Today’s ITV4 races
Familiarity, as well as talent, has quite a bit to do with which horses end up at the top of the market in high-profile jumps races and so of course Unowhatimeanharry is favourite for the Long Walk Hurdle, Ascot’s centrepiece contest today. But it may be worth taking him on at 12-1 with a promising young talent in The Worlds End (2.25).
Some will look at his effort at Haydock last month, when he was beaten 33 lengths into eighth on his first step outside novice company, and put a line through him. He certainly needs to do an awful lot better if he’s to take a hand in this Grade One. But he had excuses that day, starting with the extraordinarily testing surface. He did easily the best of the four who carried more than 11 stone in that handicap, fading from two out when the lack of a previous run may have been a factor.
His seasonal reappearance in 2016 was the only other time when he has completed a hurdle race and been beaten. He was still in contention when falling two out in the Albert Bartlett and battled well to win the equivalent race at Aintree in April. With some doubts about the leading contenders, I’m happy to take a chance on him here. It may be our last chance to get double-figure odds about him for some time.
Unowhatimeanharry ran well enough in defeat at Newbury last time but he clearly has his limitations and is a short price in view of the weak recent form of his stable. Lil Rockerfeller has a modest strike-rate, while L’Ami Serge is a tricky customer. 1.50 Ascot Having taken time to warm up after leaving his native France, Casse Tete stormed home at Sandown in March and will be hard to catch if resuming in similar form. He comes from the Gary Moore yard that now seems to be hitting its stride.
2.10 Haydock There was a lot to like about the course and distance success of Limited Reserve last month and he is surely one to stick with on an 8lb higher mark. The form of his earlier Ascot second could hardly have worked out better.
2.25 Ascot A real eyecatcher on both his starts this season, On Tour should go close here. He made up a lot of ground to win tidily on his reappearance at Aintree and was then going well when unseating four-out at Newbury in the race won by the very useful Gold Present. He gets to run here off the same mark.
2.45 Haydock From a handicapping perspective, Full Irish rather gave the game away with his Lingfield success last time. Still, few of these rivals offer much threat and he should be able to follow up.
3.35 Ascot This could work out well for a strong-travelling sort like Charli Parcs and he deserves his place at the head of the betting. Well thought-of at Nicky Henderson’s yard, he ran to a high level when second to High Bridge at Newbury, giving that rival half a stone. Bleu Et Rouge is respected as a Grade One winner last year who still looks on a fair mark.
Tips for all Saturday races
Newcastle
11.45 The Great Getaway 12.15 Celtic Flames (nb) 12.50 Conquer Gold 1.25 Teddy Tee 2.00 Bering Upsun 2.35 Chidswell 3.10 Emissaire
Haydock
11.50 Isaacstown Lad 12.25 Born Survivor 1.00 Court Artist 1.35 Somchine 2.10 Limited Reserve 2.45 Full Irish 3.20 Chti Balko
Lingfield
12.00 Demons And Wizards 12.35 Singyoursong 1.10 Butterfly Spirit 1.45 Master The World 2.20 Temple Road 2.55 Hajaam 3.30 Iley Boy
Ascot
12.40 Comely 1.15 Adrien Du Pont 1.50 Casse Tete 2.25 The Worlds End 3.00 On Tour (nap) 3.35 Charli Parcs
