The ITV Racing action on Saturday comes across a number of different venues, as Matty Sutcliffe has found three value bets across Ascot and Haydock for you to follow.
1:35 Haydock – Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Dance And Glance 12/1 1pt EW 5 places + Lunar Sovereign 25/1 0.5pt EW 5 places
Harry Cobden is four from 13 for Anthony Honeyball in the last 12 months and gets the leg up on DANCE AND GLANCE for the first time, who can build on his pleasing handicap debut last time out.
The son of Passing Glance made a promising debut in the competitive 59k Goffs Spring Sale Bumper at Newbury last season, and built on that effort when a well backed winner on a Plumpton bumper when making all in comfortable style, given just the two taps of the whip by Richie McLernon in the manner of a smart type.
He took his hurdles debut in a canter at 2/13F, and wasn’t disgraced under a penalty giving 7lbs to the pair seven lengths in front of him next time out, with the second subsequently rated 130 after notching up a hat trick of wins.
A subsequent wind operation likely highlighted the reason for his poor effort next time out, and he immediately bounced back to form with a neck success at Taunton to beat the 1/5F Fasol, who franked that for next time out when a five-length fifth in a 52l Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle at Sandown.
He looked an unlucky loser at Bangor on handicap debut last time out when having to suffer for a passage in running on the turn and thereafter whereas the winner had got going plenty earlier, which is backed up by the fact his last two furlongs were much quicker than anything in the field, along with his top finishing speed percentage of 103.11%.
A galloping track like Haydock in a bigger field could bring out further improvement in Dance And Glance, who looks well treated off a mark of 116.
I’d also like to save on the outsider of the field LUNAR SOVEREIGN, who was a six-length fourth in this contest two years ago from an 8lbs higher mark when losing his left fore shoe. It’s a concern that he’s winless since 2021, but he’s 16lbs lower than when third in the G3 Dovecote that season and has steadily returned to form in two starts this term for his new yard. He was beaten three lengths at Cheltenham after a moderate comeback in a competitive 0-135, staying on well having just lost his position before the last.
Brian Hughes takes the ride for the first time and he’s 6-2-2 all time for the yard, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he peaks for this on his third start back from a layoff.
2:40 Ascot – Schweppes Victoria Cup (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (4yo+) – Metal Merchant 14/1 1pt EW 5 places
It’s hard to believe METAL MERCHANT is only a five-year-old as he appears to run well in all of these heritage handicaps. Jack Channon’s son of Make Believe landed the Spring Cup off 5lbs lower on seasonal debut last season, before being beaten two by Sonny Liston next time out, who’s now rated 8lbs higher.
He was then sent to the Royal Hunt Cup where he hit the front on the unfavourable far-side a furlong out, succumbing to the fast finishers up the middle to be beaten three lengths. He was second in his low drawn group, pulling three lengths clear of the third in his group with the winner of it subsequently taking a class two handicap at Doncaster.
He was beaten three lengths in the competitive Coral Challenge at Sandown next time out when dwelling at the start, but he posted a career best RPR when dropped in trip to be beaten a length in the Moet & Chandon International Stakes over C&D, with that form franked throughout including with the fifth now rated 9lbs higher after landing the Balmoral on his latest start.
Metal Merchant was disappointing when beaten six lengths in the Spring Cup last time out, but that contest was run on the round course this season and he often shows his best form on straight tracks. His Ascot form reads strongly, and he’s back on that same mark as his Royal Hunt Cup effort which would make him a strong contender in here, as would his sole C&D start when beaten a length in the Moet & Chandon for the inform Jack Channon.
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