness late on, but the form has worked out strongly as the winner is now rated 17lbs higher on 132 having taken a competitive class two handicap as Ascot next time out, and the second is now rated 6lbs higher on 130 after landing a Plumpton handicap next time out.
He looks well handicapped on a mark of 119 in that respect, and with just 10-4 on his back along with a preference for soft ground, I’d expect him to be thereabouts late on with him stripping fitter for his pleasing reappearance.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Best Bets
2:05 Haydock – Zyn Rendlesham Hurdle (Grade 2) (Gbb Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Beauport 11/1 1pt EW 2 places
2:25 Ascot – Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+) – Lightningupourdays 8/1 1pt EW 4 places
2:40 Haydock – Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (Gbb Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Reckless Spending 3/1 1pt WIN
3:15 Haydock – William Hill Half A Mill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Gbb Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Deafening Silence 3/1 1pt WIN
Reckless Spending
Deafening SilenceFAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets for the racing at Haydock & Ascot on Saturday 14 February.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s Saturday horse racing tips were published at 3.41pm on Thursday 12 February.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs 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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