ITV Racing Tips: Olly – here’s another fine ride I’ve got for you, Sean

It's the last ITV Saturday before Christmas, and the penultimate one of the year. This is a feature I very much enjoy producing, and I thank you most humbly for your company each week throughout 2024. Not overburdened with big fields on Saturday, December 21 but the racing is of a very high standard - two from a big Betfred-sponsored race day at Haydock Park, a short-ish hop from our Birchwood, Warrington Head Office; and we've four from Ascot, with fascinating raiders from some of Ireland's top yards to add spice to the afternoon.

The action kicks in at 13:50; and as my next ITV Racing assignment isn't until New Year, may I take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very merry, happy and peaceful Christmas.

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

Full ITV schedule;

13:50 Ascot - Howden Graduation Chase - 2m 5f
14:05 Haydock - Betfred Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase - 3m 1 1/2f
14:25 Ascot - Howden Long Walk Hurdle - Grade 1 - 3m 1/2f
14:40 Haydock - Betfred Mares' Novices' Hurdle - Listed Race - 2m 3f
15:00 Ascot - Howden Silver Cup - Grade 3 Handicap Chase - 3m
15:35 Ascot - Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle - Grade 3 - 2m

 Rationale;

13:50 Ascot - Fil Dor @ 5/1

Just four face the starter, but three are trained by WP Mullins, Henry de Bromhead, and Gordon Elliott. Fabulous.

Cheshire handlers Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero complete the training quartet, and certainly benefit from having more straightforward travel plans than their illustrious Irish counterparts.

This is a good-looking 2m 5f chase for a decent pot of around £26k, and my selection is a typically precocious French-bred that at six has already garnered a wealth of experience.

Six wins from 21 starts is an indication of the gelding's ability, and after shipping in from across the Channel in 2021 he's been with Gordon Elliott at Cullentra, County Meath.

He was a 146-rated hurdler and is making an even better chaser (152). Last time out at Thurles in a Listed contest 23 days ago he beat his solitary rival in a canter, and prior to that, returning from a 191-day break, he'd been second, running on as if he probably needed it, in a Clonmel Grade 2.

On official figures there's precious little between the four, but James Du Berlais (Mullins) and Jungle Boogie (De Bromhead) haven't run for 234 and 281 days respectively.

It's not remotely impossible that either or both will be absolutely spot-on for this but I'd rather side with a race-fit, in-form runner and hope that Fil Dor can get us off to a flyer.

14:05 Haydock - Famous Bridge @ 5/2

It's the prestigious Betfred Tommy Whittle Chase, and we have last year's hero Famous Bridge looking to go back-to-back off a mark just 2lb higher.

This one carries the fabled colours of Hemmings Racing, Hedgehunter et al, and is trained by Nicky Richards in Cumbria. Last year's winning jockey and regular pilot Sean Quinlan is in the plate.

Famous Bridge is an eight-year-old gelding by Ascot Gold Cup winner Fame And Glory out of a Saddlers' Hall mare. Fantastic bloodlines taking in Derby winners and legends like Shirley Heights and Sadler's Wells. He's bred to go a bit; and act when the going is testing, as looks certain to be the case on Saturday.

It was heavy this day last year, and it's expected to be similar this time around. The horse ran well on seasonal reappearance 56 days ago at Kelso despite one or two sketchy jumps, finishing a close-up second; and for me has the most compelling credentials.

He should, rising nine, be at the peak of his powers, and his trainer of course is the son of the late Gordon Richards, who sent out the likes of One Man, Twin Oaks and the Grey Monk to take this back in the day. Should be an attritional thriller.

14:25 Ascot - Strong Leader @ 9/4

Jump jockey-of-the-moment (in my little world anyway) Sean Bowen rides this seven-year-old Passing Glance gelding for trainer Olly Murphy, with whom Sean's struck up such a potent partnership. It might well lead all the way to the jockeys' championship title in the spring.

Strong Leader comes out just about best on official figures for this and has scored in top-level Graded company at both Aintree and Newbury (he's run very well here too, going down by just a length in the Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle a little over a year ago).

His last success in Berkshire was 22 days ago, so he's in good nick and very well thought of; currently trading at 10/1  for the Stayers' Hurdle at the Festival in March, no less.

Cracking contest, excellent prospects.

14:40 Haydock - Milldam @ 6/1

I think we're getting a great bit of value here for one who goes in the ground, is no stranger to the top spot on the podium, and who has ace Saturday race-plunderer 'Gorgeous' Gavin Sheehan doing the steering!

Milldam reappeared for the season a couple of weeks ago at Huntingdon and seemed to need the outing. The six-year-old gelding should strip fitter today, and though he has to shoulder 12st, he did win carrying a pound more than that at Stratford when he signed off for last term in March.

He's won on heavy at Ffos Las, which is very similar in every respect to Haydock's layout and terrain, so I'm very hopeful that Gav can produce him at the business end with every chance.

15:00 Ascot - Trelawne @ 5/1

Kim Bailey trains this one in Gloucestershire, and Tom Bellamy is in the plate.

Trelawne is an eight-year-old gelding who produced a career-best four weeks ago at Haydock, taking a Class 2 narrowly at just short of today's trip from Iroko, who runs in the opening TV heat here at Ascot. A bright showing would of course enhance Trelawne's prospects this afternoon.

He's entered in the Welsh National, but that would be very ambitious on only a few days rest after this. He's been brilliant for the yard, winning five of his ten starts under rules, and seems to welcome a bit of cut in the ground (I understand Ascot anticipates good-to-soft underfoot conditions).

Fascinating race, he's on a career-high mark of 152, but has earned that rating.

15:35 Ascot - Secret Squirrel @ 11/2

The lucky last, and a very warm Class 1 handicap hurdle.

The gloriously-named Secret Squirrel is a five-year-old gelded son of Group 2-winning sire Stimulation. There's more stamina influence on the dam's side too as she's by two-time Goodwood Cup winner Double Trigger.

The selection reappeared here for the season in a similar test 49 days ago and finished a creditable second, beaten 3.5l behind Our Champ. With four wins and two places from his nine career starts to date this is a promising, progressive type presently rated 126 but with capacity for a good deal more in my view.

Hughie Morrison trains in East Ilsley, and Dave Bass (27% strike-rate in the last fortnight) has the riding assignment. Cracking racing weight of 10st 11lb, and what a tremendous race with which to bring down today's curtain.

If you're playing take care, have fun as always, and once again have an enjoyable Christmas, hopefully with family, friends, and lots of top sport.

ITV Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.