ITV Racing Tips for Saturday 23rd December from Haydock and Ascot

1:30 Haydock

The opener on ITV is the Tommy Whittle Chase, a handicap over the extended 3m1f trip.

It’s top-weight BILL BAXTER (7/1) EW I’ve landed on here. A winner on 4 of his five starts in what was a stellar campaign last season. One of those wins was the complete Topham Chase at the National meeting off 133 and the front two were 12 lengths clear of the remainder. He relishes soft in the description and he’ll get that today. He had a pipe-opener at Carlisle before finishing a respectable 8th in the Coral Gold Cup last time out. This test will suit him better and he’s now dropped 3lb for that effort which looks fair.

 

1:50 Ascot

The first of four races from Ascot is a handicap chase over 2m3f.

It’s CAP DU MATHAN (3/1) for me here for the duo of Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden. He ran a solid race on his reappearance when finishing fourth behind Boothill here at Ascot over 2m1f. He looked like he was going to give Boothill the most to think about that day before just flattering out late on. I think that run will have put him spot on and the quicker ground here will suit. The trip won’t be an issue and having Cobden back on board is certainly not a negative.

 

2:05 Haydock

The 2:05 from Haydock is up next, a handicap hurdle over 2 miles.

I think JAGWAR (11/4) NAP can kick this lot out of the way. He showed plenty of promise on his only start in France finishing a good second in heavy ground over 2m2f. He was then purchased by  the powerful JP McManus ownership and was sent to the Greenall/Guerriero operation. He was well fancied on stable debut at Aintree back in October and he arguably should have won finishing a very close second beaten a head by Inthewaterside. He ran on well through the line there and this softer ground will be right up his street. I have no doubt he’s better than a mark of 119.

 

2:25 Ascot

The feature is the 2:25 from Ascot, the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle for the stayers over 3 miles.

I do like CRAMBO (7/2) in this. He’s the progressive sort in the line-up who looks most likely to improve past the veterans who set a fairly solid standard but nothing to fear. Crambo was a decent winner on his comeback run this season at Aintree before going to a competitive stayers handicap hurdle at Haydock last time out finishing a strong staying on third. He got a poor ride that day and he should have won. He’d have learnt a lot from that effort in my opinion and I think he’ll enjoy this stiff Ascot test. Johnny Burke takes over and I see that as a positive.

 

3:00 Ascot

The 3:00 from Ascot comes next, the Silver Cup Handicap Chase. 11 runners are set to go post from this 3 mile contest.

I like FLEGMATIK (12/1) EW in this. He ran a really solid race last time out here at Ascot finishing a good second behind Your Darling in a similar Ascot handicap. The handicapper has dropped him a 1lb for that which looks really generous and he just be approaching peak form on his third start of the season. He sits off the pace and there looks plenty of pace on here so the nature of the race should suit him well. I find it hard to see him out the frame for the Skelton’s which makes him a cracking each-way bet.

 

3:35 Ascot

The finale is the 3:35 and it is the competitive Betfair Exchange Trophy over 2 miles.

It’s IBERICO LORD (3/1) NB for me. An impressive winner last time out in the competitive Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. He travelled strongly that day and he picked up well to win a shade cosily at the line truth be told. An 8lb rise is more than fair and Nico keeps the ride which is a positive. I think he’s on an upward curve and conditions will suit him well today. A fair favourite.

 

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