
ITV Racing Tips: Two Additional Saturday Selections From Ascot And Haydock

A welcome busy Saturday finally awaits racing fans after a few sub par weekends due to the cold snap experienced in Britain and Ireland. ITV Racing are in town at Ascot and Haydock and Billy Grimshaw has scanned the cards to find three worth support...
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13:40 Ascot - BetMGM Warfield Mares' Hurdle
Kicking off ITV's coverage in the afternoon (bizarrely, there is a 10:15am race set to be broadcast as part of the Opening Show from Lingfield) we have the high class juvenile filly from last season Kargese making her seasonal debut for Willie Mullins. Last season she acquitted herself very well indeed, looking the winner of the Triumph Hurdle before being pegged back by what we now know is a very smart horse in Majborough. She then came out and filled the same spot at Punchestown, so her ability is without question.
One thing that could be questioned is her ability to settle, however, and with this being her first race of the season and clearly not her be all and end all, I'd be worried backing her at odds-on that something may pester her throughout the race and see her become too buzzy to do herself justice. Ooh Betty could be the agitator as she likes to get on with things for Ben Pauling, but if she does this and gets into a battle with Kargese I don't see it ending well for either of them. I'd rather back something that'll come from off the pace and the one I'll be supporting with small stakes - Kargese could bolt up, after all - is ALL THE GLORY for the O'Neill team.
She seems to have sprouted wings this season compared to last and while her cruising win at Southwell last time tells us little about her suitability for a contest of this standing, I'd be more convinced by her Musselburgh win on her penultimate start. Providing Jonjo JR can keep her involved but off the pace, I think she can come through with a late run and perhaps nab the race from the odds-on fav.
Big Race Previews
The big races of the day at Ascot and Haydock are the Clarence House and Peter Marsh, and Billy has given both the big race treatment with full previews here:
15:05 Haydock -Sky Bet Cheltenham Non-Runner No Bet Handicap Hurdle
I'm siding with LOSSIEMOUTH (No, not that one) here and think after a long lay-off, his run just under two months ago can be marked up considerably. He is a ten year old now so no spring chicken, however his best form back in his prime for Tom Lacey would make him ridiculously well handicapped here and he really did run a smashing race for a long way last time out at Newbury, just struggling to find for pressure which is understandable on the back of an absence.
If my predictions are correct this weekend Charlie Deutsch should be in for a glorious afternoon as I really fancy his ride Royale Pagaille in the Peter Marsh just before this race and I like his booking for Lossiemouth here as he is one of the more patient riders around, which could be vital on a horse like this who could well still be a tad fresh on second run off a break. There are plenty of rivals to potentially fear in here, notably favourite Punta Del Este who I definitely respect for Dan Skelton. The removal of the tongue tie is notable on that entrant and it'd be no surprise to see further improvement.
Another runner I fear is Anthony Honeyball's mare Good Luck Charm with 10lbs claimer Chad Bamett meaning she is running off a real featherweight in here, but providing Polly Grundey's Lossiemouth has kicked on from his long awaited reappearance I rate him as the one they all have to beat.