Naps of the Day: Best horse racing tips for Saturday from Tony Calvin, Kevin Blake & more

Max Liu
21 January 2022
3:00 min read

Tony Calvin and Kate Tracey both have bets at Ascot on Saturday

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Get the best bets for Saturday's racing from Tony Calvin, Kevin Blake and Kate Tracey as well as exclusive insight from Paul Nicholls and Joseph O'Brien on their runners...

He is a thorough stayer, very genuine and having won this race for the past two years comes here with an obvious chance of completing the hat-trick.

Yala Enki - 15:15 at Taunton

Joseph O'Brien: Gracchus has strong claims to be a Balme at Navan

"Gracchus De Balme is a winning point-to-pointer that made a promising start for us over hurdles last month, finishing third to Whatdeawant. He made the running that day and was still in the mix until getting tired on the run-in. He should come on from that run, which was his first outing since February.

"His jumping was good there, so hopefully we get a repeat of that here. He looks to have strong form claims and will hopefully run a big race."

Gracchus De Balme - 13:05 at Navan

Tony Calvin: N'Golo can score at Ascot

"It was good to see my 33/1 each-way ante-post selection N'golo confirmed for the 2m3f handicap hurdle at 13:45, but I can't honestly suggest he is a bet at the current prices (14/1 with the Betfair Sportsbook, who are paying four places on the race now).

"The lowest price I would have tipped him at on Tuesday was 20s, but obviously he could drift back out again - he doesn't have the obviously attractive profile of many of his rivals - but my case for him stands regardless, so I am happy to re-state that here."

Antepost bet - N'Golo @ 33/1 each-way in the 13:45 at Ascot

Kevin Blake: Confident Call on Hunters

"The 12-year-old doesn't have the typical profile of one that should be competing in a race like this, but he makes more sense when one delves into his history. Switched to Murphy in late-2017, he made the perfect start to his British career when winning a valuable handicap hurdle at Ascot. Soon after that he missed almost three years of action, but made up for lost time by continuing to steadily climb the ranks since his return.

Haydock stand 956.jpg

"He comes into this off the back of a career-best effort in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham in December, with him travelling like the winner (traded 1.594/7 in-running) until being outpointed close home and finishing a length third to Guard Your Dreams."

Back Hunters Call @ 3.259/4 in the 14:00 at Haydock

Kate Tracey: Class angle to come to the fore in Handicap Chase

"This race is a wonderfully trappy contest where the top three in the market all look to have huge chances. Those three are Palmers Hill, Fanion D'Estruval and Killer Clown. It took me a long time to sort through this trio with each having a near perfect profile for this particular race.

"I eventually came down on the side of Fanion D'Estruval at 6.611/2 to hopefully, give the weight away to his rivals in another handicap."

Back Fanion D'Estruval @ 6.611/2 in the 14:55 at Ascot

Paul Nicholls: Yala Enki has big chance of completing Portman Cup hat-trick

"He is a thorough stayer, very genuine and having won this race for the past two years comes here with an obvious chance of completing the hat-trick. He showed great determination to win at Cheltenham last time and we have kept him fresh for this rather than ask him to carry a big weight in the Coral Welsh National."

Yala Enki - 15:15 at Taunton

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