Saturday 15th February 2025
Ascot Chase Day
1.15 Ascot: Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle
We kick a bumper day’s racing off with the 1.15 at Ascot and I like Hardy Fella here for Emma Lavelle and Harry Cobden. He won decisively last time out at Market Rasen by five and a half lengths and a five-pound rise may not be enough to stop him from following up again here if he’s in the same form, as he’s won off just three pounds lower than this in the past.
Hardy Fella – 11/1 (Each-Way)
1.36 Wincanton: BetMGM Kingwell Hurdle
In this year’s renewal of the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton I’m with Golden Ace who represents the team of Jeremy Scott and Lorcan Williams. She won the Mares Novice race at the Cheltenham Festival last year, beating none other than Brighterdaysahead in the process which is arguably the best form on offer here. Most notably, she gets eight pounds off market leader Burdett Road which could be hard to concede.
Golden Ace – 5/2 (Win)
1.50 Ascot: Ebony Horse Club Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase
I’m siding with Lowry’s Bar in the Reynoldstown who’s currently trading at a best price of 2/1 for Phillip Hobbs & Johnson White who’s the mount of Micheal Nolan. He was only two and a quarter lengths behind Jingko Blue last time in Grade 2 company at Windsor and that rival now has to give away five pounds to the selection. He also made a costly error three out that day and if he sharpens up his jumping here he can reverse the form.
Lowry’s Bar – 2/1 (Win)
2.05 Haydock: Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase
We head over to Haydock for thre Veteran’s race now and I’ve come down on Eaton Collina in this for Kerry Lee and Liam Harrison. He’s back down to his last winning mark which came at Wetherby exactly twelve months ago and he comes into the race in decent form having finished third the last twice. If he gets a clear round I think he’s got every chance in a race of this nature.
Eaton Collina – 4/1 (Win)
2.25 Ascot: Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle
It’s competitive handicap action up next at Ascot and in this particular affair I’m taking a chance on Country Park at a decent price for Jonjo & A J O’Neil who’s the mount of Jonjo Jr. He’s actually still a maiden, however, he has a string of placed efforts to his name in novice and maiden company behind some useful novices. I think he could prove to be a big player here on his handicap debut.
Country Park – 12/1 (Each-Way) (4 places)
2.40 Haydock: WKD Rendlesham Hurdle
We move back up in grade now with the Grade 2 Rendelsham Hurdle at Haydock over three miles and half of a furlong. I’m siding with last year’s winner here in Botox Has for Gary & Josh Moore who’s to be ridden by Caolin Quinn. He returned to form last time out with a solid third-placed effort behind Gowel Road in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham and a return to this race has likely been the plan. Course form stands for a lot around this track and he’s unbeaten in two starts here.
Botox Has – 10/3 (Win)
3.00 Ascot: Betfair Swinley Handicap Chase
Next up on the ITV schedule this week is the 3.00 and this is the Swinley Handicap Chase over three miles. I’m going to take a chance on Snipe here who’s currently a 9/1 chance for the Skeltons. He was making smooth headway at Doncaster last time out in the Grade 3 Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase before making a mistake at the last. He still kept on to finish third that day and I think he’s got every chance of a big run again here off the same mark.
Snipe – 9/1 (Each-Way) (4 places)
3.15 Haydock: Oddschecker Grand National Trial Handicap Chase
It’s more competitive handicap action at 3.15 with the Grand National Trial at Haydock over three miles and four and a half furlongs. I’m siding with another Skelton runner here in Galia Des Liteaux who’s the mount of Tristan Durrell who takes off three pounds. She’s not been seen to best effect as of late, however, she’s effectively five pounds lower than when finishing three-quarters of a length second to My Silver Lining in the Classic Chase at Warwick last January. If she returns to that form she’s got every chance of running well at a big price here.
Galia Des Liteaux – 10/1 (Each-Way)
3.37 Ascot: Betfair Ascot Chase
We sign off for the day with the feature and in this year’s renewal of the Grade 1 Ascot Chase I’ve sided with the Irish raider Corbetts Cross for Emmet Mullins and Mark Walsh. He was a wide-margin winner of the National Hunt Chase at last season’s Cheltenham Festival and wasn’t totally disgraced when finishing sixth in the King George when last seen. He still remains unexposed unlike the majority of his other rivals here and he’s joint top-rated here with L’Homme Presse. I think he can make his presence felt.
Corbetts Cross – 11/4 (Win)
