Both Ascot and Haydock feature on a top day of ITV Racing action on Saturday. With Graded action to savour across both tracks, Matty Sutcliffe has four best bets across the cards.
1:15 Haydock – Betfair Racing Podcasts Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+) – Tax For Max 22/1 0.5pt EW 3 places
Simon Munir & Isaac Souede have owned the winner of this race twice since 2016 including one trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, which significantly heightens the interest in TAX FOR MAX. The former Closutton inmate returned from a 786 day layoff when reappearing at Market Rasen in September, shaping understandably as if needing the run when beaten sixteen lengths off top-weight.
He again carried top-weight in a Newton Abbott handicap last month and fared better when beaten eleven lengths into third, staying on well having been outpaced on the turn for home behind one who fared well behind the subsequent Greatwood winner Alexei next time out.
Connections found a good opportunity to claw some prize money in a very weak renewal of the Grade Two Elite Hurdle at Wincanton last time out, but he was still travelling perfectly well two out behind the 149 rated Rubaud and the improving Hamlet’s Night. He was only beaten seven lengths there and again shaped as if stepping up in trip would suit.
He appears to be hitting his peak fitness after such a long layoff, and given he’s now 10lbs lower than his peak mark for Willie Mullins, he looks primed to give connections further success in this contest.
1:30 Ascot – Ladbrokes 1965 Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Pic D’orhy 7/2 1pt WIN
This renewal of the 1965 Chase largely hinges on which Il Est Francais turns up. The Karaktar gelding was electric when landing the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase two years ago, but since then his form has dipped due to a reoccurring heart issue, and his sole performance in seven starts since that would merit his chance in here was here second to Banbridge in the King George last season. If that version of Il Est Francais turns up then he could blow this field to pieces, but the safe option looks to be with PIC D’ORHY who has comfortably won this contest the last two years.
His Ascot form over fences reads 4121111 and his form in fields of five or under reads 12F41F131112112. It was unusual to see him make his seasonal debut at Wetherby in the Charlie Hall earlier this month, and he ran an excellent race to be beaten a length by a stronger stayer in Djelo who ran him down late on. While he is a ten year old now, he matched his career best RPR of 168 there and if Il Est Francais fails to give his true running then he wouldn’t need to run to beyond that rating to take this contest now back down to his optimum conditions.
2:25 Haydock – Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Electric Mason 16/1 1pt EW 5 places
ELECTRIC MASON was a solid second for the column in a Pertemps Qualifier at Cheltenham last month when two lengths behind Ma Shantou, and I’m surprised there’s such a price discrepancy in the market between the pair given Electric Mason is 4lbs better off this time around, 7lbs if factoring in Freddie Gordon’s 3lbs claim.
He fared best of the prominent racers there with the winner, third and fourth all coming from rear and his prominent style of racing can bode well around Haydock. He proved he stayed the trip there, and it’s worth noting that he was beaten nine lengths on seasonal debut has season before winning next time out, beating Lauren’s Bay who subsequently won a valuable Grade Three Handicap at Sandown last season.
Electric Mason’s best form came early on last season and given his form behind The New Lion, including his Challow fifth, a revised mark of 132 still looks more than workable for the in-form Chris Gordon.
2:40 Ascot – Ladbrokes Ascot Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Ascot Hurdle) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Celtic Dino 6/1 1pt EW 3 places
With career form figures of 131114331, CELTIC DINO looks an assured each-way bet here to at least run into a place with his sole effort outside of the first three coming on unfavourable soft going in the Grade 1 Formby last season.
He came up short again in graded company when third in the Dovecote at Kempton, but he recorded a career best effort on seasonal debut this season when winning the Welsh Champion Hurdle off top-weight despite running down the last hurdle.
He was off the bridle fairly early on there having taken up the running three out, but he looked a much improved horse there given his tendency to be keen last season and the second has generously franked the form since having won the 33k Lavazza Handicap Hurdle here next time out before taking the Greatwood Hurdle in an impressive manner.
Celtic Dino will have to improve again to take this graded contest, but the slight step up in trip can suit now he’s appeared to settle early in his races and with form figures of 131 at Ascot, he looks set for a big run for the in form Sam Thomas.
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