There is plenty of top-quality action to look forward to this weekend as ITV Racing will be screening racing from Wetherby and Ascot on Saturday. I’ve gone through the race-cards for both meetings and have picked out my tips for each race below.
Wetherby Racing
1:20
The brilliant Wetherby card kicks off with a handicap chase and the favourite for the race Gericault Roque will be making his chase debut. He has had 4 runs so far for David Pipe, winning twice and placing in the other two. Sizing At Midnight could be worth a chance, as he has the chase experience and has been running quite well in his last few starts.
Selection – Sizing At Midnight – 17/2
1:55
Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden have been in fantastic form so far this season and they have the favourite here with Miranda. She will definitely come on for the run here today, but she might be good enough to win this race. Molly Ollys Wishes has won 3 of his last 4 starts, his last run when he finished third was a hot race. Marie’s Rock was well beaten by Miranda last time out and will need to improve a lot to win here today.
Selection – Miranda – 9/4
2:30
Paisley Park was disappointing at the end of last season and will need to find that form that won him the Long Walk hurdle. He will be ridden by Aidan Coleman who has been in cracking form over the last couple of weeks and I do know they are expecting a big run from Paisley Park today. Master Tommytucker is an interesting contender for Paul Nicholls, he has mainly run at high level over fences, but is back over hurdles today. He does take a chance over his fences, so the return to hurdles might be better for him.
Selection – Paisley Park – 9/4
3:05
The feature race of the day is the Charlie Hall Chase and last year’s winner Cyrname is back again.
He was very impressive in this race last year, but his season went downhill after this race. He will be primed for this run and I think he will show his class and destroy the field. Shan Blue will set a fairly decent pace in the race, but I don’t think he will be able to get away from the classy Cyrname.
Selection – Cyrname – 6/5
3:40
We finish the day with a handicap hurdle and the favourite Mackenberg won last time out, but he was lucky to win that day with the Henderson horse stumbling 2 out. Our Surprise was well backed on his first start this season but was well beaten, will need to improve to win this.
I quite like the chances of Haafapiece for Pam Sly. He has been knocking on the door in his last few runs and he looks like he could be back on a winnable mark.
Selection – Haafapiece – 15/2
Racing from Ascot
1:35
Solo for Paul Nicholls has been quite disappointing since his amazing win in the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton. This will be his first chase start so it will be interesting to see how he jumps and I expect he would have been well schooled at home. Kid Commando also makes his chase debut, but he did fall on his last start over hurdles.
Sam Barton is the one I’m going to side with, he is lightly raced and also makes his chase debut here today. Fences look like they will bring out more improvement and he is a strong contender.
Selection – Sam Barton – 4/1
2:10
Boothill has won his last 2 starts and makes his handicap debut here today. Sam Twiston-Davies takes the ride and he could be a lot better than his mark. Soaring Glory came fourth in the Supreme at Cheltenham, but he was no match for the superstar Appreciate It. He has won a handicap on 10lb lower so has to be respected here today.
Ajero was in great form last season just being found out in a Grade 1 at Aintree. I think he could be the one to side with today even though he is better going right-handed.
Selection – Ajero – 6/1
2:45
Editeur Du Gite dominated the Red Rum chase from the front and I would be surprised if Jamie Moore doesn’t do that again today. If he gets left alone in front and gets in to a good rhythm, he could be hard to peg back.
Amoola Gold was well beaten in the Grand Annual at the festival last season but he did win this race in 2020.
Grey Diamond won in good style back in March at Sandown, he also came fifth behind Editeur Du Gite and I think he can reverse the form today.
Selection – Grey Diamond – 13/2
3:20
Vinndication heads the market for the London Gold Cup, he won this race back in 2019 and he is the horse with the most class in the race. He got his season underway last year on this day when he came second in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby. I think he will be hard to beat here today but the main danger could be Jerrysback for Phillip Hobbs. The Hobbs yard was not in the best of form last season which could explain a couple of poor runs back in February, and then again in April when he was pulled up in the Irish Grand National.
Selection – Vinndication – 5/2
Down Royal
2:50
We have one race from Ireland and the Champion Chase is a cracker. The Gold Cup hero Minella Indo heads the market, and it will be great to see him back with Rachael Blackmore taking the ride. He will be very hard to beat here today but he won’t be fully fit for today’s race which might give Frodon for Paul Nicholls a chance. Bryony Frost has flown over to take the ride on last year’s impressive King George winner. Gordon Elliott trains the other three runners in the race which includes Galvin who won at Cheltenham and Punchestown at the end of last season.
Selection – Frodon – 3/1
