Saturday Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets including 50/1 fancy

• Katie Midwinter has fancies at five tracks on a busy Saturday

• Outsider could outrun his odds in the Grade 1 feature at Ascot

• Talented performer could prove too classy in handicap company

• For the latest Betfair Racing odds click here

• Click here for more racing betting tips

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A Grade One Saturday with the Clarence House Chase taking centre stage at Ascot. The race has thrown up many memorable renewals in the past, with a number of superstars landing the prize this century, including Sprinter Sacre, Master Minded, and three-time champion Un de Sceaux.

Altior added his name to the list of winners for Nicky Henderson in 2019, before another Seven Barrows representative landed the spoils in the magnificent 2022 contest. The sorely missed Shishkin, rated 172 at the time, beat 171-rated Irish-raider Energumene, sprinting home in an extremely exciting finish that will live long in the memory.

Il Etait Temps takes on defending champion Jonbon this time around, on the back of an impressive win in the Betfair Tingle Creek in which he put nine-lengths between himself and his reopposing rival. Jonbon has plenty to find to reverse that form and has Harry Cobden aboard for the first time following the recent announcement that he will become owner JP McManus' new number one rider in Britain and Ireland.

The inclusion of unexposed improvers Thistle Ask and Gidleigh Park further adds to the intrigue in a fascinating renewal of the prestigious race.

There's also Grade Two action at Ascot and up at Haydock as two exciting novices take each other on in the Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle, Old Park Star and Hurricane Pat. The former, bidding for a third successive win, must reverse form with the latter, attempting four on the bounce, in an interesting contest.

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Navan, 12:10 - Back Welonlyhavedone @ 6/17.00

Two horses make appeal against the favourite in the Navan opener. The first is Gavin Cromwell-trained Welonlyhavedone, who returns from a short break, bidding to bounce back following a fall and a pulled up effort at Cheltenham.

His latest run at the November Meeting may be worth forgiving considering it was his first trip to England, behind a horse who appears to be a star in the making in No Drama This End, in extremely difficult weather conditions. The yard also hadn't been firing on all cylinders, and, although their recent form isn't too encouraging, there's enough talent in the stable to believe they'll be back amongst the winners soon enough.

This six-year-old gelding, who won a point in convincing fashion at Liscarroll, landed his maiden hurdle by 12-lengths before a late faller in a Galway novice event won by subsequent Grade One winner I'll Sort That. Welonlyhavedone was arguably travelling best of all before coming down, in contention with the eventual winner. He appeared to have plenty left in reserves, and looked likely to give I'll Sort That something to think about, but it's hard to predict whether or not he would have been able to pose a serious threat to the exciting novice.

It's a noteworthy piece of form considering the manner in which Welonlyhavedone travelled into the race, and, although he wasn't able to bounce back in deep waters at Prestbury Park, he remains a promising novice for the Cromwell yard. The son of Diamond Bay has shown great potential, and could be capable of performing in Graded company at some point down the line.

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Navan, 12:10 - Back Bon Viveur @ 6/17.00

Willie Mullins-trained Bon Viveur is another to consider in the opening race. He impressed on hurdling debut in a first-time tongue-tie, winning by four-lengths at Tramore under Patrick Mullins, who retains the ride for his mother Mrs Jackie Mullins.

The runner-up, Youneedabitofluck, has since boosted the form with a good second to Tatateo at Cork, with Hello Johnjoe subsequently placing at Clonmel behind the legendary The Little Yank, and Just For One also shaping with potential in maiden company since.

That Tramore has been won by some noteworthy horses from Closutton in the past, who went on to achieve black-type including the likes of Camelia De Cotte, a subsequent Grade Two winner, Laurina, who landed a Grade One during her novice hurdling campaign and beat a future Cheltenham Gold Cup winner on chasing debut in Minella Indo, and, most recently Karniquet, who has placed at Grade One level.

Gaelic Warrior also shed his maiden tag in the contest back in 2022, before going on to achieving multiple Grade One successes.

There should be plenty more to come from the six-year-old son of Flemensfirth, who fetched €85,000 as a three-year-old, and he's in receipt of weight from the main market principles, unexposed with the scope for further improvement.

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Navan, 12:45 - Back Hens Tooth @ 9/110.00

A leap of faith is required with Hens Tooth on the back of a run that was too bad t o be true in maiden company at Punchestown, however, the unexposed eight-year-old was entitled to come on plenty for the run having been absent for 619 days prior. 

Making only his fourth start under Rules in this contest, a second over hurdles, the son of Getaway could return to some form having shaped with potential in bumpers earlier in his career.

The point winner, who fetched €90,000 as a three-year-old, made a successful start for Closutton with a 10-length victory in a Limerick bumper, comfortably beating a field which included now 130-rated hurdler Le Grand Peinture and 121-rated chaser Seskin Flash, in heavy conditions. He could only manage eighth when upped into Grade Two company at the Dublin Racing Festival, well beaten by winner Jeroboam Machin, before managing only fifth behind Redemption Day in his subsequent run at Fairyhouse.

Absent for a long period following that appearance, Hens Tooth failed to make an impression on hurdling debut, but he remains an intriguing contender having been scarcely seen since his impressive debut win.

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Taunton, 12:55 - Back Kilwaughter @ 15/44.75

Kilwaughter showed promise on debut for former trainer Stuart Crawford when beating talented prospects such as Theflyingking, a subsequent Grade Three second, Strong Link, now a three-time winner, and Takenasred in a Down Royal bumper.

He then changed hands for £120,000, going into training with Philip Hobbs and Johnson White, lining up in the competitive finale bumper on Grand National Day in his first start for the yard. 

The gelding could only manage eighth when struggling to get the run of the race, before finishing third to Baron Noir at Punchestown, with El Cairos in second and subsequent Grade Two winner Koktail Brut behind in fifth.

Despite being unable to make a significant impression in two hurdling outings to date, including in deep waters on his debut over obstacles in the Persian War Novices' Hurdle, Kilwaughter can fare better and could make it third time lucky in this sphere. He has shown he possesses talent and has the scope for further improvement.

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Navan, 13:20 - Back Catch The Beast E/W @ 25/126.00

Edward Cawley-trained Catch The Beast made a decent return to action with a sixth-placed finish behind Letos in a Listed Naas handicap in November, outrunning his odds of 80/181.00 in the 14-runner field. He hadn't been seen to best effect in a few runs over fences prior, but shaped well on his reappearance following a 245-day break and can take a step forward for the outing. 

Despite being 13lb higher than his sole career win to date, Catch The Best can be competitive from his current mark, 1lb lower than his latest run, having finished a creditable sixth from a mark of 122 in Listed company at Cork a couple of seasons ago. He's still lightly raced, making only his 11th start over hurdles, and there could be some further improvement to come from him.

These conditions have suited in the past, as well as the intermediate distance, with his Punchestown win coming over 2m3f in heavy ground, and he shouldn't be discounted at odds of [....], holding each-way claims.

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Lingfield, 14:30 - Back Griselda E/W @ 50/151.00

Making her second run following a wind operation, four-year-old filly Griselda could finally return to some form, dropping further in class from a 5lb lower mark than her latest run. 

The Henrietta Knight-trained runner wasn't completely disgraced despite finishing last of the field over course-and-distance earlier this month, but was returning from surgery and a 67-day break, and is further eased in class here.

She's now 11lb lower than her previous handicap win for former trainer George Scott, having been rated as high as 84 when making her reappearance last spring.

During the summer, Griselda was only beaten a few lengths by the likes of Seraphim Angel and Up The Pace, now rated 82 and 89 respectively, in races that featured the likes of now 87-rated Territorial Knight and now 82-rated pair Philanthropist and Diamondonthehill. 

The daughter of Kodi Bear has been able to hold her own in much deeper waters, most notably when a close third to Ghost Run in a higher class Doncaster contest at the St Leger meeting when she was a juvenile.

Although she hasn't been able to progress from her debut season in which she shaped with great promise, winning three successive races, she is now given a chance at the weights in this company and may be able to spring a surprise under Hollie Doyle at odds of 50/151.00.

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Taunton, 14:43 - Back Jack Black @ 17/29.50

Jack Black makes only his second chasing start on the back of a distant fourth-placed effort at Bangor-on-Dee, representing Dan Skelton with in first-time cheekpieces with Charlie Todd aboard.

Entitled to improve for his latest effort effort, which was his second start of the term having reappeared at Ffos Las in a maiden hurdle following a 354-day absence the month prior, there could be more to come from the seven-year-old.

Earlier in his career, Jack Black shaped with promise, showing talent in bumpers behind the likes of now 140-rated Quebecois, and at this venue when behind now 136-rated Bill Joyce, when ahead of Hartington, who has franked the form. 

The son of Tirwanako, who was purchased for €70,000 as a three-year-old, also made an impression on hurdling debut at Newbury, finishing third in a race previously won by the likes of Chantry House and Gowel Road behind only Making Headway and East India Express, when ahead of the likes of David's Well and Hasthing.

Having shown enough ability to suggest he could be well treated from a mark of 107 if taking to fences and improving on his latest efforts, Jack Black may be worth keeping onside as he remains lightly raced and unexposed.

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Ascot, 14:53 - Back Tripoli Flyer @ 6/17.00

Tripoli Flyer didn't really take to chasing earlier this term, making two appearances over the larger obstacles including in an Exeter event won by Lulamba. He returned over flights in the Christmas Hurdle, when well beaten by Sir Gino, but could improve for that return to hurdling in calmer waters.

A mark of 140 could prove lenient in handicap company for a horse who has shown to possess plenty of class. He beat Kingston Pride in a bumper earlier in his career, before finding only stablemate Horaces Pearl too good in an Aintree Grade Two, finishing ahead of the likes of Valgrand, Wellington Arch, No Questions Asked and Mister Meggit.

A convincing 29-length winner of his maiden hurdle, the Fergal O'Brien-trained contender then went on to win the Grade Two Dovecote at Kempton in comfortable fashion, beating the likes of Miami Magic, Celtic Dino and Andashan, who has since franked the form.

Although Tripoli Flyer couldn't make the step up to Grade One level last spring, featuring in races won by Salvator Mundi and Final Demand, it could prove worth keeping the faith in him in this ease in class. Fern O'Brien takes a useful 5lb off his top-weight, which puts him in with solid claims at the weights if he can bounce back to form.

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Haydock, 15:10 - Back Magic Wave E/W @ 14/115.00

Despite being a 10-year-old, Magic Wave is lightly raced and remains on a workable mark, capable of showing further improvement in only his 11th hurdling start. He finished a creditable second to Both Barrels when last seen at Kelso, in his first run for a 236-day break.

Entitled to improve for his return to action, the Mark Walford-trained contender, who should be suited by the slight drop in distance, makes each-way appeal from a mark of 114. He beat now 134-rated Fingal's Hill in his latest win when rated 6lb lower, but could still be on an upward trajectory and appears on a workable mark from which he can be competitive.

In the hands of Jamie Hamilton, Magic Wave is one to note at a price of 14/115.00. He won his maiden hurdle by 28-lengths during his debut campaign over obstacles, having previously beaten The Kalooki Kid by 12-lengths in an Ayr bumper, and has been able to hold his own against tough opposition.

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Ascot, 15:30 - Back Gidleigh Park @ 7/18.00

The outsider of the field isn't a forlorn hope in this prestigious Grade One, despite having 16lb to find with market leader Il Etait Temps.

Whilst the favourite promises to be extremely tough to beat, Gidleigh Park is unexposed coming into the race, and could well improve for his return to action behind Jango Baie at this track when last seen. He has had some issues, but the best could be yet to come from the son of Walk In The Park, who once beat The Jukebox Man by six-lengths in his bumper debut at Chepstow.

A talented novice hurdler, beating Lucky Place in a Cheltenham Grade Two, the Harry Fry representative shaped with great promise as a novice chaser, beating Caldwell Potter by four-lengths at Windsor last January, before finding only Impaire Et Passe too good in the Grade One Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree, when finishing ahead of Arkle winner Jango Baie. 

This is only the fourth chasing start of Gidleigh Park's career, and he's a strapping, imposing gelding, who could have plenty of further improvement to come. 

At the prices, he makes appeal considering his unexposed profile and the suggestion that he has the scope for more. The ceiling of his ability is unknown and, with the benefit of a run this term, this lightly raced, talented performer could outrun his odds.

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Now read Sam Turner's latest tips here!

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