Saturday ITV Racing Tips: Best bets for Newbury, Haydock and Taunton on December 30

Seven races across the meetings at Taunton, Haydock and Newbury which includes the Grade 1 Challow Novices' Hurdle (1500) from the Berkshire track.

We will start off with a quick run through our tips, with the reasons why we've picked them further down the page.

If you fancy a punt or two, check out the Planet Sport race centre which will show you all the live odds, racecards and results.

Good luck and please gamble responsibly.

(Please be aware selections could become non-runners after article's first publication)

 

Saturday’s selections:

13:25 (Haydock) East Street
13:50 (Newbury) Get A Tonic 
14:10 (Taunton) Queens Gamble
14:25 (Newbury) Surrey Quest
14:45 (Taunton) King Of The Lake
15:00 (Newbury) Willmount
15:35 (Newbury) Walking On Air

 

13:25 (Haydock) East Street

Staying chasers are Sue Smith’s bread and butter and her East Street could get his hands on Haydock’s feature Betfred Last Fling Handicap Chase.

The seven-year-old has shown a liking for the testing conditions he will encounter at the Merseyside track, while the way he travelled and finished in bottomless ground at Newcastle last time suggests a test of stamina could be right up his street as he heads beyond three miles for the first time.

 

13:50 (Newbury) Get A Tonic

Dan Skelton’s Get A Tonic benefitted from a change in tactics when bolting up over course and distance recently and can repeat the dose off an 8lb higher mark while her tail is up.

 

14:10 (Taunton) Queens Gamble

Harry Derham’s Queens Gamble could be the answer to the Byerley Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

A top bumper performer when trained by Oliver Sherwood, she took her hurdles record to two from two when making her stable bow at Kempton.

She could end up rated much higher than her current perch of 120 if fulfilling her potential over hurdles and this could be a good opportunity to add another Listed verdict to her CV.

 

14:25 (Newbury) Surrey Quest

Surrey Quest opened his chase account in October with a comfortable seven length triumph at Huntingdon.

The six-year-old has since received wind surgery and a big run is likely.

Fantastikas returned from a short break at Ludlow keeping on well to grab second attempting a shorter journey. Nicely treated at the weights and might make things difficult for his rivals.

Atlanta Brave finished second at Exeter in this grade last start. Might prove competitive up in distance.

 

14:45 (Taunton) King Of The Lake

King Of The Lake looks well treated based on his second to a noted performer on hurdling debut at Wincanton. Yet to miss top three since and can improve now raised in trip.

Game Winner won a Kempton novice hurdle by 23 lengths last season. Struggled with fences this term but is of interest reverting to hurdles adopting first-time cheekpieces.

Ballydisco pulled up after his saddle slipped in latest. Can resume his progression.

 

15:00 (Newbury) Willmount

 

Willmount is backed to enhance his burgeoning reputation when he goes for big-race glory in the Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle.

A £340,000 purchase after dazzling between the flags, he did what was expected when trained by Neil Mulholland in his bumper season and was extremely taking when starting out for new trainer Nicky Henderson here over two miles in November.

This is a much stiffer challenge and also a step up in trip, but he has earned his shot at this final Grade One of the calendar year and is already high up in the ante-post betting for the Cheltenham Festival.

His experience between the flags adds to the case for stepping up in trip and it could be this new distance unlocks an extra level from this hugely-promising novice.

Henderson has saddled just the one runner in this since striking with Champ in 2018, but he now looks to have the ideal candidate to break Paul Nicholls’ stranglehold on the contest.

 

15:35 (Newbury) Walking On Air

Walking On Air won here last year on his only previous visit to the course.

Lengthy absence to overcome but has been successful when resuming before and rates a key player representing in-form yard.

Golden Son placed in two of three fences runs. Respect adopting first-time tongue-tie for the powerful Paul Nicholls stable.

Ballycamus was always doing enough when a 1L winner on chase debut at Chepstow and will be in the mix.

Passing Well gamely held on to come home in front at Lingfield earning the right to make the shortlist in this higher grade.