ITV Racing Tips for Haydock and Ascot - Saturday 17th January 2026

1:25 Haydock

Our first race is the Rossington Main Novices Hurdle. A Grade two 2m novice hurdle known as a trial for the Supreme.

I like OLD PARK STAR (4/5) here, and I think he’ll go outright Supreme favourite after this. An average bumper sort for Nicholls, he’s excelled going over hurdles for Henderson this season. He bolted up at Cheltenham last time out by 12 lengths, and that is arguably the most impressive novice hurdle performance we’ve seen this season. His main rival, Hurricane Pat, won well at Sandown last time out, but a few from the Moore yard won on that bridle that day and have been well beaten since.

1:40 Ascot

The fiat race live from Ascot on ITV sees 5 runners going to post for a Grade 2 mares hurdle over 2 miles.

I like JOYEUSE (7/2) in this to bounce back to form. An impressive winner of a competitive handicap hurdle last season at Newbury, she was expected to further develop into a Graded mare. However, things haven’t gone to plan with two disappointing chase efforts to start this season. She returned to hurdles on her last start here at Ascot where she was hampered as they turned for home, and that ruined her race. Back against her own sex here in a small runner affair, she can bounce back similarly to what we seen with stablemate Iberico Lord last weekend.

2:00 Haydock

The 2:00 from Haydock is the competitive Peter Marsh Handicap Chase over the extended 3m1f trip.

It’s KONFUSION (3/1) NB me who continues to go from strength to strength this season. A winner on three of his four starts this season, unseated on the other, he’s clearly on a serious upward curve. He bolted up last time out in the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby, jumping well from the front. I imagine similar tactics will be applied here, and I like his chances.

2:20 Ascot

Next up from Ascot is a handicap chase over 2m5f.

I’ll chance bottom weight NEON MOON (10/1) EW in here. Sneaking into the race off a feather 10’5 weight with Harry Cobden taken the ride, he has to be of interest. A previous course and distance winner here at Ascot, he’s a strong travelling sort who will get a decent gallop to aim at here. He has to be played late as he doesn’t always find for pressure but he has the right man for that job in the saddle in Cobden.

2:35 Haydock

Our final race from Haydock on ITV comes up at 2:35 and it is a trappy handicap hurdle over an extended 3 miles.

I think SOLAR SYSTEM (11/2) EW is of interest here over this 3m trip. Effectively running of 10’6 here with jockey Callum Pritchard taken 3lb off, he looks really well handicapped to me. A good winner on this card last season is one of several strong pieces of form, if he’s ready to go first time up, he’s the one to be with.

2:53 Ascot

The 2:53 from Ascot is a handicap hurdle over an extended 2m3f.

I was impressed with the victory of SURREY LORD (9/2) NAP last time out on Boxing Day when making it three wins in four starts. I still don’t think the handicapper has got to grips with him, and he can defy a further 6lb rise in the handicap here and go in again.

3:30 Ascot

We finish with the feature, the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase over the 2m1f trip.

A tricky race. However, Il Etait Temps is a worthy favourite, but he wouldn’t be for me at odds on. He can throw a mistake in, and if he makes one at the wrong time in this, he’ll do well to pick them up. The one I like at the prices is THISTLE ASK (15/2). Clearly thriving at present, he will go from the front, and if he jumps as he did at Kempton last time out, he looks sure to be bang there as they turn for home. Ascot is a track in which front-runners can get away from them, and as I touched on above, if his rivals make a mistake at a crucial time and he’s pinging away like he has been all season, they’ll do very well to pick him up.