Ascot Saturday tips – Copybet
Ascot stages a high-quality six-race card on Saturday, with the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle, run over an extended 3m, the obvious highlight. There is some strong supporting action too, including a pair of Premier handicaps, the Silver Cup Handicap Chase and Festival Handicap Hurdle.
Our expert has provided his top three bets for the day’s action with his NAP coming in a fascinating opener.
Iroko – Ascot
This Graduation Chase has attracted a small but select field of three runners, two of them having contested the very same race last season, including subsequent Grand National fourth, IROKO, who got no further than the first fence 12 months ago.
The Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero-trained seven-year-old was sent-off as the 11/8 favourite in last year’s edition, but was badly interfered at the first by the errant Fil Dor and was wiped out.
Things thankfully improved for the gelding afterwards, who despite not winning, ran to a high level on all three subsequent starts, finishing fourth in a Premier Handicap in January, second behind Grey Dawning in the Listed Premier Chase at Kelso and fourth in the Aintree showpiece.
He’s officially rated 151, but ran to a Racing Post Rating in excess of that figure on all his completed starts last term and wasn’t far off that when an encouraging second behind now leading King George VI Chase contender The Jukebox Man on his return from wind surgery at Haydock last month.
The Famous Five – Ascot
Venetia Williams isn’t quite firing on all cylinders as yet, but four winners from her last 21 runners is a promising return and bodes well to the chances of THE FAMOUS FIVE on his seasonal reappearance.
The seven-year-old was progressive over hurdles and continued in that same vein when switched to fences, winning a good handicap at Newbury last Christmas off a mark of 118.
He failed to add to that in three subsequent starts, but he ended the campaign with two solid efforts, the last at Newbury in February matching his winning form (RPR of 126).
He’s officially rated 123 and has strong claims off a lovely racing weight of just 10st 4lbs.
Helnwein – Ascot
Alan King’s HELNWEIN has been expensive to follow, beaten at odds of 9/4 or shorter on five of his last eight outings, but he was back to his very best at Cheltenham last time and represents decent each-way value in this ultra competitive finale.
The seven-year-old showed good form in bumpers at the start of his career and proved even better as a novice hurdler, winning twice, the highlight of which came in the Novices’ Championship Final Handicap off a mark of 121 at Sandown in April 2024.
He switched to fences this season and shaped nicely on his chasing debut at Warwick, but failed to build on afterwards and has appreciated a return to hurdles, finding one too good on each of his last three starts, running to Racing Post Ratings of 130 (twice) and 134.
He was no match to the reopposing Alexei at Cheltenham last time, but he enjoys a big turnaround at the weights with that rival and can lay down a challenge.