ITV Racing Tips: Say hello to my little friend at Ascot

Two of our very best racecourses play host to the ITV cameras on Saturday, with superb jumping action from both Ascot and Haydock. There will be no fluke about any of the afternoon's scorers - only good horses succeed at this kind of level and lots of big yards are up for the challenge, over seven terrific contests.

Here then are my ITV Racing Tips for Saturday, January 18. Enjoy; and if you're playing, have fun. Drama kicks in at 13:40.

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

Full ITV Schedule;

Ascot
13:40 Bet MGM Warfield Mares' Hurdle - Grade 2, 1m 7 1/2 f
14:15 bet365 Handicap Chase - 2m 5f
14:50 BetMGM Holloway's Handicap Hurdle - 2m 3f
15:32 BetMGM Clarence House Chase - Grade 1, 2m 1/2f

Haydock
13:55 Skybet Supreme Novices' Hurdle Trial - Grade 2, 1m 7f
14:30 Skybet Peter Marsh Handicap Chase - Grade 3, 3m 1 1/2f
15:05 Skybet Cheltenham Handicap Hurdle - 3m

Rationale;

13:40 Ascot - Kargese @ 4/7

It's frankly little fun tipping up an odds-on chance like this but Willie Mullins' talented five-year-old mare appeals strongly as the most likely winner.

Kargese was second in last term's Triumph Hurdle at the Festival, runner-up to Sir Gino in Aintree's G1 equivalent a few weeks later, then stepped up to take Ireland's four-year-old juvenile crown at Punchestown.

She's not run then for 259 days and that's the only potential chink I can see in her armour - but then you remind yourself of her address (WP Mullins, Closutton, Carlow), and perfectly understandable potential misgivings melt like this week's snow.

Should be a hugely informative heat and one I'll be putting in some accas.

Willie's top man Paul Townend is in the plate.

13:55 Haydock - Royal Infantry @ 4/7

A tasty G2 novice hurdle, and the first thing to note about Haydock this afternoon is that the ground, as I write, is described as likely to be heavy. Such conditions anywhere are to be weighed carefully, but it's especially the case in my view here in the north-west, adjacent to the M6.

Stamina and resolve required then in spades - and I'm hoping Royal Infantry has the necessary attributes. He won here on ground officially described as soft 45 days ago, making all and dotting up for the Skeltons.

This six-year-old gelding is beautifully bred, by Soldier Of Fortune out of a Presenting mare, and after three points he joined Team Skelton a year ago. From five subsequent spins he's won four, and the only blemish was the Champion Bumper at the Festival last term (still respectable, beaten 17l).

He looks a smart recruit for what we know is a veritable winner factory of a yard, he's got plenty in hand, seemingly, on official marks, and what price Harry just sets out to make all and see them off?

14:15 Ascot - Scarface @ 11/2

We've got Jonbon in the Clarence House to come, but for me this is just about the race of the day.

Some seriously in-form and talented chasers line-up seeking a handsome £52k first prize, and it's fair to say that the race looks absolutely wide-open.

My selection Scarface ran well here four weeks ago (2m 3f) on his last appearance, finishing a 1.75l second to Kotmask, who re-opposes this afternoon. He gets a 3lb turnaround today and I'm hoping that can help the eight-year-old Joe Tizzard-trained gelding get his head in front.

The talented Martator warrants the utmost respect, but concedes lumps of weight to the vast majority of his opponents. Smart cookie though. Scarface's mark of 130 is unchanged from last time and the Tizzards are brilliant with their chasers. This is 2m 5f and the selection has handled very similar at both Sandown and Cheltenham, very stiff tracks, so that shouldn't be an issue.

He's won five from 24 all told, with nine placed efforts, too.

Marvellous race.

14:30 Haydock - Royal Pagaille @ 2/1

Ah - it just wouldn't be a big Haydock, heavy-ground staying chase day without Royal Pagaille!

Eleven years young now, and a huge credit to trainer Venetia Williams and the Riccis, what a warrior he is. Last time out some 56 days ago here in the Betfair Chase he just wouldn't give in and outstayed, outlasted the talented Grey Dawning after looking cooked at the final fence.

The deeper the ground and the more attritional the conditions the better for this fella. Simply loves it around here, and even conceding lumps of weight I can't find an obvious alternative. The admirable French-bred is a sight to behold, and long may he continue to prosper.

14:50 Ascot - Altobelli @ 5/1

Sports fans of a certain vintage hear this name and immediately think of Italian World Cup-winning forwards - but our equine version is a useful seven-year-old gelding trained in Dorset by Harry Fry.

At Donny five weeks ago Altobelli ran second in a similar contest, beaten just a length. He was doing his best work at the finish so should appreciate this stiffer test - and also the extra three furlongs.

That reappearance run was almost up there with peak efforts achieved last season and he's entitled to come along nicely for it. Lightly-raced (three wins from only eight career starts), he can look forward to a fruitful campaign and goes well for today's pilot Bryan Carver.

A warm and fascinating handicap, with Altobelli up 2lb for his fine run in South Yorkshire. I don't believe it's going to hinder his progress.

15:05 Haydock - Punta Del Este @ 7/2

Team Skelton (trainer Dan, jockey/brother Harry) are in tandem once again with this six-year-old French-bred gelding.

This staying hurdle test will take some getting today - three miles and change, deep ground, competitive-looking field - but Punta Del Este has plenty going for him.

Over 'just' 2m 3f a matter of 56 days ago the selection ran well enough here to be beaten 6l by Steel Ally in a grade higher. He couldn't land a blow that day, and it's to be hoped the extra distance will suit - though a previous attempt in February of last year here didn't in all candour go well.

At the age of six the penny should be beginning to drop for this one, and he could hardly be with a better, more patient yard. I'm hoping to see something of a coming-of-age performance in what admittedly does look an open affair.

Two spins ago, at Carlisle in November, he was a good second of nine over 2m 4f in another valuable Class 2 handicap, beaten less than a length, and this third run of the season off just one pound higher could see a fourth career win from 13 starts.

15:32 Ascot - Jonbon @ 8/13

We're in Kargese territory again, really - while I don't like popping up odds-on chances, there's one outcome here that's far more likely than any other.

Jonbon has been ever-so-slightly maligned by yours truly over the years in that I've probably never quite given the now nine-year-old Walk In The Park gelding the credit he's undoubtedly earned.

It wasn't his fault to be beaten in the Supreme Novices' at the Festival (by a postcode) at the hands of generational talent Constitution Hill. He's enjoyed noble jousts with El Fabiolo, no mug on his day, and won most of the races he's supposed to have won - a magnificent 16 from 19 as it goes, including a couple of Tingle Creeks.

This should be another triumph for trainer Nicky Henderson, jockey Nico de Boinville and owner JP McManus - with main rival Energumene now 11 and Edwardstone invariably beaten-off readily when the pair have crossed swords in the past.

Smashing race to watch without necessarily committing too much of the old hard-earned on the outcome.

ITV Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.