RACING fan Graeme Johnston (@GraemeJ_83) picks out his best bets from Saturday's action.
Ascot| The 1965 Chase | 14:05 | Racing UK
The 1965 Chase over 2 miles 5 furlongs is a grade 2 and there is a good field lining up. The ground isn't too bad at the moment so this shouldn't be quite as testing as Haydock will be and there is one in here I really like.
On his day Flying Angel was one of the best novice chasers around last season. He won a grade 1 at Aintree but the rest of his season was rather hit and miss. He holds a verdict over Top Notch from last year, however, I don't think he will confirm that form here.
Smad Place won well last time out and has had a fantastic career. He is likely to set off in front here and over this distance is likely to want to turn this into a gruelling test. If he gets into a rhythm and is allowed to dominate he's dangerous but I feel he may set the race up for something else.
Top Notch is a horse I've really liked since his juvenile hurdle days and he's had a fantastic chase career. He ran a great race at Cheltenham behind Yorkhill before running below expectations at Aintree. He returned over hurdles to blow away the cobwebs and as a previous course winner with a liking for soft ground, I think he has a huge chance here.
Haydock| The Betfair Chase | 15:00 | Racing UK
The Betfair Chase is the first leg of the triple crown and the traditional starting point for the big boys of the staying chase game. The heavy ground has robbed us of the Gold Cup hero Sizing John but we still have a fantastic lineup.
Bristol De Mai loves soft ground, has a great record at Haydock, is a hugely talented horse and won the Charlie Hall last time out so he's very much the one to beat here. He has yet to prove himself on a trip this far however his win here last term indicates it's within range. He has a huge chance here.
Cue Card is national hunt royalty and one of the most popular horses in training. He retains all of his old enthusiasm, however, he seems to be slowing down to me. He looked beat when falling in the Gold Cup and I'm not sure he was going to be involved in the finish when falling last time. I hope I'm wrong but I can't see him involved here.
Tea for Two beat Cue Card at Aintree last season and is something of an underrated horse to me. He clearly needed the run on his return at Aintree and this trip will suit him more than that did and I think he will enjoy the ground too. In a race where there are questions about most of the field I think he's a huge each way price.
Best Bets
Ascot 14:05 – Top Notch (11/4 Bet365)
Haydock – 15.00 – Tea for Two e/w (11/1 Ladbrokes)
