ITV Racing Tips: Two Saturday Fancies From Ascot & Haydock

What should be an informative Saturday of racing is on the horizon and as always ITV Racing are broadcasting some of the best contests. This weekend it's Ascot and Haydock in the spotlight and Billy Grimshaw, as well as a full Clarence House preview with his prediction, has three bets worth considering across the cards...

13:40 Ascot - Warfield Mares' Hurdle

I have been on the right side of NURSE SUSAN'S upturn in form the last twice she has run and won and see no reason to ditch the talented Skelton mare here in this Grade 2 affair. After looking laboured throughout last time out until the afterburners kicked in and she put the race to bed in a matter of strides at Sandown, it was notable how effusive in his praise of this horse's talent jockey Harry Skelton was. Clearly, she has not hit the lofty heights they had hoped for when she was younger but now a nine year old she seems finally to be hitting her prime.

Jubilee Alpha is no mug but had absolutely no answer to Nurse Susan's devastating turn of foot last time out and for all Jamie Snowden is having the season of his life, I don't think his La Conquiere brings a level of form to the table to be 6/4 against Nurse Susan's 2/1 in here. The stick to beat Nurse Susan with - which cannot be used on Snowden's charge or indeed Joyeuse the third favourite - is that this test will be too sharp, however with the pace she showed at Sandown I cannot see her struggling over this minimum trip. The trainer winning three of the last four renewals of this race is another string to her bow.

La Conquiere is younger and on the improve, of that there is no doubt, however beating Charisma Cat is hardly form that warrants such short price quotes. I'd actually be willing to back Joyeuse to finish second behind Nurse Susan on what we have seen from the market leading trio, for all that her last run in a handicap was disappointing. She's better in small field contests like this.

14:00 Haydock - Peter Marsh Chase

This humble scribe calls the town of Warrington, less than ten miles from Haydock, home and the Friday on which I pen this piece is gloriously sunny. The Peter Marsh is often run in a bog here in the North West but I'd be surprised if it was any worse than soft come two o'clock on Saturday and as such, I am putting a line through Royale Pagaille as a threat. For all he loves Haydock, he isn't getting any younger and it'd be a major disappointment were the big two in the market here in particular not able to deal with him at 12.

With Royale Pagaille in here carrying 12st, the rest of the field will have lovely light racing weights on their back and despite the trainer form looking a bit wobbly, I have to side with uber impressive Ultima winner MYRETOWN for Lucinda Russell. He was looking as good as ever before tipping up when leading the Coral Gold Cup last time out, but mercifully it didn't look a bad fall and connections have intimated he was none the worse for it. A small field holds brings question marks for a horse that has been at his best leading big field handicaps but I actually think there is potential he puts in a real statement display here and wins by a distance, stamping his ticket to the Gold Cup in the process.

Konfusion rates the chief rival according to the market and as many people's Christmas period NAP - including my own - it was wonderful to see him bolt up with minimal fuss. Sue Smith has an enviable record with staying chasers of this profile, but for all he has climbed the ladder this season I fear he will hit a wall in a race of this class. Myretown could get them all on the stretch and if Konfusion is asked to try and lay up with him, his race could be over early.

Imperial Saint is another who can go on but he looks outclassed here and surely won't attempt to take on the big two on the front end. Johnnywho is the horse I fear most and the one I'd be sticking in a forecast if I was an exotics punter, but the hope and the belief is Myretown is a level above this test and will prove it on Merseyside.