TV TIPS (SATURDAY)

We preview all 7 live races shown on ITV this Saturday with racing from Musselburgh and Haydock.

13:50 MUSSELBURGH

A solid maiden winner here over this course and distance just over a fortnight ago Zowal aims to claim another course success on his handicap debut. Might be overlooked as he doesn’t represent some of the powerhouse connections his rivals do but has a clear and obvious chance.

Castle Stuart is one to pinpoint as a likely danger.

ZOWAL (E/W)

14:05 HAYDOCK

The first of three contests over jumps at Haydock where Dan Skelton is trying to cement his place at the top of the trainers championship and aims to do so here with Got Grey. The six-year-old hasn’t tasted victory in a while but should have conditions to suit this afternoon and will relish a drop back down in trip. Hard to be overly confident in what looks a very open race but a chance is taken on the Skelton charge.

Givemefive has done very little wrong and aims to make it back to back wins. A consistent performer who should be on any punters shortlist.

GOT GREY (E/W)

14:25 MUSSELBURGH

Top-weight Alzahir is aiming to claim three victories in a row but this looks a much tougher task. Sure to be there or thereabouts but others make stronger appeal. The two that make most appeal both represent the ownership of Lamont Racing. Gweedore and Dain Ma Nut In both took home place success last time out and can make the frame once more with the pin falling slightly towards the more experienced Gweedore.

GWEEDORE (E/W)

14:40 HAYDOCK

At the time of writing Jonjo O’Neills An Tailliur is attracting market support and with good reason. The nine-year-old grey has been nowhere near his best since winning this race last year but now finds himself racing off a very attractive mark. If he’s been aimed at this race by connections a vast improvement can be expected and he’s likely to do far better than he has of late.

Burrows Hall, Land Genie and Bold Recruit poses the biggest threat to the selection.

AN TAILLIUR (E/W)

15:00 MUSSLEBURGH

Despite there only being eight runners set to go to post this looks a very competitive sprint handicap where a case could be made for the majority of the field.

Likely favourite American Affair was a model of consistency last year and shouldn’t be far away if he can go well of his current mark and is fit for his seasonal return.

Mon Na Slieve was a comfortable winner here last time and despite a 5lb rise in weight looks to have the potential to improve further.

JM Jungle won’t mind a bit of cut in the ground and has gone well fresh in the past. Might be too high in the weights but can sneak a place.

Not the normal type of bet but a tentative combination forecast and tricast on the trio listed above.

AMERICAN AFFAIR / MON NA SLIEVE / JM JUNGLE (COMBI FCAST & TCAST)

15:15 HAYDOCK

Some well loved and familiar faces are set to lineup in this veterans chase. Although it might be a case of the heart overruling the head it’d be fantastic to see Eldorado Allen finally return to the winners enclosure. He finished third behind rival Numitor earlier in the season but off a revised weight the form of that race can be reversed. The eleven-year-old has gone well at this venue before and if we see him draw the curtain on his career it’d be a warmly received result.

Glynn has been there or thereabouts for most of the season and seems likely to do so again but I fear in this more competitive contest he’ll find one or two too good but he won’t be far away.

Never discount Le Milos who was a convincing winner earlier in the season and with the yard fiercely fighting for the trainers title he could cause an upset.

ELDORADO ALLEN (E/W)

15:35 MUSSELBURGH

With talk of potential Melbourne Cup targets it’s safe to say some of the runners have much bigger aspirations but they’ll need to show their credentials with a clear cut victory here before heading “down under”.

Another mightily difficult race to call so a chance is taken on one at current double figure odds.

Bottom-weight Struth isn’t the most prolific and perhaps hasn’t been seen at his best of late but with two placed finishes from four previous races over this trip, all of which came off a higher mark, he could sneak into the frame once again.

Obvious contenders look to be Wild Waves, Allign The Stars and previous winner of this race Wise Eagle.

STRUTH (E/W)

written by Rory Paddock