There will be nine races over the jumps on our screens this Saturday as ITV brings us live coverage from Haydock and Ascot on home soil and from Punchestown in Ireland.
- 1:15 Haydock: Betfair Racing Podcasts Handicap Hurdle – Josh The Boss @ 11/2
- 1:30 Ascot: CopyBet 1965 Chase – Pic D’Orhy @ 1/2
- 1:50 Haydock: Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase – Hillcrest @ 11/2
- 2:10 Punchestown: Unibet Morgiana Hurdle – Lossiemouth @ 5/2
- 2:30 Haydock: Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle – Doyen Quest @ 5/2
- 2:45 Ascot: Howden Ascot Hurdle – Lucky Place @ 7/1
- 3:05 Haydock: Betfair Chase – Grey Dawning @ 11/4
- 3:20 Ascot: Lay & Wheeler Hurst Park Handicap Chase – Marvel De Cerisy @ 13/2
- 3:40 Haydock: Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase – Monbeg Genius @ 8/1
It is Betfair Chase Day at Hayock which will have five televised races. The Class 2 Handicap Hurdle is followed by the Graduation Chase, headed in the betting by Mildmay Novices’ Chase runner-up Iroko. The third race from Merseyside will be the £100k Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle. Emmet Mullins won this last year with Slate Lane and he saddles Backmersackme this year. Dan Skelton hasn’t won this since 2015 but he is sending out the favourite Doyen Quest along with Catch Him Derry and Gwennie May Boy.
The Grade 1 Betfair Chase is set to run at 3:05pm and is one of the key races in the jumps calendar with a roll of honour including Cue Card and and Imperial Commander and was won on four occasions by the might Kauto Star. Grey Dawning is at the top of the market after success in the Turners Novices’ Chase at the festival, also winning the Graduation Chase at this meeting twelve months ago. Last year’s winner, Royal Pagaille, along with Ahoy Senor, Cotswold Chase winner Capodanno, and a pair of King George winners in Bravemansgame and Hewick mean this is set to be a strong renewal. The Handicap Chase rounds off the action on Saturday.
Ascot also have a valuable jump card this weekend, with three live races. The Grade 2 1965 Chase is first up from Berkshire and comes with a prize fund of £80k. Paul Nicholls has dominated this race over the years with eight victories including last year’s winner Pic D’Orhy who is the favourite to retain his crown. The ever popular Dashel Drasher and promising 6-year-old Le Patron head the list of challengers.
The Ascot Hurdle is the second Grade 2 of the day at the track, with a field of six set to go to post. Golden Ace heads the betting after four wins on the bounce, including Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. Last year’s winner, Blueking d’Oreoux, Thunder Rock, Lucky Place, Salver and Colonel Mustard all look capable of mounting a challenge, however. The last race from Ascot is the £100k Hurst Park Handicap. Venetia Williams’ Martator is the early favourite but will need to overcome top weight to claim the win.
Punchestown’s Premiere Weekend begins on Saturday and ITV will bring us the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at 2:10pm. State Man is going for a hattrick in this race for Willie Mullins but will face a strong challenge from stablemate Lossiemouth and Gordon Elliott’s Brighterdaysahead.