Lucky 15 Tips: Four to follow for Saturday

The jumps action steps up a gear this weekend with Grade 1 action from Haydock and some cracking racing at Ascot, including the Grade 2 1965 Chase.

We have picked out a Lucky 15 for Saturday’s racing featuring a couple of value plays.

12:40 Haydock - Netywell @ 17/2

Netywell wasn’t seen to best effect at Aintree last time out but his previous performance at Kelso was encouraging and he can do better this time.

He’s become well treated on the pick of his placed efforts from last season and expect him to be thereabouts with a more prominent ride this time.

12:55 Ascot - Notnowlinda @ 16/1

The mares’ handicap hurdle on Ascot’s card on Saturday afternoon looks like one of the stronger betting races of the day, particularly from an each-way perspective, and one runner that might go under the radar in the markets is Notnowlinda.

This mare was in cracking form a couple of seasons ago, winning at Hereford over an insufficient trip before some even better form in defeat; a close fourth at Cheltenham before hitting the crossbar on two occasions at the beginning of last season.

This daughter of Notnowcato missed more than a year on the track before her recent return at Newbury over a trip too sharp for her and she was entitled to need that low-key reappearance.

However, she’s often given the impression that she’s going to relish a step up to this sort of distance and the handicapper has got her back on a competitive handicap mark.

With Dan Skelton running at a near 25% strike-rate in recent weeks, there’s plenty in this mare’s favour.

13:30 Ascot - Il Est Francais @ 5/2

It’s no surprise to see that Il Est Francais is near the top of the betting for Ascot’s feature on Saturday and this classy sort looks capable of getting his career back on track at a course that should suit.

Two of his best performances have come in Grade 1 company at Kempton, winning the Kauto Star on Boxing Day in 2023 before a narrow defeat in the King George a year later, and this track has similar characteristics to the Surrey venue given its tight, right-handed nature.

Several of his wins in France came on the back of absences so the lack of a recent run isn’t a concern and a change of scenery (now trained by Tom George in Britain) may have done him good.

Dropping in class, getting weight from all of his rivals, this could be the time to catch him.

14:05 Ascot - Largy Poet @ 8/1

It often pays to be on the front end on Ascot’s chase course and one that might get his own way up front in the Berkshire National is Largy Poet.

Paul Nicholls’ six-year-old has fewer miles on the clock than most of these and returned with a cracking effort behind re-opposing Lord Accord at Fontwell recently.

Expect him to come on for that run, he has untapped potential at this distance and he’s now better off at the weights with Lord Accord so there is plenty in his favour on just his third chase start.

The odds can fluctuate between publishing our pieces and race-time. As a guide, a £0.50p win Lucky 15 on today's selections, at the prices, and assuming all four won, would return around £4,252 for your total £7.50 stake.

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