ITV Racing Tips: SIX of the pre-Christmas best on Saturday

'Twas the weekend before Christmas ... and the ITV cameras are weighing in with four crackers from Ascot and two delightful gifts from Haydock.

Betfred-sponsored contests are to the fore in the north-west, with the Tommy Whittle Chase and a very good novices' hurdle for mares; while down south it's the Long Walk Hurdle that's the standout on a superb overall programme.

We kick in at 13:50 and as far as the tip-top racing goes there's not a turkey in sight.

Horse Racing Odds

Full ITV Schedule

13:50 Ascot: Howden Graduation Chase 2m 5f

14:05 Haydock: Betfred Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase 3m 3m 1½f

14:25 Ascot: Howden Long Walk Hurdle 3m ½f

14:40 Haydock: Betfred ‘The Classic Bookmaker’ Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle 2m 3f

15:00 Ascot: Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase 3m

15:35 Ascot: Ascot Rotary Club Festive Handicap Hurdle 1m 7½f

Fast Racing Results

Rationale;

13:50 Ascot - The Famous Five @ 10/3

Tremendous racing at Ascot, and our first is an opportunity to test out the old adage that's much-discussed around this time of the year - on soft ground, Venetia Williams' horses are deadly.

She saddles her seven-year-old French-bred gelding by Derby hero Camelot, namely The Famous Five. Fine record so far of five wins in 18 starts, but we haven't seen him since February - some 295 days.

When last on the track he finished second, beaten a neck, at Newbury off a mark of 120. The third home that day went on to win a couple of handicaps at Newbury and Chepstow and the fourth won at Worcester for the Skeltons.

Reasonable form lines then, and the stable star Djelo, another precocious French-bred, won on seasonal reappearance at Wetherby after a similarly lengthy absence and followed up in brilliant style at Huntingdon in the Peterborough.

He's now rated 164 and King George-bound with a squeak; while The Famous Five has 10st 4lb off 123 in a Class 2 handicap. The constant however is Venetia's Herefordshire base, and their ability to prosper at this stage of the season, year-in-year-out, in these kind of contests.

Cracking opener for the channel's coverage.

14:05 Haydock - Jack's Parrot @ 9/2

Betfred sponsor the Tommy Whittle, a grand test for staying handicap chasers in the North-West.

My selection is Jack's Parrot, a six-year-old French-bred gelding in the care of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero. In this race last year he was second, beaten 4.25l, and it was 10l back to the third.

That was on heavy ground, and we're hoping it's no worse than soft today, but the ability to cope with the deep stuff is crucial here at around this time of the year. Haydock is a proper Grade 1 steeplechase test and you really have to dig in up that long pull for home when there's cut in the ground.

This is another for whom presumably this has the been the early-season plan and he had a pipe-opener at Bangor 28 days ago, losing touch late in the piece, claimer-ridden.

Craig Nichol is on top today, has ridden him a couple of times in the past, and the horse I'm sure will be a good deal more forward in his preparation than last time.

14:25 Ascot - Strong Leader @ 5/1

Just 22 days ago at Newbury, Impose Toi beat Strong Leader by half-a-length after a titanic battle in a G2 hurdle at this staying trip. The runner-up is 6lb better off today and with Sean Bowen once again in the plate I'm hoping the eight-year-old Passing Glance gelding can exact his revenge.

Unsurprisingly our selection is the highest-rated of these on 156 and was as high as 158 at this time last year, when in this very race he ran inexplicably poorly to finish a bad last.

He had a wind procedure immediately afterwards and his form has been excellent since in four runs (one win, two seconds and a fourth).

He ran well here on his only other visit (November 2023, second beaten a length in the Ascot Hurdle), and with Bowen continuing to redefine what jockeys can achieve I'm hopeful of a very bold bid in what's a spectacular race.

This is the fabled Long Walk Hurdle, won in the past by the likes of Lanzarote, Baracouda, Big Buck's, and Paisley Park. To add even more colour to proceedings the redoubtable Crambo goes for a hat-trick, and seems to find extra zip on this day. Can't wait.

14:40 Haydock - La Zoubida @ 6/1

Greystoke trainer Nicky Richards and especially his late Dad Gordon have had some wonderful days here popping down the M6 from Cumbria, and this could be another.

Betfred sponsor this mares' novices' hurdle and our hope is an in-form five-year-old by Epsom hero Authorized who's won her last two - La Zoubida.

Mid-November, a Sedgefield maiden by a length. Meanwhile 13 days ago she took a novice with authority, well-backed, at Kelso by over 3l. She steps up today and has a bit to find on official marks but is well worth her inclusion in my book.

Soft ground suits admirably on the evidence of those last two wins and she might just be able to preserve her unbeaten record over timber this afternoon. Usual partner Sean Quinlan is riding, and it's worth noting that Nicky's yard are an excellent four from 12 in the last fortnight.

I'm sure connections could have found an easier opportunity as she climbs the ranks and I get the comforting feeling that she's well thought of.

15:00 Ascot - Victtorino @ 11/2

For this one it's almost a case of see earlier file marked 'The Famous Five.'

Victtorino is another staying chaser from the Venetia Williams yard at Aramstone; a seven-year-old French-bred gelding who's six-from-25 all-time with every one of those successes coming over fences.

He's a course-and-distance scorer too - in this very race 12 months ago. He's prolific here in fact; just loves it (4 wins). He's had a prep - a never-sighted run in Newbury's showpiece last month behind Panic Attack - and it seems that this is very much his early-season target.

The quite brilliant stable jockey Charlie Deutsch has the riding assignment as per, and I'm hoping by this stage he's had a winner already courtesy of The Famous Five.

15:35 Ascot - Alexei @ 4/1

Another outstanding contest; a Premier handicap hurdle at the minimum trip this time. I'm asking my selection not only to carry 12st to victory, but defy a lift of 13lb for his last success. No pressure then.

Alexei runs in the famous Brocade Racing silks of Native River, and is trained in Dorset by Joe Tizzard, having a decent season but with much more to come no doubt.

The selection is a terrific eight-from-15 all told, and comes here on the back of two brilliant winning performances - here at Ascot off 127, then last time 34 days ago at Cheltenham in the Greatwood off 134.

The five-year-old gelding, with some High Chaparral influence on the paternal side (dual Derby winner), has a glittering future ahead of him and it's down to the age-old question when very good horses are asked to win handicaps - can he concede the weight?

The ground is expected to be soft, same as at Chelters last time, where he posted a majestic personal best. He'll need to be ultra-smart this afternoon, but we're sure that's the case in any event. Regular rider Brendan Powell is on board - and he's every bit as good as his outstanding, Grand National-winning Dad.

A fabulous race with which to bring down Ascot's curtain.

ITV Racing tips with Betfred Insights.