Weekend Betting Tips – 25/04/2023

Ascot & Haydock weekend preview

Back again with another write-up ahead of this weekend’s racing with the best selections from Ascot & Haydock across this side of the water.

Make sure to check out my Twitter Page @RacingGalloway1 for all my final choices and selections

Haydock Betting Tips

Haydock 12:40 2m Handicap Chase (Class 3)

Selection: Cheddleton 3/1

For the opening tip from Haydock I am going to side with Cheddleton, who on the face of it may look like he has a tough task carrying a mark of 142 around here on soft ground. However, I think he has a cracking chance in the race, won a novice chase round here on Heavy a few years ago when he beat Cornerstone Lad by 6 lengths.

He hasn’t managed to get his head in front since then and that would be the worry, but boasts some lovely form in the book since, when 2 lengths behind War Lord at Carlisle and 4 lengths behind Editeur Du Gite in a race at Cheltenham. He’s now back down to his lowest mark (142) since that victory, and hopefully, the ground remains soft or even better turns heavy, that’d be much in his favour.

Haydock 13:15 2m3f Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)

Selection: Fingal’s Hill 6/1

Gonna put up Fingal’s Hill here to continue an impressive winning streak for his small yard. Looking for an incredible 5 timer, he’s clearly in the mood and I think the 4 pound rise he can overcome in this race. Clearly acts on any sort of ground having won on Heavy and also Good, always only does enough as his biggest winning margin in the streak is only a length.

Has had 9 starts over hurdles and won 5 off them I just think this is a horse who is majorly on the up. The horse that worries me most against him is Stainsby Girl who could be a nice E/W price for some punters as she loves the mud, however, I just think she is more exposed than the selection and maybe doesn’t have as much improvement in her as Fingal’s Hill does.

Haydock 14:20 3m Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)

Selection: Howlingmadmurdock 20/1

Similar to the lads on the channel I think Howlingmadmurdock has a serious chance in this premier handicap on Saturday and is an extremely generous 20/1. Races here off a mark of 140, he was last seen finishing 5th in the G1 3m Novice race at the Aintree Festival, that looks like really good form so far, and the winner Apple Away could give that an even bigger boost should she land the Graduation chase which is run before this race.

Iroko was in 3rd that day, he had a very nice chase debut at Warwick a few weeks back before unfortunately being ruled out for the season, while Stay Away Fay was 4th and I rate him as a fair prospect for the Brown Advisory at the Festival in March. This horse clearly likes a bit of cut in the ground with all his runs coming on soft but a first try on a good to soft surface could be alright. 

The main danger to him for me would be Emitom, who seems to have turned a corner since joining the Alan King yard. He’s obviously well handicapped on his best form, now down to a mark of 130 having once been rated a high of 155, he probably just needs goodish ground to be at his best, but if it does end up being Good to Soft he has a squeak and can land a blow in this contest.

Ascot Betting Tips

Ascot 14:05 – 2m3f Ascot Hurdle (Grade 2)

Selection: Blueking D’Oroux 11/2

This is normally a pretty weak race and this year kinda fills that sort of bill again. I will take a chance on Blueking D’oroux and hope he can make another step up again. This is mainly a selection via the process of elimination, I couldn’t be backing Goshen at all, he’s such uncertainty you just don’t know what version will turn up.

Theatre Glory has to be a danger, especially considering how good the Nicky Henderson yard is going, the better the surface she gets the better chance she’d have. Sceau Royal is an admirable warrior, but he’s too old now and not as good as he once was, and then Strong Leader could be a threat, but I think he has it all to prove after the last run at Ffos Las. 

Ascot 14:40 2m7f Mares Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)

Selection: Lassue 3/1

I think Lassue could have a good chance in this contest. Defied a long layoff from the track when winning at Chepstow on good to soft 25 days ago. She was only raised 4lb for this success and if she can turn up in the same form I think she might make a mockery of this mark off 114, providing she doesn’t bounce from that victory.

Only had 4 races under rules she remains thoroughly unexposed.

Ascot 15:15 2m1f Handicap Chase (Class 2)

Selection: Funambule Sivola 14/1

I quite like the chances of Funambule Sivola in this contest, Venetia’s horses are doing really well at the moment so if they can continue that form, Funambule has to come here with a chance.

Ned Fox claims 5 off him, he runs off a mark off 153 here which is just 1lb above his last winning mark in a handicap, he definitely comes into his own on proper good ground as seen when he landed the Grade 2 Game Spirit chase at Newbury back in February off this year, so the drier the forecast the better for this lad.