| Friday, October 20, 2023 6:30 PM

Saturday’s Horse Racing Tips: Ascot, October 21st

Stephen Harris

Today’s Racing Tips – October 21st

Saturday’s ITV racing covers the full Ascot Champions Day card, with top class Group race action from beginning to end. This cracking day traditionally marks the end of the flat turf season, though has in the past been something of a bookmakers benefit with ground conditions often extremely testing (and plenty of the runners not at their best having been on the go since the spring).

There are some superstars on show from Britain and Ireland, with the top stables well represented, and hopefully the conditions will not get too deep through the afternoon.

In this article:

Today’s Daily Nap
Today’s Value Angle
Saturday’s ITV Racing Tips

Today’s Daily Nap

Tahiyra

Ascot 3:05 (UK time)

Dermot Weld’s top class filly has won 5 of her 6 career starts, and has run two cracking races on testing ground to suggest these conditions will not be any hindrance to her chances. She is a strong traveller with a turn of foot (and excellent attitude under pressure), and her relative freshness at this late stage of the season could be a real edge over her market rivals.

Odds: NA

Today’s Value Angle

Coltrane

Ascot 1:15 (UK time)

Andrew Balding’s battle-hardened stayer has run with credit in victory and defeat all season until disappointing at Doncaster last time out, and is just the type to bounce back to his best form back at Ascot. He has won 7 of his 22 career starts (including two wins and two runner-up efforts from four runs at this track), and comes from a yard that remains in terrific form as the turf season comes to a close (9 winners in the last fortnight).

Odds: NA

Odds are best odds available as at 9am October 21st 2023. Odds may now differ.

ITV Racing Tips – Saturday October 21st

Time (UK)	Track	Horse	Analysis
1:15	Ascot	Coltrane	Andrew Balding’s battle-hardened stayer has run with credit in victory and defeat all season until disappointing at Doncaster last time out, and is just the type to bounce back to his best form back at Ascot. He has won 7 of his 22 career starts (including two wins and two runner-up efforts from four runs at this track), and comes from a yard that remains in terrific form as the turf season comes to a close (9 winners in the last fortnight).
1:50	Ascot	Mill Stream	Jane Chapple-Hyam’s progressive sprinter shaped a lot better than the bare result behind Regional in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock last time out, rather forced to race alone on the wing on the far side and only fading out of contention inside the final furlong. He revelled in deep ground to win his two previous starts at a useful level in France, and the rain easing things this week have certainly increased his chances of landing this prestigious prize (with the booking of champion-elect William Buick certainly increasing confidence).
2:25	Ascot	Above The Curve	Joseph O’Brien’s globetrotter has held his form well since revelling in the mud at Saint Cloud in May, and he should relish the testing conditions expected here at 1m4f (up on too strong a gallop when only fifth at Longchamp last time out on his first try beyond 1m2f in 13 career starts). He is a thoroughly genuine type who just lacks a turn of foot at the business end of his races, but that may not be needed under these attritional circumstances.
3:05	Ascot	Tahiyra	Dermot Weld’s top class filly has won 5 of her 6 career starts, and has run two cracking races on testing ground to suggest these conditions will not be any hindrance to her chances. She is a strong traveller with a turn of foot (and excellent attitude under pressure), and her relative freshness at this late stage of the season could be a real edge over her market rivals.
3:45	Ascot	King Of Steel	Roger Varian’s smart colt has run with credit in defeat twice at Group 1 level since winning at the Royal meeting here in June, and he seems sure to go close with Frankie Dettori taking over in the saddle for the first time. He has won 2 of his 6 career starts, handled the mud when shedding his maiden tag at Nottingham last year for David Loughnane, and a six week break ahead of this assignment could be a real advantage.
4:25	Ascot	Awaal	Simon and Ed Crisford’s smart handicapper has often attracted strong market support this summer, with connections clearly feeling he is ahead of this mark, and he has often shaped a lot better than the bare result in some hot Saturday contests. He has optimum conditions here under James Doyle (cracking heavy ground second in the Lincoln at Doncaster back in April), and the assured strong gallop in a big field can set things up for his customary late charge.