ITV Racing Tips: Three Selections at Ascot and Haydock on Saturday

After confidently selecting the 14/1 Wodhooh as his bet of the day last weekend and duly seeing her bolt up, Billy Grimshaw is in confident tipping mood and makes the case for three more this Saturday on the ITV Racing Schedule...

13:50 Ascot - Howden Graduation Chase

I was against IROKO last time out at Haydock and was relieved to see him not able to reel in Trelawne, but looking back on the race it was a fantastic return to action all things considered and I'm confident he will be better for that run here. Good to soft and the intermediate trip may well not end up as his optimal conditions, however this is a horse laden with talent and now at what must be close to peak fitness, I think he's the one they all have to beat. I'm hopeful in this small field Jonjo O'Neill JR makes plenty of use of him near the front as we know he has bundles of stamina.

The chief threat has to be one of the Irish raiders as the race consists of just Iroko from Britain, and the one I fear most is Jungle Boogie for Henry De Bromhead. He is ten now and the old man of this field, but he's been lightly raced throughout his career and the manner in which he cruised in last year' Gold Cup showed he had serious ability. He was a blatant non stayer that day so this drop in trip will help him, even if Fil Dor and Iroko make it a test, and I see him as the chief threat to the JP owned favourite.

14:05 Haydock - Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase

Frenchy Du Large is sure to be popular here for the master of staying chases Venetia Williams, but on bare form I'm not sure he warrants being just a point shorter than FAMOUS BRIDGE who will do for me as the pick. He is proven on soft (or worse) ground and that is always a major fillip when assessing races at Haydock, as is course form and of course Nicky Richards' charge scooped this pot last season. He was running a fine race in the Ultima at Cheltenham back in March before seeming to run out of gas a little but we know this is his home turf and while he has more weight to contend with this year, he looked value for more than last season's winning distance so rates a solid proposition.

Those who study racing solely on the numbers will be all over the second last season Credo, who was being given 3lbs and a two length beating in the 2023 renewal but will be in receipt of 12 from Famous Bridge today and also has a 10lb claimer on his back. It will feel like he is carrying no weight at all for Anthony Honeyball's charge and perhaps if the ground becomes a real bog that'll prove the key, however I always felt Famous Bridge had him covered and could've won by further last season if required to, so despite the temptation to try and play mathematician I'm going to back the 2023 winner to repeat the feat in 2024.

15:35 Ascot - Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle

In the race prior to this I will probably be backing Victorrino but I can't get too excited over his price now at sub 2/1 in places, so it's onto the final televised Ascot race for my final bet of Saturday - thankfully at a much more attractive looking price. The Greatwood is clearly going to be a big formline to follow in here with Dysart Enos favourite and Be Aware second in the market. They finished 3-2 in the aforementioned Cheltenham handicap and in a match race I'd rather be with Be Aware to uphold the form, especially given the form of the Skeltons compared to an uncharacteristically slow to get going Fergal O'Brien.

I'm going to give both a swerve for my pick in here, however, as despite top weight I think there's still more improvement to come in STEEL ALLY for Sam Thomas. Dylan Johnston gave him a beautiful ride over a few furlongs further from the front at Haydock last time out to score decisively and with Ascot being a much stiffer track, I'm hopeful this drop in trip hardly inconveniences what I expect to be the front runner here again. He will need his rider to be on the ball to set the right fractions, but if Johnston can again get out in front and keep the pace honest I don't think there are three horses who'll go by him.

This makes him at 14/1 a fairly solid each-way bet in terms of the place part of the wager and he's certainly no forlorn hope in my eyes of scooping the big prize. I wouldn't want to fully discount Go Dante either on his second run back off wind surgery for an in form Olly Murphy - on a day his Strong Leader is well fancied by many in the Long Walk - but will stick with the Sam Thomas runner as my sole selection.