WHAT a Saturday of racing at Ascot with a brilliant renewal of the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at 3.35, featuring two outstanding chasers with Shishkin, trained by Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson and Energumene trained by Willie Mullins. These two equine stars have a 100% record over fences, with eleven victories as a combined total. On the official ratings, Shishkin is at 172 and Energumene 171 and this really is a close call.

At the time of writing, Shishkin is Unibet 4/6 and Energumene Unibet 13/8, with last year’s winner First Flow at Unibet 12/1. My preference is for Shishkin, who made a striking reappearance at Kempton when beating Tingle Creek winner Greaneteen by ten lengths after a 261 day break, showing a tremendous change of pace from the home turn. He has won twice at The Festival and is the current favourite for the Champion Chase.

The forecast for Ascot is dry and these conditions will work more in Shishkin’s favour. The superstar Energumene cruised to victory at Cork in December when looking as good as ever on his first start since the Punchestown Festival and you can see him holding the lead turning for home with Shishkin making his challenge late on. Two brilliant equine stars and we can’t wait!

At Haydock, Jonbon is Unibet 2/5 odds on for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson in the Supreme Trial  Rossington Main and it is very hard to see him being beaten after looking so smart in his two novice hurdles. Intriguingly Might I was second behind his stablemate Constitution Hill at Sandown so he is a good marker here. It will be interesting to see how the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle market looks after this run as Jonbon is Unibet 11/4 and Constitution Hill Unibet 9/4 currently.

Staying at Haydock, in The New One Unibet Hurdle Tommy’s Oscar is Unibet 8/13 on to take this Grade 2 named after the mighty New One, who won this Champion Hurdle Trial four times. This is Tommy’s Oscar main target and he will win here.

Enjoy a fantastic Saturday of racing whether at a racecourse or #athome.

 Cheers

The Wine Tipster

1.25 Haydock – Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices/ Hurdle (Grade 2) 1m 7½f

Richmond Lake can chase home odds-on favourite Jonbon, as he will be given the opportunity to make all, which suits him and he can stay on well at the finish. At Sedgefield he couldn’t have been more impressive over a longer trip, when winning easily on his third start under rules, though still looking very green. He is improving all the time, ground and course will suit and he can take another step forward with this drop back in distance.

Unibet 8/1 each way

1.45 Ascot – Handicap Hurdle 2m 3½f

Garry Clermont (nap) finished third here (tipped each way in my Unibet blog) behind Tritonic and Onemoretheroad in a strong race on his last start after travelling well turning for home. He was ridden on the inside that day and would have benefitted from travelling wider with the key rivals. Garry Clermont had looked the winner at Ascot on his seasonal appearance, hitting the front coming to the last and then jumped dramatically to the left, giving Captain Morgs the lead. On Saturday Garry Clermont importantly steps back up in trip and he won over this distance at Warwick comfortably on soft ground last May. Also, he was only raised a pound by the handicapper for his last Ascot run and remains capable of significant improvement.

Unibet 100/30 win 

2.20 Ascot – Mares’ Hurdle Registered as The Warfield (Grade 2) 2m 7½f

Empressive Lady has plenty to find on official ratings against the likes of Molly Ollys Wishes and Western Victory, who is the only other runner with a victory on her last start. Empressive Lady can step up though after winning a mares’ handicap in convincing style at Kempton at their Christmas Festival meeting, when smoothly drawing clear from the last. She remains unexposed and will be well suited by ground conditions here.

Unibet 16/1 each way

2.35 Haydock – Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (Grade 2) 3m 1½f

Royal Pagaille for the inform Venetia Williams team can follow up on his 2021 success in the Peter Marsh. He might just fall short at the very highest level, and we know he’s not really a Cheltenham horse now as we saw in last year’s Gold Cup and here in November when second to A Plus Tard on ground plenty quick enough. However, what Royal Pagaille does well is give weight away to inferiors, as he did at Kempton and then in this last year when winning by sixteen lengths. He’s 7lb higher this time around and faces a stronger field, yet he will have too much in hand with the excellent Charlie Deutsch in the plate, who comes here rather than going to Ascot.

Unibet 5/2 win

Sam Brown is a lightly raced and talented ten-year-old, who can get in the mix here for the Anthony Honeyball team, with his string in good form. Sam Brown won a novice chase at Haydock in 2020 so has that important course form and then went off favourite for the Reynoldstown at Ascot.On his most recent starts he has finished third in a gruelling Unibet Many Clouds Chase at Aintree to Protektorat, having run well for a long way in the Punchestown Festival on his penultimate start. Previously he had been a good third to Imperial Aura at Carlisle and Sam Brown, who goes well fresh, has the ability to reward each players here.

Unibet 12/1 each way

2.55 Ascot – Handicap Chase 2m 5f

Palmers Hill is going for a three-timer this season and can follow up his December success at Ascot (tipped in my Unibet blog) beating Diego du Charmil by nearly ten lengths in a step up from his previous victory at Wetherby on seasonal debut. Palmers Hill has won over today’s slightly longer distance at Cheltenham and he clearly has more to come over fences.

Unibet 5/2 win