Horse racing betting tips today: Ascot, Down Royal and Wetherby latest odds

The Breeders’ Cup may dominate the global racing scene this weekend, but there is some top quality jumps action from Ascot, Down Royal and Wetherby too.

Courtesy of GG, Joe Napier has provided his best bets across those meetings, exclusively for Metro.

2.22 Wetherby – bet365 Hurdle (Grade 2)

It is interesting that the Twiston-Davies team have gone down the staying hurdles route for the talented Potters Charm, but it will be worth watching how he does on this first 3m start. Strong Leader, meanwhile, is the established order in this division, but not a horse you can pin too much faith to in terms of giving his running.

As of Thursday, the rank outsider of the quintet is DODDIETHEGREAT, but Nicky Henderson’s nine-year-old made a superb step up in 3m races to conclude last season, qualifying for the Pertemps Final handicap at the Cheltenham Festival, then winning it at 25/1 off a mark of 131.

He nearly followed that up in a similar handicap at the Punchestown Festival upped 7lb, only to see form overturned by stablemate Jeriko Du Reponet. His Seven Barrows neighbour is a very useful horse on his day though and the fact that the selection ran so well in those big field handicaps suggests he has the ability to make the step up to Graded company over this distance.#

2.40 Down Royal – BetVictor Champion Chase (Grade 1)

The feature race in Britain and Ireland this weekend, the Down Royal Champion Chase is the first Grade 1 either side of the Irish Sea this jumps season. The 11-year-old Envoi Allen has a sensational record at this track, but the veteran has to be taken on in this market given his advancing years.

Step forward FOUND A FIFTY for Gordon Elliott, who usually cleans up at this meeting. Whereas, Willie Mullins saves his Closutton best for the winter, Elliott likes to get his stars out early and this eight-year-old stands out as a fascinating contender for his first run over 3m. One evident bonus is that among three Cullentra runners here, he is the choice of stable jockey Jack Kennedy over the five-timer chasing Western Fold, who is right up in class here, and the thorough stayer Stellar Story.

Found A Fifty was campaigned as a two-miler last season, but two of his three wins came over 2m4f, including at this meeting last season in Grade 2 company. That showed he goes well fresh, he won a point-to-point by 15 lengths over 3m prior to his rules career, and he boasts the highest Official Rating in the field. Fellow form candidate Spillane’s Tower has not convinced as a 3m horse to date, but the selection could even find extra for this distance.

3.10 Ascot – Lavazza Handicap Hurdle

Although he has taken until the spring to get going over the last two seasons, it might be that AFADIL is more forward this campaign given his declining mark.

Still only a six-year-old, Paul Nicholls’ charge last won off 124 and is still 2lb below that rating for this race. Last term, he was second in the Scottish County Hurdle at Musselburgh and a close third in the Imperial Cup at Sandown, the latter off his current mark, so we know he can be competitive in big races while handicapped as he is for Saturday.

He won on his hurdles debut after a 210-day break from the flat, so he can be fully tuned up fresh. At his best, he was fifth in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival off 8lb higher and is still definitely young enough to recapture that form on his first run since wind surgery.

3.45 Ascot – Sodexo Live! Gold Cup Handicap Chase

Another favourite worth taking on is The Changing Man, whose only win last season came when presented with a gilt-edged opportunity over course and distance in February. He was a second season novice and has now finished second in six of his 12 chase starts, winning only one.

For all he possesses the talent to win off his mark, he will always be a vulnerable market leader. Against him, the grey MARBLE SANDS can be his ghost this time, with the nine-year-old having won his first start of the last three jumps seasons, including in impressive fashion in Carlisle’s Listed Colin Parker Memorial Chase last season.

His record going right-handed over obstacles reads 22111P115, the pulling up having occurred in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase when biting off more than he could chew. He is only 1lb above his last winning handicap mark though, while he shaped like stepping back up to 3m would be of benefit to him during the previous campaign. He is relatively ground versatile and looks a solid each-way play to down the favourite.