Horse Racing Tips: Tanya Stevenson's Selections For Ascot, Haydock And Windsor
Tanya Stevenson joins us once again to preview all of the very best racing action this weekend.
She has cast her eye over the jumps meetings taking place at Haydock and Ascot on Saturday and made three selections using the best horse racing betting sites.
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Tanya Stevenson's Selections For Saturday
- The Panel Selection 1: 14:15 Ascot - Latenightpass - Each-Way - 33/1 With Bet365
- The Panel Selection 2: 14:30 Haydock - Royal Pagaille (Nap) - Win - 9/4 With Ladbrokes
- The Panel Selection 3: 14:50 Ascot - Doddiethegreat - Win - 6/1 With Ladbrokes
- The Panel Selection 4: 14:30 Windsor - Titan Discovery - Win - SP With Bet365
Tanya Stevenson Panel Tip 1: Ascot 14:15 - Latenightpass (Each-Way)
Gina Andrews has reached many milestones in racing, including 500 winners. She’s tasted victory at the Cheltenham Festival and over the big Aintree fences, but she has yet to ride a winner over the jumps at Ascot.
She's won on the flat at the course, though that was back in 2018 on Cliffs Of Capri for Jamie Osborne. On Saturday she is on the old warrior Latenightpass, who has been totally passed over in the 14:15 at Ascot.
It's hard to see why, as for me he holds some each-way potential. He may be 12, but there is every indication at Cheltenham last time out that he retains all that spark and ability.
All the attention that day was honed on the cheeky ride Keith Donoghue gave Stumptown, but Latenightpass was produced brilliantly by Gina to pose a big threat from six out in the Cross Country Chase.
I wouldn’t pigeonhole him as an out-and-out stayer and we shouldn't forget that he won the 2022 2m 5f Foxhunters over the big spruce fences at Aintree.
There is an emphasis on speed and fluency, which he has in abundance and can use to his advantage here.
He returned to Aintree in 2023 to be fourth in the Foxhunters, and last year he fulfilled a dream for Gina and the family to have a go in the Grand National itself. He did brilliantly to finish 12th but weakened.
Latenightpass is a prolific point-to-point winner and quite a few of those successes have been on good ground, so if the surface dries it would be an issue.
He maintains his high rating as he still retains all the enthusiasm. Its probably the fact he’s been running in the Cross Country races that he has been completely overlooked.
The stable and Gina went well with Soldiers Leap, who ran second at Newcastle on Thursday, and this season they are already up to nine wins.
Latenightpass could defy his big price for at least a place.
Tanya Stevenson Panel Tip 2: Haydock 14:30 - Royal Pagaille (Nap)
It's no surprise to see the ground is heavy and when it comes to Haydock, only mudlarks need apply.
However, Saturday leaves us with that wonderful predicament of Mr Vango with a light weight possibly kicking on from the front and the Haydock warrior Royal Pagaille carrying 12 stone.
It’s fabulous to see the Grade 1 winner going for his third straight Peter Marsh. He is a class performer and has made the course his own.
He is five from six at the venue and would probably appreciate the likes of Mr Vango kicking on in front to give him a lead.
Royal Pagaille would be the first horse to win the race three times.
Fifteen of the last 34 winners carried over 11 stone to victory, although Royal Pagaille would be the first to carry 12 stone. He is still only nine and would be the sixth in that age group to oblige.
Venetia Williams has already won the race four times, the first being back in 1999 with Generale Wolfe.
Visually, this should be a great spectacle as Trelawne and Iwilldoit will have their say too, but I believe Royal Pagaille will retain his crown.
Tanya Stevenson Panel Tip 3: Ascot 14:50 - Doddiethegreat
Don’t sigh. Yes, I’m going with Doddiethegreat again!
I sat aghast watching the last at Kempton on Boxing Day, worried that something maybe amiss as he pulled up so soon. But then cursing my luck as Nico had no real choice having been hampered at the start.
His form figures (075P) since his mammoth run in the Betfair Hurdle last year don’t exactly scream winner, but Nicky Henderson’s decision to persevere tells its own story.
For me, he should never have gone to the festival last year as he left his chances at Ayr in the Coral Cup. His last win came at Ascot back in November 2023.
He has only had 10 races, winning four, and if the ground dries out then happy days. Nicky has a 20% strike rate at Ascot and Nico has a 38% strike rate in these colours.
Nicky has won the Holloway's Hurdle twice. My only worry is that the trainer has the favourite as well Bo Zenith, who ran a cracker on first run for 610 days at Cheltenham last time.
But I then think back to Newbury last year and the ground Doddiethegreat made up.
By winning the Somerset National at Wincanton on Thursday, Collectors Item paid an enormous compliment to Mr Vango.
The pair had finished first and second at Sandown in the London National as Mr Vango ran with his brave cavalier attitude, scampering up the stiff uphill finish.
There were murmurs of heading to the Welsh Grand National, but instead his sights have been set at the Peter Marsh at Haydock.
Tanya Stevenson Panel Tip 4: Windsor 14:30 - Titan Discovery
I have been keeping a close eye on the declarations for Titan Discovery and it's great to see him given his chance in the 14:30 at Windsor.
His achievements appear to have been invisible in plain sight and his last two form figures are in fact excellent efforts.
Titan Discovery has only had 10 races, eight of which over hurdles. He won his first handicap at Ascot, which was really competitive, and he accentuated his tenacity, getting the better of Toonagh Warrior in a protracted battle.
On his next outing he went to Sandown where he was up in distance and finished a valiant runner-up to Jingko Blue. After that it was back to the winner’s enclosure again at Sandown.
He found Boombawn too good at Kempton but he had the likes of Irish Hill, Katrina, Harbour Lake and West Balboa behind.
His season ended in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham where he didn’t get the ideal run at the crucial time and ended up only two lengths behind Doyen Quest. That was to be commended at the end of a busy season.
His seasonal reappearance was at Chepstow in the Silver Trophy where he looked a bit woolly. It showed on the course, but his effort to be right there with a chance with two to jump was noted as one for next time.
Those ahead were Josh The Boss, Doyen Quest and Take No Chances. It was also at a time when Robbie Llewllyn’s team had been quiet, Thursday that may have changed.
He had a winner at Newcastle with The Gray Ghost and a good fourth at Wincanton. I’m pleased to see Titan Discovery stepped up in distance as he has lots of potential.
