Saturday Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets including 25/1 Ascot fancy

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Haydock, 13:15 - Back Gibbs Island @ 9/25.50

Course-and-distance winner Gibbs Island won here as a juvenile hurdler in his second start over obstacles, beating Give It To Me Oj in convincing fashion by six-lengths. He has won once since, on his reappearance in October when rated 1lb lower, and should be able to put in a bold bid on the back of an eye-catching run in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. 

The five-year-old gelding is on a workable mark and is still yet to be fully exposed in only his tenth hurdling start. He remains open to further improvement and, with course form in his favour, should put in a bold bid if settling well.

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Ascot, 13:45 - Back Zgharta @ 3/14.00

Four-year-old filly Zgharta is an interesting contender for Andrew Balding on her return to handicap company. She couldn't make an impression when upped to Listed level at Saint-Cloud, but she didn't get off to the best of starts and struggled to find a clear run in the straight. 

Her latest run was an outing worth putting a line through and she could be worth keeping onside on her reappearance. She ran well on her return to action last term, when beaten only half-a-length by now 103-rated subsequent Listed winner Victory Queen, and should make her presence felt if ready to go following a break. 

Last summer, she beat a good field of rivals to shed her maiden tag at Newmarket, beating the likes of now 104-rated Silent Love, 100-rated Understudy and 97-rated Pearla, before emerging with some credit at Royal Ascot and Goodwood in competitive handicaps over a mile.

A mark of 89 may still underestimate her true potential, and she remains capable of showing further improvement, holding solid claims under Oisin Murphy.

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Ascot, 14:20 - Back Tribal Chief E/W @ 15/28.50

Likeable gelding Tribal Chief remains on a workable mark of 93 following a third-placed effort in the Lincoln. He didn't get the run of the race at Doncaster, as had happened on a couple of previous occasions in big handicaps, but should be capable of landing a valuable prize such as this if getting a favourable trip.

The five-year-old is a talented performer who could still prove better than his current mark. In the hands of Billy Loughnane, he holds strong each-way claims and could add to his five career successes to date.

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Ascot, 14:20 - Back Golden Mind E/W @ 22/123.00

Golden Mind is another to consider in this competitive handicap, representing the new training partnership of Richard and Peter Fahey. He put in a bold bid on his return to the Turf at Musselburgh when last seen, beaten only by Bellarchi when sent off at odds of 10/111.00.

Now rated 1lb higher but with Warren Fentiman, who has partnered him to victory in the past, claiming 3lb in the saddle, the five-year-old remains on a weight from which he should be able to make his presence felt. He ran well at this track last summer when fourth to Two Tribes in the International Handicap, and shouldn't be discounted at a price, one to note each-way.

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Ascot, 14:55 - Back Opportunity @ 6/17.00

William Haggas-trained Opportunity appears on a potentially lenient mark of 91 in his first run in handicap company. He beat now 115-rated Rahiebb to land his maiden in novice company at Haydock last term, narrowly finishing ahead of a rival who has since placed in the St Leger as well as at Group Two level.

Whilst Opportunity couldn't add to his success in two subsequent appearances, his latest run was worth putting a line through and he's in calmer waters here following a gelding operation. He won on season reappearance last year, therefore, with the yard in good form currently, could be tough to beat under James Doyle.

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Naas, 15:10 - Back Inishfallen @ 6/17.00

Returning to the Turf following a string of good efforts on the all-weather, Inishfallen could finally return to the winners' enclosure from a workable mark of 81. Things haven't panned out favourably for him in recent months at Dundalk, but he could find more luck in this sphere and is one to keep onside from his current rating.

A high class performer in his earlier days, the five-year-old gelding, who now resides with Stephen Thorne, has shown he still possesses enough ability to be competitive from his current rating in handicaps and this could be a feasible opportunity for him to add to his sole success to date which came in a Kempton maiden in 2023.

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Haydock, 15:40 - Back Heathcliff E/W @ 25/126.00

Making his Turf debut, five-year-old gelding Heathcliff is an interesting contender. He must transfer his all-weather form to this new challenge, but shouldn't be discounted if able to do so and has race fitness on his side having been kept busy in recent months.

A useful handicapper previously, the James Fanshawe-trained contender proved he can compete at Stakes level when half-a-length second to the talented Cool Hoof Luke in his penultimate start. He's still unexposed at this level and there could be more to come from him, making him one to note under Ross Coakley.

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Naas, 15:45 - Back Nakamura E/W @ 25/126.00

Three-year-old gelding Nakamura finished third at odds of 125/1126.00 to Charles Darwin in a Navan maiden last year, before showing potential in handicaps, proving progressive when winning two on the bounce later in the term. He's now 16lb higher than when landing his maiden, 7lb higher than his latest success, but has put in a competitive effort when fourth to First Approach from a mark of 88 since.

In the hands of 5lb claiming Patrick McGettigan here, with cheekpieces replacing blinkers, the son of Kodi Bear, who has had a recent run, could return to winning ways for Johnny Murtagh, making appeal in this 6f sprint handicap.

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Haydock, 16:15 - Back Glenfinnan E/W @ 9/110.00

Michael Dods-trained gelding Glenfinnan could come on for his return to action at Doncaster and should fare better over an extra furlong here, stepping back up in distance. His last win came over this trip from a mark of 93 and, now 11lb lower, he is capable of putting in an improved performance under Cieren Fallon.

The son of Harry Angel was able to finish second at the Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown last September from the same mark, finishing a length-and-a-quarter behind Rahmi on that occasion. He had run well previously at Sandown and finished a good fourth in his subsequent run at Newbury, too, proving he still retains ability and can make the frame on a going day from a similar mark.

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Ascot, 16:40 - Back Twilight Jet E/W @ 25/126.00

Now dropped to a mark of 76, experienced gelding Twilight Jet, who makes his 40th career start in this contest, should be able to fare better than when last seen at Lingfield. He attempted to make all on that occasion, which didn't work out well for him, but he's capable of better and may be worth keeping the faith in at a price. 

Last year on Derby Day, the Jim and Suzi Best-trained contender was only narrowly denied at odds of 33/134.00 under Joe Leavy in a competitive, higher class handicap. He's rated 17lb lower than on that occasion here, and has shown to still possess ability since when a good third from an 11lb higher mark at Kempton in December.

The seven-year-old shouldn't be discounted as he's capable of making the frame at least if on a going day. He is on a low mark in calmer waters than in previous seasons, and, although needing to improve on his latest efforts, has been given a chance at the weights.

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