MULLEN IT OVER
Racing tips – don’t miss out on Steve Mullen’s bets for Saturday’s racing from Ascot, Lingfield, Haydock, Taunton and Newcastle
Mullen thinks the Peter Marsh Chase can go the way of Bristol De Mai who can improve from his last run at Newcastle
DO it Mai way in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock (3.15).
BRISTOL DE MAI has a cracking chance of carrying off this prize and at a fair price too thanks to the hype around French starlet Alary.
Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies thinks enough of this six-year-old to have entered him in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and this race has been a fine stepping stone to the big one.
It was at Haydock where Bristol De Mai announced himself on the chasing scene 12 months ago. He won the novice chase on this very card by an eased down 32 lengths after pinging over the portable fences that now blight this once great jumping challenge.
He went to finish an excellent second in the JLT Novices’ Chase at the Festival where he didn’t get the bit of cut in the ground he likes.
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After that, a run at Ayr looked one trip to the well too many for the season. This term he has been eased in gently but looked ready to win again when a close-up second at Newcastle last time out.
He had to settle for second best behind today’s rival Otago Trail that day but he slammed that horse when they earlier met at Haydock.
You get the impression that this is his first real target of the season and he has all the talent you need to pull it off.
Huge things are expected of Alary on the back of being placed in two Grade 1s in France. He has crossed the Channel to join Colin Tizzard and that in itself is a tip these days.
Despite all his fancy form, he is on a seven-race winless streak which makes you wonder why he’s so much of a talking horse. Maybe we’ll know come half-past three but for now he’s one to watch.
At a big price, Bishops Road has a chance of making the frame. He stays forever and on soft ground that should be a major asset. He wasn’t disgraced in the Welsh National last time and has winning form around here.
Despite changes to the fences, this is still one of the more striking horses-for-courses venues so he should make his presence felt.
NEON WOLF got tongues wagging with an impressive win on his hurdles debut at Exeter last time and can follow up in Haydock’s 2.05.It wasn’t so much that he won that caught the eye but the way he did it. He cruised along and didn’t have to come out of first gear to score going away.This is a step up in class but there are plenty of things in his favour. He likes soft ground and stays a little further, which could be an asset if gets sticky underfoot.Elgin looks the one to beat after winning his first two starts over timber. He stepped up on his debut win when striking at Kempton on Boxing Day. This race could see the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle market shaken up so it’s worth watching.
THE NEW ONE can land his third Champion Hurdle Trial on the bounce at 2.40.
Considering he was sent off 1-6 the first time he won this, we could be getting a bargain today.
He didn’t run right up to his best at Kempton last time but losing to Yanworth could look decent form by the end of this season. He was far from disgraced in second and will prefer the bit of give in the ground today.
L’Ami Serge is the obvious one to beat and he may go off favourite. He’s clearly got talent but doesn’t always deliver when the chips are down. And they will be down today alright.
If Ascot beats the frost, I like the look of JALEO in the 2.25 and the 3.35 can go to DARK FLAME.
ASCOT
12:40 Dino Velvet
1:15 More Buck´s
1:50 Happy Diva
2:25 Jaleo
3:00 Royal Regatta
3:35 Dark Flame
4:05 Laser Light
HAYDOCK
12:55 Get Rhythm
1:30 Waiting Patiently
2:05 Neon Wolf
2:40 The New One
3:15 Bristol De Mai
3:50 Imjoeking
4:20 Splash Of Ginge
LINGFIELD
12:50 Chevallier
1:25 Espresso Freddo
2:00 Seven Clans
2:35 John Reel
3:10 Ardamir
3:45 Al Yarmouk
4:15 Bridge Builder
NEWCASTLE
5:45 Golden Opportunity
6:15 School Run
6:45 Ballesteros
7:15 Polar Forest
7:45 Orlando Rogue
8:15 Lozah
8:45 Doeadeer
9.15 Jubilee Brig
TAUNTON
1:10 Cash Again
1:45 Cucklington
2:20 Argante
2:55 Winningtry
3:30 Oscar Sunset
4:00 Garo De Juilley
4.30 Zanstra
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