Saturday Racing Tips at Ascot and Haydock | Jake Price

Last year’s winner Famous Bridge looks to have very strong credentials in his bid to make it two in a row for the Nicky Richards team.

This eight-year-old danced every dance last term, winning twice over course and distance off marks of 129 and 135. He ended his season with a decent staying-on fourth in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival, but he was very eye-catching on return at Kelso in October when outpaced before staying on for second behind Elvis Mail (149). Off a mark of 137 he should be winning what looks a very weak race.

The favourite Strong Leader threw away the Ascot Hurdle last season having hung and jumped out to his left throughout, and he surely hasn’t gone right-handed since by design.

With that fear very much at the front of my mind on his return to Ascot, I think that The Wallpark is the progressive horse to take him on with. Since bolting up in a Pertemps Qualifier at Cheltenham in October he has been purchased by JP McManus, and that tells me that connections must think he has plenty more to give now moving into Grade One company – especially as it is a weak division as a whole, let alone in Britain.

I may be catching him too early here, but Favour and Fortune has to be a well handicapped horse for one of these big Premier Handicaps this season.

On Handicap debut in April, he took out the Grade Two Scottish Champion Hurdle off a mark of 138, and despite winning that contest he was only raised 3lbs by the Handicapper. That screams to me that he can go in again off 141, but the concern is that he was forced to miss the Autumn with a setback, so perhaps he will come on for the outing.

*Information correct at time of writing. 18+ only. GambleAware.