ITV Racing Tips: Chrimbo? How about Crambo!

Those of us that get a bit fixated by the countdown to a certain little gathering in the Cotswolds in March can hardly be happier. One of the landmarks to chalk off in the rundown is Xmas, and we're very nearly there; AND there's invariably fantastic racing along the way, especially at weekends, as stables look to formulate their Cheltenham plans.

Action in front of the ITV cameras on Saturday comes from Ascot and Haydock, and we've got a suggestion for every race. Here's the menu;

Ascot

13.50 Howden Graduation Chase 2m 5f

14.25 Howden Long Walk Hurdle - Grade 1 3m 1/2f

15.00 Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase - Grade 3 3m

15.35 Betfair Exchange Trophy - Handicap Hurdle - Grade 3 2m

Haydock Park

13.30 Betfred Tommy Whittle Chase 3m 1 1/2f

14.05 Betfred Nifty Fifty Handicap Hurdle 2m

13.30 Haydock Park - Credo @ 4/1

The Tommy Whittle Chase - a famous old contest at a proper jumping track. Credo represents in-form trainer Anthony Honeyball (24% strike-rate in the last fortnight), and will be ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies.

The partnership were narrowly denied here in a similar affair a month ago and the wicked old handicapper has raised the 8-yr-old Fame And Glory mare 3lb for her excellence in defeat. Ran on with purpose in the closing stages and this followed on from a bloodless win at Wincanton.

She's evidently in great heart and look out for Sam challenging late up that long home straight.

13.50 Ascot - Cap Du Mathan @ 3/1

A P Nicholls/H Cobden chaser, carrying the famous colours of the Stewart family.

Not beaten far by the magnificent Boothill here on seasonal reappearance and is sure to be straighter for that run. Enjoyed a good deal of success in his novice year last term and his outstanding trainer has a 29% success rate over the past 14 days - that's some going.

Cobden is operating in a similarly supercharged mode and it won't be any surprise to see this one at least go very, very close. Fingers crossed.

14.05 Haydock Park - Bois Guillbert @ 9/2

I've previewed this as I've nominated it as my Nap of the Day - kindly read the rationale behind it all right here. Prices can fluctuate between now and post-time.

14.25 Ascot - Crambo @ 10/3

The selection is a progressive 6-yr-old gelding trained by Fergal O'Brien, with Jonathan Burke in the saddle.

Eyecatching run at Haydock in November in a race worth even more than this one, finishing with purpose just a couple of lengths off the talented Emmet Mullins horse Slate Lane. Had previously won a smaller contest at Aintree in October readily, and appears to be very much on an upward trajectory.

Could look to take a lofty spot in the ranks of staying hurdlers.

15.00 Ascot - Yeah Man @ 11/2

Jonathan Burke once again, this time doing the steering on a 6-yr-old Gavin Cromwell raider from County Meath.

Close-up here when falling at the last in the Sodexo, he's had 49 days to get that out of his system and after that mighty effort should come on for the run. Hopefully minus the jumping calamity ..

Cromwell has been in fine form this term and his charges command the greatest respect.

15.35  Ascot - Iberico Lord @ 3/1

The lucky last at Ascot and a red-hot handicap hurdle - the Betfair - with £85,000+ to the winner.

I'm looking to the old firm of N Henderson and N de Boinville on a JP McManus-owned 5-yr-old hurdler called Iberico Lord, winner last month of the Greatwood at Cheltenham.

He's up 8lb for that fairly authoritative success and will doubtless have to improve again to win - but he took a big step up last time and surely there's more to come from this promising, precocious French-bred youngster. A terrific betting heat and we're paying four places each-way.

More ITV Racing tips, from Betfred Insights.