ITV Racing Tips: Two Additional Saturday Selections

Saturday's card looks a cracker on ITV Racing with graded races and intriguing punting puzzles galore. Billy Grimshaw has produced a batch of big race previews but has a couple more worth backing for us here...

14:40 Haydock - Rendlesham Hurdle

I was with BOTOX HAS in the Cleeve Hurdle last time out and despite drifting to an astronomical BSP, he traded as short as 4.0 in the run in and was getting me very excited before being bested into third place by Gowel Road and Monmiral. It was still an excellent run for a horse clearly not fancied at any stage of the build up judging by his opening price and the drift, and with him returning to the scene of arguably his greatest triumph I am more than happy to back him again even if he is 1/5 of the price we were getting down at Cheltenham.

This is a weaker race and with the ground drier than I'd anticipated at Cheltenham las time out, it was a very pleasing effort from Botox Has considering he was thought to be a mudlark. With that good run in his back pocket and the ground now less of an issue, he should travel smoothly into this with Nemean Lion sure to make it a test and I'm hopeful this has been the day circled in red pen on the calendar at Moore HQ and as such he has a bit more of a finishing effort than he did in the Cleeve.

The main market rival Beauport is the obvious main danger and having to give him 6lbs is not ideal, however I do think a peak form Botox Has is the best horse in this race and with this his big day of the year and with such a good prep run last time out, he simply has to be backed.

15:00 Ascot - Betfair Swinley Handicap Chase

I've a love hate relationship with VICTTORINO as for all I have been on a couple of times when he has bolted in, the styles of his wins has made me more confident next time out and then he seems to just chuck in a stinker with no rhyme nor reason to it. I've decided it's Ascot or bust with this lad now due to his fantastic record at the track but patchy at best record everywhere else and looking through the form, he really should be winning this shouldn't he?

His record here over fences reads 1-1-4-1 and with his last appearance being yet another brilliant performance, I am backing Charlie Deutsch to have finally found the key to getting the best of him. His talent and engine is there for all to see and while there is always blunder potential, even at his beloved Ascot, if he gets a clear round of jumping he is weighted to win this. A further feather in his cap is that the Venetia Williams team must surely not be wanting to take him back to Cheltenham after last year's flop there, so this is undoubtedly his big day out compared to a few others who'll be using this as a Festival prep.

Snipe is another horse I like but I don't think today will be the day for him as he will head to Cheltenham one suspects, while Threeunderthrufive also piqued my interest but has Aintree in mind as his big season target. Hasthing unsurprisingly rates the main danger and even with an eight pound rise he should remain competitive judging by his easy Windsor win last time out, but it's a mighty step up in class for him to compete with Ascot Victorrino.