What a day we have in store on Saturday and the feature meeting comes at Ascot, where four races will be live on ITV4, including the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase (3.35).
You can watch all seven races from Ascot (12.35pm-4.05pm) via live streaming when logged into MansionBet, along with every race from the UK and Ireland.
Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway previews Saturday’s action at Ascot exclusively for MansionBet.
12.35 Ascot – SBK Betting Podcast Juvenile Hurdle
Graystone would have given weight and a beating to Irish Hill and Girandole but for falling at the last at Taunton last time and has to be fancied to beat them this time.
He will be getting weight from both of those rivals when you take into account Corey McGivern’s 10lb claim and has the best form on offer. He looks capable of winning here en route to better things.
Selection: Graystone @ SP
1.10 Ascot – SBK Handicap Chase
This might be between Winds Of Fire and Downtown Getaway and preference is for Downtown Getaway.
He returned to form on his third start for Peter Bowen when coming home strongly to land a 2m5f novice handicap chase on heavy ground at Ffos Las last time and remains open to plenty of further improvement for this yard now he is returned to 3m
Selection: Downtown Getaway @ SP
1.45 Ascot – SBK Holloway’s Handicap Hurdle
This is a hot little handicap featuring several promising hurdlers and Stellar Magic gets the vote.
He ran a cracker when overhauled only in the dying strides by the race-fit Up For Parol on his return from a ten-month absence at Haydock last time and looks open to plenty of improvement with that run under his belt.
He is up 4lb, but looks a step ahead of the assessor.
Selection: Stellar Magic @ 5/1
2.20 Ascot – SBK Mares’ Hurdle
There could be an upset here because Emmpressive Lady was impressive when landing a mares’ handicap hurdle over Christmas at Kempton and might still have more to offer.
She is now 3-7 over hurdles and has run only twice over this sort of trip, so is unexposed at the distance. Testing ground suits Emmpressive Lady and she is capable of making the step up.
Selection: Emmpressive Lady @ 14/1
2.55 Ascot – bet365 Handicap Chase
It might be worth taking a chance on Phoenix Way improving on his second at the track last month.
Harry Fry won this race in 2018 with Acting Lass and Phoenix Way shaped like he is on his way back to form behind Annsam last time.
He has escaped a rise in the weights for that effort and is still unexposed after just nine starts. There could be more progress to come.
Selection: Phoenix Way @ 5/1
3.35 Ascot – SBK Clarence House Chase
This should be a cracking match between Shishkin and Energumene, and Shishkin can prove he is the best two-mile chaser in Britain and Ireland.
He is unbeaten in ten completed starts under rules and nothing has got close to him since he was switched to fences.
Now a perfect 6-6 in chases, he stormed home on his seasonal reappearance in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton and that proved he is back at the top of his game. It will be a surprise if he’s beaten.
Selection: Shishkin @ 4/6
4.05 Ascot – SBK British EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle
A hot novice hurdle that features several promising types.
Galia Des Liteaux was wildly impressive when bolting up by 30 lengths on his hurdles debut at Wetherby over Christmas in a good time and should be difficult to beat if turning up in the same form.
That was his first run for Dan Skelton and there could be further improvement in the locker for his top stable.
Selection: Galia Des Liteaux @ SP
*All odds correct at time of writing
