ITV will be broadcasting six races on the final Saturday before Christmas, with action from the second day of Ascot’s Christmas Weekend and from Haydock on their Tommy Whittle Chase Day.
- 1:50 Ascot: Howden Handicap Chase – Scarface @ 9/1
- 2:05 Haydock: Betfred Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase – Famous Bridge @ 9/1
- 2:25 Ascot: Howden Long Walk Hurdle – Honesty Policy @ 5/2
- 2:40 Haydock: Betfred “The Classic Bookmaker” Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – Walks The Talk @ 11/2
- 3:00 Ascot: Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase – Ga Law @ 28/1
- 3:35 Ascot: Ascot Rotary Club Festive Handicap Hurdle – Helnwein @ 12/1
Saturday’s opening live race on ITV will be the Howden Handicap Chase at Ascot. Amongst the favourites is Ben Pauling’s Bad, who was a credible seventh in last month’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham. Joe Tizzard’s Scarface was second in this race last year and although is five pounds up since that run, could prove good each way value.
Twelve runners are set to go to post in Haydock’s feature, the Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase. Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies’ Top The Bill was an impressive 7l course and distance winner at Haydock last month but will have to saddle the 12st-2lb top weight. As such, preference is for Famous Bridge who won the Grand National Trial here last February only to be disqualified after failing a drug test.
The Newbury Long Distance Hurdle first and second, Impose Toi for Nicky Henderson and Strong Leader for Olly Murphy are shaded for favouritism in Ascot’s Long Distance Hurdle by Gordon Elliott’s Honestly Policy. The five-year-old completed a hat-trick culminating in victory in the Mersey Novices’ Chase at Aintree before a narrow loss to Willie Mullins’ Jasmin De Vaux at the Punchestown Festival last season. As such we think the Elliott runner can continue his progress on his way to a tilt at the Stayers’ Hurdle in March.
A number of runners come into Haydock’s Listed Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in good form but we’ll be backing John McConnell’s Walks The Talk who has been impressive in her last two outings, winning by a combined twelve lengths.
Victtorino is going for a third successive victory in the Silver Cup for Venetia Williams but faded badly in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last month. Ga Law was travelling well when making a mistake four from home in Wetherby’s Charlie Hall Chase at the beginning of last month and could make the places at a big price despite carrying top weight.
The Ascot Rotary Club Festive Handicap Hurdle, a Premier Handicap at Ascot, rounds off the live ITV action. Joes Tizzard’s Alexei won last month’s Greatwood Hurdle ahead of Alan King’s Helnwein but now gives away a stone in weight which we think could be enough to turn the tables on Saturday.