Saturday Racing Tips at Ascot and Wetherby | Jake Price

The NAP this week comes from Wetherby in a very open Grade Two West Yorkshire Hurdle… but if any of these are going to be a class above, it’s surely Kateira.

This Mare was pretty much laid out for the 2m4f Premier Handicap Hurdle at the Aintree Festival last season, and she obliged in good style with a victory over Jango Baie (146) which looks a good piece of form. She now steps up in trip to 3m, and with her preferred good ground set to help matters, she looks to have strong claims with the Mares allowance. Dan Skelton has had his team flying this week too.

I’m a massive fan of Secret Squirrel, and off a mark of 126 he still looks very nicely treated to my eye.

Good ground is key to this Hughie Morrison charge, who racked up plenty of good form in Novice Hurdles last season behind the likes of Jeriko Du Reponet, but it was his five-length victory over Helnwein at Taunton in April which really caught the eye. He was sent off 7/2f for a competitive Handicap Hurdle on Final Day of last season at Sandown in April when fifth (would have been closer but for a mistake at the last), but Ascot should really suit him on his return to action off the same rating.

I really like the chances here of Saint Segal at a shorter price, but considering he is unreliable to say the least, I’ll also be having an each way play on Uncle Phil.

This seven-year-old absolutely bolted up in the Grade Three Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse in January off a mark of 139, and since then he’s had his excuses. A long summer break is probably what he needed however, and it has to be significant that Willie Mullins decides to run him at Ascot for his return. The Hood goes back on today, and with not much pace on he will surely bid to make it once again under Paul Townend.