There will be live ITV racing from both sides of the Irish Sea on Saturday with racing from Betfair Chase Day at Haydock, the November Racing Weekend at Ascot and the first day of Punchestown’s Premier Weekend.
- 1:15 Haydock: Betfair Racing Podcasts Handicap Hurdle – Florida Dreams @ 5/1
- 1:30 Ascot: Ladbrokes 1965 Chase – Jango Baie @ 5/2
- 1:50 Haydock: Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase – Iroko @ 5/2
- 2:10 Punchestown: Unibet Morgiana Hurdle – Lossiemouth @ 2/5
- 2:25 Haydock: Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle – Ace Of Spades @ 13/2
- 2:40 Ascot: Ladbrokes Ascot Hurdle – Crambo @ 16/1
- 3:00 Haydock: Betfair Chase – Handstands @ 6/1
- 3:15 Ascot: Castello Banfi Hurst Park Handicap Chase – Martator @ 6/1
- 3:35 Haydock: Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase – Duke Of Deception @ 12/1
Saturday’s live action on ITV begins with a 2m3f handicap hurdle worth £50k before the first graded race of the day, the Ladbrokes 1965 Chase at Ascot. Last year’s King George VI Chase runner-up, Il Est Francais for Tom George, is the favourite ahead of Paul Nicholls’ Pic D’orhy who was second in the Charlie Hall Chase at the beginning of the month. Gidleigh Park and Arkle winner Jango Baie were second and third behind Impaire Et Passe in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree and are both set to line up also.
The Graduation Chase has Harry Redknapp’s Jukebox Man, trained by Ben Pauling, as the market leader ahead of Grand National fourth Iroko for Nicky Henderson. At Punchestown, Willie Mullins’ star hurdler Lossiemouth is set to face just three rivals on the Morgiana Hurdle as is a short price to open her account for the season with a win. Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle winner Irancy could provide a decent challenge however.
The Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle will have the maximum field of 17 lining up in what should be a competitive renewal. Our pick will be Ace Of Spades for Dan Skelton who looked like the distance should suit when winning a handicap hurdle over 2m4f at Aintree in October. Last year’s winner, Shoot First for Charles Byrnes will need to overcome top weight of 12st to become the first two-time winner of the race.
Gordon Elliott’s Martin Pipe Hurdle winner Wodhooh tops the Ascot Hurdle market ahead of Potters Charm who fell as the 13/8 favourite for the bet365 Hurdle at Wetherby early in November. Fergal O’Brien’s Crambo won the Long Walk Hurdle here last December and could provide each way value at a bigger price.
A small but select field will contest the Haydock feature, the Grade 1 Betfair Chase. Last year’s winner and runner-up in Royale Pagaille for Venetia Williams and Grey Dawning for Dan Skelton are joined by Irish Grand National winner Haiti Couleurs for Rebecca Curtis at the head of the betting. Ben Pauling’s Handstands won a Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase and two Grade 2 novice chases last season and may have needed the run when second at Carlisle three weeks ago. Completing the lineup is Stellar Story for Gordon Elliott who won the Albert Bartlett Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2024.
The televised racing concludes with the 2m1f Hurst Park Handicap at Ascot and the Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase over 3m1½f at Haydock.