There are plenty of high-class contests to get stuck into on ITV this Saturday, with a whopping 10 races from Ascot, Wetherby and Down Royal on the box.
National Hunt fans can settle down for a feast of jumping action and here are our best bets for punters to consider:
13:45 Wetherby Tip
13:45 WETHERBY – WATAMU @ 11/2
The daughter of Crystal Ocean ran out a ready three-and-a-quarter-length winner at Stratford in March when dropped back to an extended two miles and picked up where she left off at the Warwickshire venue after a summer break. Watamu will now attempt to get some black type in the Montagu Mares’ Hurdle on ground that will be right up her street.
14:00 Ascot Tip
14:00 ASCOT – GORE POINT @ 8/1
Anthony Honeyball’s six-year-old went on a winning spree during the summer, reeling off a 20-length victory at Stratford before completing a Newton Abbot hat-trick. Gore Point had a rare off day at the Devon circuit in late August but showed that was no more than a minor blip when recording a fifth win in six starts last month.
14:18 Wetherby Tip
14:18 WETHERBY – STRONG LEADER @ 11/10
Olly Murphy’s charge beat Take No Chances by just a neck in the same contest last year and has to give the mare 4lb more this time, but he is a pretty smart stayer when kept away from Cheltenham and will be hard to beat again. Strong Leader’s best form comes before the turn of the year and he also went close in the Long Distance Hurdle and the Long Walk Hurdle last season following his Wetherby success.
14:33 Ascot Tip
14:33 ASCOT – VIROFLAY @ 7/2
This front-running nine-year-old secured his fifth career success under rules when scoring by a wide margin at Newton Abbot in May. He has to carry 12st this time, but Lucas Murphy – son of Grand National -winning rider Timmy – takes off a valuable 7lb.
14:55 Wetherby Tip
14:55 WETHERBY – PIC D’ORHY (NAP) @ 11/8
The 11-year-old was only beaten a length by Djelo in last year’s renewal of the Charlie Hall Chase when trying three miles for the first time under the care of Paul Nicholls and is taken to go one better for new trainer Dan Skelton. A 15-time winner while based in France and then at Ditcheat, Pic D’Orhy has always gone best when fresh and will also be favoured by the good ground.
15:15 Down Royal Tip
15:15 DOWN ROYAL – ROMEO COOLIO @ 4/1
The Grade One Champion Chase is this year named in honour of three-time victor Envoi Allen, who began his amazing career with Gordon Elliott before being switched to Henry de Bromhead. It would be fitting therefore for those trainers to fight it out for first place here and Elliott’s Romeo Coolio just gets the nod over De Bromhead challenger Heart Wood.
Having finished second in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and then third in the Supreme, Romeo Coolio took really well to chasing last term with four straight wins, including a trio of Grade One triumphs. He disappointed when returning to Prestbury Park for the 2026 Festival but Elliott has issued some positive updates on his well-being ahead of this seasonal reappearance.
Betting Tips
Saturday ITV Racing Betting Tips
13:45 Wetherby – Watamu @ 11/2
14:00 Ascot – Gore Point @ 8/1
14:18 Wetherby – Strong Leader @ 11/10
14:55 Wetherby – Pic D’Orhy (NAP) @ 11/8
15:15 Down Royal – Romeo Coolio @ 4/1
Simply click/tap on the above betting tips to add to your betslip.
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