The Cheltenham Festival may still be a month away, but there’s no shortage of quality on offer this Saturday, with Graded class action from Wincanton, Ascot, and Haydock. The Ascot Chase from the Berkshire venue takes top billing as Pic D’orhy bids to hand Paul Nicholls a first Grade 1 success since landing this race 12 months ago. Elsewhere, punters will look for Aintree clues in the Haydock Grand National Trial, whilst the up-and-coming hurdlers are on show in the Kingwell Hurdle from Wincanton.
Much to look forward to in the headline events, but here we cast our net a little wider in search of four value options to include in an each-way Lucky 15.
12:55 Haydock – Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle
The latest in a series of qualifiers ahead of the big final at Cheltenham kicks off the action on Merseyside. A competitive field of 14 goes to post in a race claimed by a horse aged seven or younger in seven of the past eight editions.
Market leader Jipcot fits the trending age profile and looks set to go well for the father/son duo of Jonjo and A J O’Neill. Formerly based with Ben Pauling, the six-year-old appears to enjoy life at Jackdaws Castle. Arriving with a hurdles mark of 124, he has risen to 131 on the back of an easy win at Newbury and a solid third at Windsor last time out. Staying on late on his first crack at 3m that day, he shouldn’t be far away if given a more positive ride.
The consistent Kilbarry Hill and course and distance winner One Big Bang are others to note, but the one who gets our vote is the Sandy Thomson-trained seven-year-old I Am Max.
Making only his seventh start under rules here, the mount of Danny McMenamin has shown enough in two outings this season to suggest that his turn is near. Still going well until falling on his comeback at Wetherby, he lost out narrowly at Kelso before posting a career-best effort when going down by just a short head in a 2m5f event at this track last time out.
We loved the way he battled to the line that day and suspect this step up to 3m may inspire further progress. If so, he can go very close to landing this off 118.
Recommended Bet: I Am Max each way @ 13/2 with bet365
15:00 Ascot – Betfair Swinley Handicap Chase
Jonjo & A J O’Neill are also responsible for the favourite in our second race, this time in the shape of the hattrick-seeking Hashting. Going in the green and gold of JP McManus, this eight-year-old has a solid strike rate of six wins from eleven starts under rules. 3¾l too good for the field off a mark of 118 at Windsor in December, he just about replicated that winning margin at the same course off 125 in January. Clearly headed in the right direction, he rates a big threat to all.
Ascot specialist Victtorino is another to consider for Venetia Williams, but we will stick with a horse who did us a favour at this track in January. Hailing from the yard of Lucy Wadham, Terresita has hit the frame in seven of nine starts over fences, including four wins. She gets a 6lb hike for that latest success but looks full value for that, having come from a mile back to score by a widening 4¼l over 2m5f. The manner of that effort suggests she may be even better over 3m. With the runner-up, Hitman, since filling the same position in the Grade 2 Denman Chase, the form looks solid, and she can follow up here.
Recommended Bet: Terresita each way @ 7/1 with bet365
16:10 Ascot – Betfair Racing Podcasts Novices’ Hurdle
The Nicky Henderson-trained Kingston Pride heads the betting in this 2m3½f affair. Whilst impressive on his hurdles debut at Uttoxeter, he produced an inexplicably poor showing when pulled up in the Grade 2 Betfair Winter Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown last time. Plenty will be willing to forgive that, but taking a short price about a runner on the back of a pulled-up effort makes limited appeal.
Second favourite Crest Of Fortune is consistent but was beaten by over eight lengths on his only previous hurdle outing in this grade, whilst course and distance winner First Confession needs to bounce back from a distant last of seven in the Challow Novices’ Hurdle.
With question marks against the three market leaders, we can’t resist taking a chance on the unexposed Old Cowboy. By one of our favourite sires, Blue Bresil, this Gary & Josh Moore runner finished an encouraging third on rules debut at Newbury before getting stuck in the mud at Sandown last time. Back on a quicker surface here, this son of the 132-rated Tara View can go close if building on that Sandown outing and running to within a few pounds of his mother’s mark. .
Recommended Bet: Old Cowboy each way @ 14/1 with bet365
16:35 Wincanton – Gamble Responsibly At BetMGM Novices’ Handicap Hurdle
Last but not least, our sole selection from Wincanton in a race that may not take much winning. Badbury Rings heads the betting but is 5lb higher than when beaten at Taunton last time; second favourite Briefly is 10lb higher than for a thumping defeat at Warwick and needs to improve markedly in the first-time tongue-tie, whilst Western Harmony falls into the "up in trip on handicap debut" category but hasn’t suggested he needs 3m in his performances to date.
In a tricky heat, we like the Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls representative Thruthelookinglass. Unlike Western Harmony, this son of Kayf Tara appears very likely to enjoy this step up in trip. On his only previous start in handicap company, he finished third in a slowly run 2m5f event off a mark of 112. Tapped for toe as the race began in earnest that day, he caught our eye when staying on nicely to the line. The big question is the yawning 684-day break since that event. However, he has been given 5lb help from the handicapper and looks worth chancing in a weak contest.
Recommended Bet: Thruthelookinglass each way @ 6/1 with bet365
A 50p each way Lucky 15 on the above selections at the recommended prices returns £5,483.29 with bet365 if all four horses win and £98.24 if all four only place.
Paul Harrison
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
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