ITV Racing Tips: It’s beginning to look a lot like Venetia-time

ITV Saturdays rarely disappoint, and this one is right up there. NINE live contests, Haydock and Ascot from the UK, and a spectacular timber-topper from Ireland featuring two of the top three in the Champion Hurdle betting.

The action starts on the channel at 13:15, so here are my ITV Racing tips for Saturday, November 23. Buckle up - it's going to be quite a ride.

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

ITV Schedule in full:

13:15 Haydock - Betfair Racing Podcasts Handicap Hurdle - 2m 3f
13:50 Haydock - Betfair Graduation Chase - 2m 5 1/2f
14:30 Haydock - Betfair Stayers' Handicap Hurdle - 3m
15:05 Haydock - Betfair Chase - Grade 1 - 3m 1 1/2f
15:40 Haydock - Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase - 3m 1 1/2f

13:30 Ascot - Copybet 1965 Chase - Grade 2 - 2m 5f
14:45 Ascot - Ascot Hurdle - Grade 2 - 2m 3f
15:20 Ascot - Lay and Wheeler Hurst Park Handicap Chase - 2m 1f

14:10 Punchestown - 2m Unibet Morgiana Hurdle - Grade 1

Rationale:

13:15 Haydock - Josh The Boss each-way @ 9/2

On a day full of challenging, fascinating contests, this is frankly as tricky as most.

Nigel Twiston-Davies trains this talented five-year-old gelding, and the Naunton handler is enjoying plenty of success so far this term. Josh The Boss reappeared 42 days ago at Chepstow, and readily landed a similar race to this one under today's 7lb claimer Jamie Nield.

Second on that occasion was the Team Skelton conveyance Doyen Quest, who has since dotted up at Cheltenham and is fancied for a staying contest on this very card later, worth around twice as much as this one.

'Josh' took a huge step up in Monmouthshire last time, and I want to be with him today. Haydock's good-to-soft going, which is advertised as I write, is sure to be pretty testing and Nigel's have down the years invariably appreciated and acted well upon such surfaces.

An absolute belter to get our ITV afternoon underway. We're paying four places each-way so let's take advantage of that, at the likely price.

13:30 Ascot - Pic D'Orhy @ 1/2

Classy nine-year-old 'chaser who likes it around here, trained by P Nicholls, with champion Harry Cobden on top.

Skinny price, and one for an acca perhaps, but still appeals as by far the most likely winner. Interestingly the horse had a wind procedure in the summer, and if helping this Grade 1 scorer (took this very race last year, too) eke out any further improvement then aged nine rising ten there's still time for more of these attractive pots to be secured.

Pic D'Orhy carries the very familiar colours of Mrs Johnny de la Hey. History of going well, and winning, when fresh (reappears after 225 days).

13:50 Haydock - Deafening Silence @ 13/2

My comments on our first race, and it's relative complexity, can safely be repeated here.

To a very small stake only I'm taking a bit of a punt then on Deafening Silence, and the Skeltons. The stable is flying of course, but the seven-year-old gelding is making his 'chase debut today in a warm Class 2 graduation heat.

There are several more than credible alternatives in the admittedly small field, but with the yard going so well (jockey Harry is running at 22% over the past fortnight, winners-to-rides), a triumphant fencing start is no forlorn hope.

He's won a PTP for previous handler Tom Ellis, and two novice hurdles in Dan's care, including a very good one at Sandown. Reappears after 351 days, offers a bit of value, and I'm guessing the yard must think highly of him to undertake such an assignment at this stage of his career.

14:10 Punchestown - State Man @ 8/11

We pop across to Ireland for in terms of sheer quality the race of the day; and perhaps the season so far.

Champion Hurdle overtones abound - we've got the brilliant State Man, reigning champion from both Cheltenham and the Irish equivalent on this course, against among others an outstanding mare who is preferred marginally to the Mrs Donnelly-owned seven-year-old in our Champion Hurdle market; namely the same trainer's Lossiemouth.

With a degree of uncertainty surrounding the great Constitution Hill, who has readily had State Man's number so far, this race assumes even greater significance, with Nicky Henderson's superstar now only sharing top-billing in the market for March with Willie's mare.

So does five-year-old 'Lossie' take a huge scalp today by lowering State Man's colours, or does Paul Townend keep the would-be usurper, and Patrick Mullins, at bay?

Brighterdaysahead has the ability to step up if the principals falter, but it would be a surprise to me at least. I think State Man has performed magnificently, winning 12 of 14 for Willie (fell two out first up, then ran into the generational Constitution Hill in the '23 Champion, beaten 9l).

He can take this in my book, but what a race to savour, with the mare getting 7lb too. Get the popcorn and the beers in.

14:30 Haydock - Doyen Quest @ 5/2

Mentioned this one briefly already, and is another doing Dan and Harry Skelton super-proud right now.

Doyen Quest returned to action with a fine effort at Chepstow, but it's the latest spin at Cheltenham which saw his form elevated to new heights.

The step up in trip appeared to suit admirably, and he now has a 5lb penalty to shoulder. Looking at how the last win was achieved that hike looks on the lenient side frankly, and he could take high rank among the staying hurdlers if current improvement is maintained.

He's six-rising-seven, and the gelded son of King George winner Doyen, a fine National Hunt sire, has definitely inherited some of his father's higher gears. Plenty of time for even more improvement then, and I can't wait to see how this one pans out.

14:45 Ascot - Blueking D'Oroux @ 7/2

Nicholls/Cobden axis again, same colours as Pic D'Orhy, and for me almost as bright a chance.

Blueking D'Oroux has won here over course-and-distance, and on seasonal reappearance today (break of 210 days) needs to step up to take this - but I believe he can do just that.

Harry Cobden is here rather than at Haydock where the yard has several fancied entries, and this is surely one of the reasons why. This kind of middling trip seems to suit (one effort at 3m here a year ago was not a success) and the yard are flying (32% strike-rate in the last 14 days).

This could get tactical but he seems pretty versatile in terms of run-style. Yet another terrific showdown to enjoy.

15:05 Haydock - Royale Pagaille @ 7/2

The evergreen Venetia Williams excels as the jumps season matures, especially in these big Saturday, soft-ground, big-pot steeplechases.

Royale Pagaille took this readily last term by over 6l, and ran just once more, at Cheltenham in January, falling late when in contention (Grade 2). He's been off then for 301 days, but I'm hopeful Ms Williams will have the ten-year-old gelding spot-on for his follow-up bid.

Grey Dawning for the Skeltons, just seven years old, is an obvious danger, and he goes well here. He's got 8lb to find on official ratings with the selection, but that's entirely possible. Ahoy Senor is a bit enigmatic for me but has undoubted talent; while Bravemansgame seems to find one or two too good now on a fairly regular basis.

One of the season's traditional, much-anticipated stepping stones to Xmas, March, and the further mighty challenges that await.

15:20 Ascot - Kotmask @ 13/2

Another fiendishly-tricky contest for a substantial prize (around £50k).

My selection is Kotmask, for the Moore family, with Caoilin Quinn on board. The six-year-old gelding ran a fine race last time here, narrowly giving best to Martator (2.5l).

The pair renew rivalry, with the assessor now popping Martator up to 140 from 134, and Kotmask from 129 to 130. Gary and Josh are having winners and I'm hoping this can be another

Nice racing weight of 11st 4lb, and an each-way play could also be a consideration.

15:40 Haydock - Credo each-way @ 13/2

Dorset maestro Anthony Honeyball trains this experienced nine-year-old Fame And Glory mare, and the outstanding Sam Twiston-Davies rides, as he has done several times previously.

Credo ran very well under this jockey at Wincanton 27 days ago and after a 176-day break it should have put him cherry-ripe for this. He's gone well here before including at this meeting, and is another with a decent-looking racing weight, in this case 10st 12lb.

We're paying four places each-way so that's exactly how I'm going to play it.

A difficult closer on a brilliant day of high-class National Hunt racing. Do hope you enjoy/have enjoyed it, and thanks for your company.

ITV Racing tips from Betfred Insights.