Saturday's ITV Racing offers a thrilling line-up with key races at Haydock, Ascot, and Punchestown. Highlights include the Betfair Chase, with Punta Del Este and Catch Him Derry as strong contenders amidst forecasted rain. At Haydock, Iroko and Inis Oirr are anticipated to shine in their respective races, setting sights on the Grand National. The ground conditions suggest an edge favoring horses adept in softer terrains. With a mix of Grade 1 races and strategic betting insights, this promises an engaging day for racing fans.
The National Hunt season is starting to find it's stride and ITV racing fans have got a fantastic afternoon of action to enjoy on Saturday. The first Grade One of the British season takes place this weekend, with Haydock hosting Betfair Chase day. Along with five races live from Haydock, viewers will enjoy a trio of strong races from Ascot and the Grade One Morgiana Hurdle live from Punchestown.
Here are my best betting tipsfor Haydock, Ascot and Punchestown on Saturday.
ITV Racing Schedule
Time
Track
Title
1:15pm
Haydock
Betfair Racing Podcasts Handicap Hurdle
(Class 2) 2m3f
1:30pm
Ascot
1965 Chase (Grade 2) 2m5f
1:50pm
Haydock
Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase (Class 2) 2m5½f
2:10pm
Punchestown
Unibet Morgiana Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m½f
2:30pm
Haydock
Stayers' Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 3m½f
2:45pm
Ascot
Howden Ascot Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m3½f
3:05pm
Haydock
Betfair Chase (Grade 1) 3m1½f
3:20pm
Ascot
Lay & Wheeler Hurst Park Handicap Chase (Class 2) 2m1f
3:40pm
Haydock
Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Class 2) 3m1½f
ITV Racing Tips - Saturday 23rd November
1:15pm Haydock - Handicap Hurdle Tips
With plenty of rain forecast at Haydock today and a deluge due to hit Merseyside on Saturday, I'd be amazed if there was any good left in the going on Betfair Chase day. Softer conditions would certainly suit PUNTA DEL ESTE (9/1), who hacked up in a heavy ground handicap over this course-and-distance back in December.
Dan Skelton then attempted to turn Punta Del Este into a Pertemps horse, but his two efforts over three miles were poor. On his final outing at Ayr, Skelton's star claimed a shock victory in a two-and-a-half mile contest, carrying odds of 25/1 into the winner's enclosure.
Despite the ground being against him, Punta Del Este ran a lovely race on his reappearance at Carlisle earlier this month, losing out narrowly when third behind Castle Rushen. Harry Skelton's mount likes the track here at Haydock and remains on a winnable mark.
1:30pm Ascot - 1965 Chase Tips
Pic D'Orhy ran out a 16-length winner of this contest 12 months ago and really should be winning again despite that Grade One winner's penalty. 1/2 isn't an appealing price, though. No bet for me.
1:50pm Haydock - Graduation Chase Tips
Operation Grand National begins for my favourite horse in training, IROKO (13/8) at Haydock on Saturday. Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero's star suffered a setback after a sparkling chasing debut at Warwick last November, but returned in the spring with decent efforts in Grade Ones at Cheltenham and Aintree.
In their pre-season stable tour, Greenhall & Guerriero announced that owner, JP McManus would like a crack at the Grand National with this classy gelding. Having run just three times over fences last term, I'd like to see Iroko run fairly regularly before heading to Aintree in April. This contest looks to be an ideal starting point.
2:05pm Ascot - Berkshire National Handicap Chase Tips
Lucinda Russell has set INIS OIRR (6/1) the end-of-season goal of the Irish Grand National. Russell's seven-year-old will get into that big handicap off his current mark of 130, but she's still like him to pick up a pot or two on his way to Fairyhouse in April.
Inis Oirr has run well on his first two starts this season. Alan Doyle's mount made the running at Carlisle last time out and, although he was passed by two closers down the home straight, kept on fairly well to finish third. The track here at Ascot should be ideal for Inis Oirr, who has to go right-handed, and any softening in the ground will suit. Doyle's claimer leaves him carrying a lovely racing weight.
Iroko after his victory in the 2023 Martin Pipe. (Getty)
Another of my 20 To Follow horses who'll be running at Haydock on Saturday is CATCH HIM DERRY (6/1). Dan Skelton's star was only beaten by progressive stablemate Gwennie May Boy in handicap hurdles last term, and I was expecting him to carry a lenient handicap mark into the novice chasing sphere this term.
Skelton, however, opted to remain over hurdles and Catch Him Derry kicked off his second campaign over obstacles with an ultra-impressive reappearance win at Newton Abbot, where he cruised to victory without coming out of second gear.
Harry Skelton rides favourite Doyen Quest, who won well on very different ground at Cheltenham last weekend and may not be as well suited to Saturday's going. Tristan Durrell will take the ride on the soft-ground loving Catch Him Derry, who should play a massive hand with just 10-06 on his back.
2:45pm Ascot - Ascot Hurdle Tips
Mares' Novices' Hurdle winner, Golden Ace tops the betting for Jeremy Scott, who hasn't had a winner since mid-July. Blueking d'Oroux carried a penalty for his success in this race 12 months ago. Thunder Rock has a point to prove going back over hurdles and Lucky Place may not be suited by rain-softened ground.
I'm going to have a small saver on SALVER (7/1), who rounded off last term with a placed effort in the Triumph Hurdle. Gary and Josh Moore's juvenile went into Cheltenham unbeaten in four starts over hurdles and gave an excellent account of himself, staying on when passed to finish third.
Moore has been waiting for the ground to soften to unleash his Grade Two winner, so Saturday's forecast will fill him with plenty of optimism. It's clear that Salver has bundles of ability.
A tricky race this, but I'd give SANS BRUIT (11/2) a decent chance after a fine reappearance effort at Exeter. Paul Nicholls' six-year-old surged to victory from the front in the Red Rum Handicap at Aintree in April, before finishing a good third in the Grade Three handicap chase at Ayr nine days later.
Bryony Frost gave her mount a lovely ride from the front in the Haldon Gold Cup. San Bruit was still in there pitching approaching the final flight, but was passed by JPR One and Djelo on the run to the line. Softer ground conditions at Ascot will certainly suit and Harry Cobden's mount remains on the same mark.
A big chance has to be given to CREDO (8/1), who was only beaten a length by Famous Bridge in this race 12 months ago, and returns to Haydock running off a two-pound lower mark.
Anthony Honeyball's mare then finished fourth behind that same rival in the Tommy Whittle here at Haydock, where Sam Twiston-Davies' mount dealt well with heavy ground again. Credo's form tailed off a little thereafter and Honeyball's mare finished her race like she needed the run on her reappearance at Wincanton. Conditions, however, should be much more suitable on Saturday and Credo has the benefit of a run under her belt.
Verdict
Saturday's Top ITV Racing Tips:
Best Bet1: Iroko 1:50pm Haydock @13/8 at bet365 - 5 Units
Best Bet2: Inis Oirr 2:05pm Ascot @6/1 at BOYLE Sports - 5 Units
Best Bet3: Catch Him Derry 2:30pm Haydock @6/1 at QuinnBet - 5 Units
Best Bet4: Punta Del Este 1:15pm Haydock @9/1 at bet365 - 5 Units
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