TV TIPS (SATURDAY)

The jumps season is well underway and with a Grade 1 contest and hot handicaps to get stuck into we tackle all the live action on ITV this Saturday.

13:10 WETHERBY

Palamon went close in a similar contest at Plumpton when last seen and looks set to go close once more. Considering he represents the Skelton duo of Harry and Dan he’s going to attract market support but he may find one too good once again.

The one that gets our vote won a Class 2 race last time out and drops into Class 3 company here. Kahavari will still need further progress but has been given a fair weight and looks a horse who could improve plenty throughout the season.

The hat trick seeking Tanking Along looks another major player who cannot be ignored.

KAHAVARI (WIN)

13:25 ASCOT

Former course victor Dance And Glance produced a solid performance when returning to action at Haydock to pick up 3rd in a 16 runner contest recently. That should stand Anthony Honeyball’s charge in good stead and is taken to finish even closer here.

The biggest threat looks, on paper, to be last time out winner Jet To Vegas who’s aiming to build upon their recent success.

DANCE AND GLANCE (WIN)

13:45 WETHERBY

Kateira represents the powerhouse that is “Team Skelton” who look set for a very good day here at Wetherby. Former race winner Kateira aims to win this race once again and although she hasn’t strung a long list of wins together looks more than capable at this level. This years renewal is obviously tougher than the match race she won in 2025 but it’s hard to see her being toppled today.

The biggest threat looks likely to be La Conquiere as well as recent winner Watamu best of the rest.

KATEIRA (WIN)

14:00 ASCOT

With a quintet of previous course and distance winners in the lineup, along with some up and coming talent, this looks a tricky race to decipher.

Gore Point has had a splendid summer winning five of his last six starts. He’s clearly capable but this larger and more competitive field looks a much tougher test.

Martator won this race before and has plenty in his favour but his current mark might be a tad too high and enough weight to see one or two finish ahead of him this afternoon.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, bottom-weight, fellow track and trip winner Haas Boy makes plenty of appeal after an encouraging return to action when second earlier this month. With a fitness edge over most of his opposition and with the yard in solid form he looks set to go close.

Another worth following also hails from the list of course and distance winners with Vanderpoel a serious contender. The seven year old still has plenty of room to progress for trainer Ben Pauling and has gone well on seasonal return beforehand,

HAAS BOY (E/W)

VANDERPOEL (E/W)

14:18 WETHERBY

Another race where a Skelton run currently heads the market. Take No Chances didn’t run to expectations earlier in the month but prior to that rounded off last season when filling the runners up spot in a Grade 1 contest. Although there’s only a year between them it seems to be a case of the old guard versus the new guard with Dan Skelton’s runner looking to improve whilst Strong Leader has been dining at the top table for a few seasons. If races were run on paper Strong Leader has the proven track record and credentials to dominate a field of this nature but he’s produced a mixed bag of results and isn’t the easiest to catch right. That being said he won this race last year and is unbeaten here at Wetherby. With Sean Bowen in the saddle that’s a huge positive.

Although seemingly a tad on unfair on Lavida Adiva and Paggane it seems to be only two that can realistically come out on top and as such the reverse forecast seems the most sensible option for what would be a tiny profit. Although boring it seems the more tentative but likely outcome.

STRONG LEADER - TAKE NO CHANCES (REV FCAST)

14:33 ASCOT

The Ben Pauling duo of Henry’s Friend and Your Darling both picked up success at this meeting last year and the pair look set to go close once more.

Of the two, Henry’s Friend took home this race in 2025 and that was off a higher weight. With less of a burden this time around he looks to hold a solid each way chance and seems more than capable of retaining his crown.

Viroflay was a last time out winner and seems to be a horse on an upward trajectory. Deserves to have attracted the market support but looks worth taking on as the current race favourite.

Califet En Val looks an interesting participant considering the connections they represent. At the age of seven he’s got room to improve and shouldn’t be ruled out.

At a bigger price former course winner Neon Moon could fair better than their odds suggest.

HENRY’S FRIEND (E/W)

14:55 WETHERBY

The ever talented and consistent Pic d’Orhy has made the switch to Dan Skelton’s yard and is set to make his debut for the reigning champion trainer. Despite being in his veteran years at the age of 11 he’s won first time out for the past three consecutive seasons and looks likely to go well again.

Trainer Paul Nicholls will be hoping, after losing Pic d’Orhy from his yard, to prove a point and saddles both Twinjets and Hitman. Of the pair, based on jockey bookings it seems that the younger of the two is the stable first string. Twinjets won when last seen but will need further improvement to come out on top.

Former course and distance winner The Real Whacker has the ability and benefit of a run already this season, winning his most recent contest.

At the age of seven Handstands is an improving type who looks likely to feature but his mixed bag of form makes him hard to catch right.

A chance is taken on The Real Whacker who’s proven to be in good form this term.

THE REAL WHACKER (WIN)

15:15 DOWN ROYAL

A fair fifth in this last year Affordale Fury aims to go one better in the 2026 renewal of this hotly anticipate Grade 1. Noel Meade’s charge improved on that effort and progressed nicely last season, going on to claim two victories including the Lexus Chase. Likely to make the frame once more but could come unstuck against two progressive types in the form of Romeo Coolio and Heart Wood.

On paper Romeo Coolio has had a near faultless career but came unstuck when pulled up at the Cheltenham Festival when last seen. The worry there is whether or not the extended 3 mile trip suited him and that’s a question he’s still yet to answer. As such we’re forced to look elsewhere.

On the other hand Heart Wood has already proven to be effective over this longer trip and between the two looks the more likely to finish in the mix.

It’d be foolish to dismiss the Welsh raider Haiti Couleurs who’s guaranteed to be staying on but whether or not he lacks the class at this level he’s yet to prove it.

Although far from prolific the current odds of 66/1 look far too generous for Croke Park who could make the frame if some of the main protagonists fail to deliver.

AFFORDALE FURY - HEART WOOD (REV FCAST)

15:30 WETHERBY

Just the four go to post for this handicap hurdle contest where Filibustering, Klitschko and Banderas all have the benefit of a recent run and have a fitness edge over Race To Base, however Nick Schofield’s charge has some serious form with his second in a competitive Class 2 novice event last time out.

Filibustering looks the most likely to throw down a challenge to Race To Base.

RACE TO BASE - FILIBUSTERING (REV FCAST)

15:43 ASCOT

This prestigious and ultra-competitive handicap hurdle is one of the early season highlights of the jumps season and this years renewal looks no less exciting.

A case can be made for a sizeable portion of the lineup but it’s Ben Pauling’s new recruit Messerschmitt that catches the eye. Formerly with Noel Meade he makes his stable debut here after a very pleasing third in a hot handicap in Ireland back in April. He’s not the most prolific in terms of wins but he’s gone close on multiple occasions in large field hurdle contests so the task at hand shouldn’t be much of an issue. He’s also just five years old so is likely to show further progress and if fit first time out looks the one to be on.

Course and distance winner Trustintimes has to make any punters shortlist along with the consistent Morning Mayhem with the pair benefiting from a recent run.

Elsewhere the lightly raced handicap debutant Parchment could play a part of living up to relatively high expectations and Nico De Bounville’s mount Moveit Like Minnie has proven to be capable.

Not a race to punt big with so many in with a chance but should make for a fascinating watch.

MESSERSCHMITT (E/W)

written by Rory Paddock