The ITV7 jackpot has the potential to be boosted yet again this weekend. The current prize stands at £50,000, but could rise to a whopping £100,000 if Beauport wins the Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock. With six further races to enjoy, GG tipster Joe Napier gives you his selections for the competition.
Race 1 – 1.50 Ascot – Ebony Horse Club Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
From a winning perspective, only the top two in the betting make appeal, but LOWRY’S BAR has every chance of overturning recent Windsor running with favourite Jingko Blue. There is a 5lb swing in the weights between the pair and the selection may well have won that Grade 2 but for a shuddering error when in front at the third last. The fact that he still finished as strongly as that rival despite that mistake suggests there was plenty in the tank for the fight and he is favoured to come out on top this time.
Race 2 – 2.05 Haydock – Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase
It may pay to take a chance on the fitness of WHISTLEINTHEDARK, just seven days on from having finished second at Warwick. That effort last weekend was his best for some time having tumbled quickly down the handicap, but suggests there will be races to be won with him soon. If over those exertions, he is down another 2lb in a weaker race than his previous contest and his trainer must be confident to be sending him back out so soon.
Race 3 – Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle
The booking of 3lb claimer Finn Lambert effectively means that MOVEIT LIKE MINNIE is now 8lb better off with Altobelli for their meeting four weeks ago. There was less than five lengths between the pair over course and distance that day and the selection was ridden to preserve his stamina. Now that there can be confidence he stays this far, it seems much more likely he’ll be involved from an earlier stage and he could well claim this from the foot of the weights.
Race 4 – WKD Rendlesham Hurdle (Grade 2)
Conditions should be fairly testing here and that suits both the top two in the market in BEAUPORT and Botox Has. The latter is the defending champion in this race and is respected after getting back to some sort of form with a solid run at Cheltenham last time, but that would still be below his best, while he also concedes 6lb to the selection. Beauport made a fairly seamless transition back to hurdles when third in the Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot last month, so though he has a tendency to jump right over fences, he has brought all of his class over fences with him. Stamina is also no issue given he won the Midlands National at Uttoxeter last season on heavy.
Race 5 – Betafir Swinley Handicap Chase
Victtorino made hard work of winning here before Christmas, so while the handicapper has been kind, he is passed over given his jumping needs to improve. The same could be said of the novice HASTHING, but the O’Neills’ charge has looked very progressive on his most recent two starts. Both of them have come at an unconventional track in Windsor, but he did plenty wrong, as well as suffering his fair share of misfortune, when ultimately coming through to win quite cosily at that track last time. He is up 8lb, but the further step up to 3m here could bring about even more improvement.
Race 6 – 3.15pm Haydock – Oddschecker Grand National Trial Handicap Chase
Although he is 11lb higher in the handicap than for his victory in this last season, YEAH MAN looks to be primed for back-to-back successes for Gavin Cromwell. The presence of Royale Pagaille among the declarations has ensured that half of this ten-strong field are out of the handicap. As such, Yeah Man is one of only five participants running off their true handicap mark, and he has run well twice since last year’s victory, finishing third in Navan’s Troytown Handicap Chase, and then fourth in the Thyestes at Gowran Park. A return to these stamina-sapping conditions will suit, and his racing weight of 10st 8lb is actually 4lb lower than he carried a year ago.
Race 7 – 3.37pm Ascot – Betfair Ascot Chase (Grade 1)
Pic D’orhy had L’HOMME PRESSE comfortably in arrears when landing this 12 months ago, but there have to be significant fears about his stable’s form, while there were signs on his comeback run that he may have lost a touch of his zest. This race may only be a Cheltenham Festival warm-up for L’Homme Presse, and he would ideally like further on a left-handed track, but that did not stop him finishing third in the King George two months ago. There is greater proof of his wellbeing and ability at the current moment, with other chief rival Corbetts Cross even likelier to be swept off his feet at this trip.
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