It’s a hectic day of racing action on Saturday with British Champions Day at Ascot taking centre stage – we’ve got lots of big race previews for that meeting covered.
Elsewhere, they go at Catterick, Leopardstown and Wolverhampton on the Flat alongside jumps fare from Market Rasen, Newton Abbot and Stratford on a busy day with 50 races across the UK and Ireland!
Away from Ascot, we like the Alan King-trained Harbour Lake, a progressive hurdler last season, on his seasonal bow at Market Rasen.
Selections
- Market Rasen 14:27 – Harbour Lake @ 6/4
- Wolverhampton 18:30 – Nacho @ 11/2
- Newton Abbot 16:35 – Silent Revolution @ 11/8
Tip 1
Recent C&D second Kihavah might do well if offered a more testing gallop to come at here for Adrian Keatley and Conor O’Farrell but he might have to settle for a supporting role behind HARBOUR LAKE (6/4) for trainer Alan King in this Linear By Symphony Handicap Hurdle over just of shy 2m5f.
The six-year-old Shantou gelding made good strides last season over timber, winning 3-4 starts, with his only defeat coming in a Listed novice contest at Huntingdon in February when he was brought down late on.
After that, he went to Bangor (2m3½f, soft) and claimed the scalp of the previously unbeaten hurdler Jungle Jack from the Donald McCain team with a game effort and despite getting the final flight all wrong.
It was noted that King entered his charge in a Grade 1 novice at Aintree afterwards, though he was a non-runner on the day. A mark of 130 is within reach and he should be fit enough to do himself justice now.
Tip 2
The Betfred Betfinder identifies 11/2 chance NACHO amongst the Most Napped horses of the day on Saturday as he goes for a fourth Wolverhampton win of his career.
Donald McCain’s runner has gained all of those wins over this 5f trip and has been shaping well in recent starts at this Black Country layout.
He was a close fourth over this trip last month and, just a few days later, was done no favours having to run very wide throughout from a poor draw as he eventually faded in the home straight over 6f, beaten just over four-lengths at the line.
The McCain team are in fine fettle (23 per-cent strike-rate – (5-22) – previous fortnight) and with a good low draw, Josephine Gordon should be able to get a good position on Nacho in their quest for more Wolverhampton success.
Tip 3
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls sends a strong team to Newton Abbot this afternoon and, together with stable jockey Harry Cobden, it could be a good day for the Ditcheat operation. The Betfred Betfinder shows lots of clear chances for a trainer/jockey combo in form.
He’s got expensive newcomer Mullins Bay (7/4) in the concluding bumper at 17:10, but before that SILENT REVOLUTION (11/8) can make a winning start over fences in the newtonabbotracing.com Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (16:35).
Silent Revolution won 2-3 starts over hurdles last season, his only blip when pulled up in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival – a race in which he was 125/1.
His wins at Newbury and Chepstow either side of that were promising and, in both instances, he has shown a willingness to dig in when things get tough. He should be well-schooled and finds a nice opportunity on his chasing bow at a venue where the Ditcheat trainer has a 30 per-cent strike-rate in 2022.
