Saturday Racing Cheat Sheet: Best bets for ITV Racing at Ascot and Haydock plus Paul Nicholls

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Tips Summary

Race	Tipster	Tip	Odds
13:50 Ascot	Katie Midwinter	Bad	Win @ 16/54.20
14:05 Haydock	Mark Milligan	Saladins Son	Win @ 5/16.00
14:25 Ascot	Alan Dudman	Honesty Policy	Win @ 9/43.25
14:40 Haydock	Mark Milligan	La Zoubide	E/W @ 13/27.50
15:00 Ascot	Sam Turner	Pic Roc	E/W @ 4/15.00
15:35 Ascot	Katie Midwinter	Wreckless Eric	E/W @ 14/115.00

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Saturday horse racing tips and insight

13:15 Ascot - Paul Nicholls: Jakar Du Moulin my best chance of the day

I think he needed his seasonal return at Exeter. Jay Tidball, who rode him that day, had quite a nasty fall on the way down to the start on him, he slipped up and I'm not sure Jay was quite 100%. He saw the doctor down at the start and he was passed fit to ride, but Jay took quite a few days to get over that so I'm not sure if he was quite at his best.

He ran very nicely, it was a lovely seasonal debut and he stays very well. The more the ground dries up - I'd love to see it good to soft by Saturday afternoon - the more that will suit him and I think he's our best chance of the day.

Ultimately chasing is his game so I don't think you'll see a lot of improvement in him until he jumps a fence. He can definitely win a hurdle race or two off his current mark of 110, but when he goes chasing he will improve.

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13:50 Ascot- Katie Midwinter:  Pauling runner not a Bad bet at Ascot

Bad is very good on a going day as shown on numerous occasions at Kempton Park during 2025. He's now 6lb higher than his last winning mark when successful at the Sunbury-on-Thames venue on his reappearance in October, but he appears well treated at the weights based on his latest effort and could prove tough to beat.

When last seen, the Ben Pauling-trained grey put in a brilliant effort to finish fifth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham's November Meeting. He was beaten seven-lengths at odds of 18/119.00 by the impressive winner, who has since franked the form with a dominant win in the Coral Gold Cup and is now rated 12lb higher on a mark of 147.

Runner-up Vincenzo has also enhanced the form of the competitive Cheltenham handicap with another second-placed finish in the December Gold Cup last weekend.

Prior to his brace of Kempton wins earlier in the year, Bad was unfortunate to fall at the track when travelling well in first-time blinkers. He was 14lb lower rated but has an extra year of experience under his belt on his return to Ascot which should hold him in good stead. 

Bad impressed in deep waters when last seen and proved he can be competitive against tough opposition in tricky handicaps. He remains a horse on an upward trajectory and holds solid claims from his current mark, returning to what is likely a more suitable track.

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14:05 Haydock - Mark Milligan:  Son has conditions in favour in Tommy Whittle

I'm old enough to remember the days when the Tommy Whittle Chase was a serious pointer to the Cheltenham Gold Cup, with the likes of Forgive N Forget and The Thinker winning it on the way to the Festival. Since becoming a handicap, it doesn't really attract that calibre of horse anymore, but it's certainly more competitive for it, and this year's renewal looks no exception, with plenty boasting some sort of chance.

I'm going to side with southern raider Saladins Son, who relishes testing ground and conditions should be right up his alley at Haydock on Saturday.

Anthony Honeyball's seven-year-old has won three of his five starts over fences and didn't at all run badly when second on his return at this track last month. The ground wasn't all that deep then and he should get a much stiffer test of stamina this time, while there still looks to be plenty of mileage in his current handicap mark of 122.

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14:25 Ascot- Alan Dudman: Back Honesty Policy

Long Walk Hurdle: Big Race Verdict and 1-2-3 prediction

With Crambo's credentials perhaps dimmed by age and a lacklustre run last time, I am going for youth and Honesty Policy. Sometimes it can be dangerous backing a horse simply as the division needs a star, but he should stay and is stepping out of novice company with a decent Timeform figure and a 'p'.

My outsiders are Jet Blue, simply as a he was a 5s chance at the festival last year over 3m and as a Frenchie, he has form in wet conditions, and Beauport.

1. Honesty Policy
2. Jet Blue
3. Beauport

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14:40 Haydock - Mark Milligan:  Back La Zoubide to maintain winning streak

This Listed mares' novices' hurdle has a fascinating look to it and I'm keen to be with Nicky Richards' La Zoubida, who has created a good impression in winning both her starts over hurdles.

The French-bred daughter of Authorized was a bumper winner at Market Rasen earlier this year before running down the field Grade 2 company at Aintree, but has really elevated her game since going over obstacles, winning at both Sedgefield and Kelso.

Neither of those races were particularly deep but she won both in good style and, given her pedigree, she's unlikely to find the testing conditions at Haydock counting against her.

The main feature of both her successes has been how accurately La Zoubida has been with her jumping and that trait seems sure to stand her in good stead as she bids to take this step up in class in her stride.

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15:00 Ascot- Sam Turner: Roc can prove the Pic of Pauling's pair

There are no prizes for nominating Pic Roc as a possible winner of this well-contested handicap given any race reader worth their salt spotted his effort in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury last time.

Tipping and backing horses which run past their rivals late on can be a fool's game as those late closers often seduce and are also quite frequently overbet next time.

In the case of Pic Roc, his price for this event seems fair judged on his performance at the Berkshire venue where he was one of those who fell foul of the standing start procedure.

With the exception of The Doyen Chief who was swiftly pulled up after missing the start, Ben Pauling's gelding found himself at the rear of the field and jumped the first two obstacles last of the 23 remaining runners.

In the circumstances, the selection emerged with plenty of credit to finish within 12 lengths of the runaway winner Panic Attack, clocking the second fastest finishing speed percentage of the race to take fifth.

Hopefully, there won't be any such dramas here and it is interesting that rider Ben Jones cuts his long-term association with Henry's Friend, an impressive winner at this venue on his comeback, preferring to remain loyal to the seven-year-old.

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15:35 Ascot - Katie Midwinter:  Erik not such a Wreckless bet

Five-year-old gelding Wreckless Eric is yet to be fully exposed as he makes only his tenth career start for the Jackdaws Castle team in this competitive handicap. He has been running consistently well in tricky races bar his latest effort at Aintree, and can pose a threat if able to bounce back to form on his return to action from a mark of 129.

The Jonjo and A J O'Neill-trained gelding beat Cavern Club, now rated 18lb higher, in a Cheltenham handicap last year from a mark of 117, before chasing home now 138-rated chaser Mirabad and finished a creditable sixth to Secret Squirrel, beaten only a length-and-a-half by Kabral Du Mathan in that Windsor contest.

In the Betfair Imperial Cup in March, the son of Masterstroke finished a half-a-length second to Go Dante, who recently franked the form, from only a 2lb lower rating. There's plenty of substance to his form and, as a five-year-old, he could have further improvement to come.

One to note each-way at a price of [....], Wreckless Eric could be good enough to make the frame on a going day in a fascinating race.

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Now read the Antepost preview for Saturday's Ascot feature

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