The jumps action continues to heat up this coming Saturday with the first Grade 1 of the British season as a talented field of staying chasers tackle the Betfair Chase. The highlight of the Haydock card takes centre stage in the ITV coverage, but there’s plenty more on offer as many of the stars of last season return to the track. Ascot chips in with the Grade 2 duo of the Nirvana Spa 1965 Chase and the Coral Hurdle whilst all eyes turn to Ireland for the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle from Punchestown. Throw in a clutch of quality handicaps, and we are all set for another afternoon of viewing and punting pleasure.
A bumper nine televised races means nine winners to attempt to find, and here we give it our best shot in this week’s Saturday Racing Tips.
1:15 Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle
Class 2, 2m3f
Competitive handicap chase action kicks off the action. The eight-year-old Stainsby Girl landed this last year, but each of the previous nine editions had fallen to a runner aged six or younger. Stainsby Girl (10/1) returns to defend her crown but is fully 12lbs higher and may have to give way to the younger legs in the field.
Nicky Henderson’s hat-trick-seeking Park Hill Dancer (7/2) currently shades favouritism and should go well on his seasonal return. However, he is up eight pounds and moving from Class 4 company to Class 2, so he will need to pull out more. In contrast, Irish raider Carnfunnock (4/1) is stepping down from Listed level, having last been sighted finishing third behind the talented Giovinco at Perth. His most recent effort over this sort of trip saw him stay on strongly to land a Naas event from the 138-rated Lucky Max. He was receiving plenty of weight that day, but his shrewd handler Stuart Crawford has hit form of late, and he looks the one to be on off a mark of 128.
1:30 Nirvana Spa 1965 Chase
Grade 2, 2m5f
Just the four go to post in the first of the day’s Graded events, with the market making this a straight shootout between the Nicky Henderson star Shiskin (4/6) and the Paul Nicholls runner Pic D’Orhy (2/1). Rounding off last season with a win in the Grade 1 Marsh Chase at the Grand National meeting, Pic D’Orhy has been the subject of glowing reports over the summer and heads into the season with high hopes of further Grade 1 success. However, even if he has improved significantly, he may be biting off more than he can chew with Shiskin.
A five-time winner in Grade 1 company – including the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival – Shiskin also scored at the Grand National meeting when seeing off Ahoy Senor in the Aintree Bowl. He is also a top-level winner over this course and distance, having routed the opposition by 16 lengths in the Ascot Chase in February. The horse back in second that day was none other than Pic D’Orhy, and we don’t expect him to turn the tables.
1:50 Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase
Class 2, 2m5½f
We have another small field affair, with five set to line up in the second event from Haydock. Scipion (33/1) and Hardy Bloke (66/1) look up against it, but the other trio are harder to split. Lucinda Russell’s Apple Away (5/2) rounded off last season with a Grade 1 success at Aintree, and benefits from the seven-pound fillies’ and mares’ allowance here. She is narrowly preferred to Grade 2 winner Gret Dawning (2/1), who fell in that Aintree event but ran a sound race behind Stay Away Fay on his seasonal return at Exeter. However, both may struggle to master the favourite as Gaillard Du Mesnil (13/8) crosses the Irish Sea for a crack at this £50,000 prize.
Having won the National Hunt Chase and finished third in the Grand National, this one stays all day but is also a smart operator at around this trip, having won in Grade 1 company over 2m4f and 3m. He does need to concede 11lb to Grey Dawning but is 19lb clear of that rival on ratings, and this strapping sort can prove too strong for Apple Away on the run to the line.
2:05 Coral Hurdle
Grade 2, 2m3½f
Defending champion Goshen (6/4) heads the betting in this intriguing hurdle contest. If getting out of the right side of the bed, he rates the one to beat but has become one of the most unpredictable horses in training and performed way below expectations last time out in the Cesarewitch on the flat. He may bounce back, but, at the prices, we will look elsewhere.
Nicky Henderson’s Theatre Glory (3/1) is the most obvious alternative, having chased home Knappers Hill in a Grade 2 at Sandown last term, but at twice the price, the one to catch our eye is the Olly Murphy-trained Strong Leader (5/1). We need to forgive a no-show on his return in the Welsh Champion Hurdle, but his peak efforts from last season would give him every chance in this field. The best of those outings came when flying home late to grab second behind Inthepocket in the Top Novices Chase. We would be surprised if there were anything of the calibre of that Henry de Bromhead runner in this field, and anything close to a repeat of that effort should see him go very close.
2:20 Betfair “Serial Winners” Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle
Premier Handicap, 3m½f
Paul Byrne’s Onlyamatteroftime blotted his copybook in spectacular style when running out in the Greatwood Hurdle last weekend, but better can be expected from the owners Slate Lane (7/2) here. Heading into the race seeking a four-timer and hailing from the yard of the excellent Emmet Mullins, he boasts rock-solid claims. Emitom (14/1) and Santos Blue (16/1) are tempting each-way options, but just getting the vote is the Fergal O’Brien representative Crambo (3/1).
Sire Saddler Maker is a reliable source of graded class performers, and we wouldn’t be surprised if this six-year-old is making his presence felt in lofty company by the end of this season. Hugely progressive last season, in winning three of five starts, his only defeats came when pulled up at Newbury and when hampered by a faller in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle. Looking as well as ever when comfortably mastering Santos Blue on his seasonal return, he will be carrying our cash to stay on best of all.
2:35 Unibet Morgiana Hurdle
Grade 1, 2m½f
A bonus treat from Ireland sees a Willie Mullins vs Gordon Elliott clash in this Grade 1 affair. Elliott’s Pied Piper (7/1) and Fils D’oudairies (40/1) have the benefit of a recent run under their belts, but that may be all they have going for them here, as Mullins holds the clear ace in the pack. Echoes In Rain (6/1) is a fine mare, but it will be a shock if State Man (1/3) is turned over.
Mopping up Irish Grade 1’s last season, including a four-length win in this race, the son of Doctor Dino has won seven of nine starts for Mullins. If we excuse a fall on hurdle debut, the only horse to have ever finished ahead of him goes by the name of Constitution Hill. Mullins can be trusted to get them ready first time up for these Grade 1 assignments, and State Man simply looks a class above these rivals.
3:00 Betfair Chase
Grade 1, 3m1½f
Given the £200,000 prize money on offer, it remains a mystery why the feature race of the day usually attracts such a small field. Nevertheless, that is again the case in 2023, with only four runners going to post. Dan Skelton’s Protektorat (2/1) will have this as his main target for the season, having powered clear for an 11-length success in last year’s edition. However, with Eldorado Allen back in second and the hot-favourite A Plus Tard being pulled up, that didn’t look like the strongest edition.
Royal Pagaille (9/1) is a dual winner at this track and should go well for the red-hot Venetia Williams yard, but is yet to score in Grade 1 company and may make do with minor honours. The one they all have to beat is Paul Nicholls King George hero, Bravemansgame (8/11), who was too good for all bar Galopin Des Champs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, is a previous winner at the track and is expected to take a big step forward from a slightly unlucky defeat to a race-fit rival in the Charlie Hall Chase.
3:15 Jim Barry Hurst Park Handicap Chase
Class 2, 2m1f
Another defending champ in the finale from Ascot, in the shape of the Harry Fry-trained Boothill (5/2). Boasting career form figures of 311 at Ascot, the eight-year-old clearly enjoys the Berkshire venue and looked as well as ever when landing a Premier Handicap here at the beginning of the month. He boasts obvious claims but is fully 15lbs higher than 12 months ago and must shoulder a welter burden of 12st.
Funambule Sivola (14/1) is an interesting each-way option, having competed in the past two editions of the Queen Mother Champion Chase – finishing second in 2022 – but we would like to have seen a bit more on his recent return following a wind-op. In a tricky heat, the one to get the vote is Dan Skelton’s Frere D’Armes (9/2). This one does have 14 lengths to find with Boothill from that Premier Handicap earlier in the month, but he looked badly in need of the run that day and gets a 12lb pull in the weights once the five-pound claim of Tristan Durrell is factored in. Still only six, there may be improvement to come, and off a nice racing weight of 10st6lb, he can go close.
3:35 Betfair “Free Racing Multiple Today” Handicap Chase
Class 2, 3m1½f
One of the most competitive contests of the day rounds out the action, with a decent case to be made for a whole host of these. Going in the famous Trevor Hemmings colours, Famous Bridge (7/2) ran a cracker on his comeback at Ayr to go down by just less than a length at the line. Winning his final two starts last season, he looks a chaser on the rise and shouldn’t be far away. Last time out winner Credo (11/2) is another for the shortlist, with the Anthony Honeyball yard going great guns at present, but with so many in with a chance, we prefer an each-way punt.
Coconut Splash (14/1) has the talent to be involved if he can get his jumping together, but a safer option is the Dr Richard Newland-trained Bali Body (10/1). Sneaking in towards the foot of the weights, this lightly raced sort is yet to finish out of the first three in three starts over fences, and caught our eye when staying on late for second at Wetherby last time out. Considering that was his first start since a wind op and his first run in 701 days, it would be no surprise to see a significant step forward, and he can at least hit the frame.