Andy Newton’s ITV Racing tips from Ascot and Wetherby – Saturday 31st October

See Andy Newton’s ITV Racing tips from Ascot and Wetherby on Saturday 31st October – with the Charlie Hall Chase the big weekend feature. 

In total, there are NINE ITV Racing over jumps from these two tracks.

The Charlie Hall Chase (14:55) at Wetherby will see last year’s runner-up Pic d’Orhy back for more aged 11 – but is now trained by Dan Skelton.

While at Ascot, the Sodexo Live! Regal Encore Handicap Chase (14:33) is one of the features – where last year’s winner Henry’s Friend returns.

So, let’s get going – you can see Andy Newton’s 1-2-3 ITV Racing tips for ALL the ITV races from Ascot and Wetherby on Saturday.

**O MOORE PARK (1st 25/1) was a top winner for this column last weekend**

 

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Andy Newton’s Quickfire Aintree ITV Racing Tips: Sunday 25th October, 2026:

• 13:10 Wetherby: PALAMON
• 13:25 Ascot: DANCE AND GLANCE 
• 13:45 Wetherby: WATAMU
• 14:00 Ascot: SHAKEYATAILFEATHER (Treble)
• 14:18 Wetherby: STRONG LEADER
• 14:33 Ascot: HENRY’S FRIEND (NB)
• 14:55 Wetherby: HANDSTANDS
• 15:30 Wetherby: RACE TO BASE 
• 15:43 Ascot: TRUSTINTIMES (NAP)

🎙️You can also catch Andy’s views each week on the Final Furlong Podcast here.

📝Plus see Andy’s DAILY HORSE RACING CHEAT SHEET, with key stats, tips and pointers each day.

Andy Newton’s Ascot ITV Racing Tips: Henry’s Friend Eyes Repeat Win

 

13:25 Ascot: Ascot Underwriting Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) – Class 3, 4yo+ 2m3f ITV

DANCE AND GLANCE can go well here for the in-form Anthony Honeyball yard.

This course winner is back from a wind op after running 3rd in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock in May.

Was also a fair 4th to the useful Alexei on this card 12 months ago, and Rex Dingle, who was the last jockey to win on him, is back in the saddle

Looks the sort to make a nice chaser for connections this season and despite back from a 175-day break has gone well fresh in the past.

Recent Market Rasen winner Jet To Vegas and other course winner Glynn Brae can do best of the rest.

But all eyes lead to Dance And Glance for me here.

🥇DANCE AND GLANCE
🥈Jet To Vegas
🥉Glynn Brae

14:00 Ascot: Sodexo Live! Handicap Chase (GBB Race) – Class 2, 4yo+ (0–150), 2m 1f, ITV

SHAKEYATAILFEATHER was 5th in this race 12 months ag, but probably got have got closer had she not made a late error.

She was rated 131 that day, but is now 8lbs lower off 123 and this Dan Skelton runner gets in here off just 10st 7lbs.

Is also back from 231-days off, but won first time out at Kelso last season, so that’s not a worry either.

Of the others, we’ve also got the last three previous winners – Teddy Blue (2025), Martador (2024) and Boothill (2023). The first two are worse off, but the old-boy Boothill is 12lbs lower.

Vanderpoel is also respected for the Ben Pauling team being a proven CD winner and is 5lbs better off with Martador when 7th to that horse in the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival.

🥇SHAKEYATAILFEATHER
🥈Vanderpoel
🥉Teddy Blue

14:33 Ascot: Sodexo Live! Regal Encore Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) – Class 1, 4yo+, 3m, ITV

HENRY’S FRIEND won this race in 2025 and I think he’s got a good chance of going well again.

Yes, the Ben Pauling yard have been a bit quite of late, but they’ve often done okay here at Ascot – backed up with a 30% SR over fences.

This 9yold hasn’t won since taking this but the good news is that he’s back rated a pound lower than 12 months ago.

Going fresh is fine too – winning this off a break last season too. While he’s also had a wind op in September.

He’s also 2-from-3 over fences here at Ascot – there’s a lot to like.

Califet En Vol, Viroflay and the other Pauling course winner Your Darling are noted too, but I’ll take Henry to be my Friend here.

🥇HENRY’S FRIEND
🥈Califet En Vol
🥉Your Darling

Battle of the Reynoldstown winners!

Henry's Friend fights off the challenge of The Changing Man and wins the Sodexo Gold Cup! He makes it a doubles for @benpauling1 &@BenJone04644251… pic.twitter.com/OB0cGMqehm

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 1, 2025

15:43 Ascot: Lavazza Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl2 (3yo+) 1m 7 1/2f ITV

TRUSTINTIMES looks to have a top chance here for the Harry Fry yard.

This 5yold blew away the cobwebs on the flat last time at Nottingham (17 days ago), so should be spot-on for this.

Over hurdles, he was last seen being pulled up at Aintree last April, but that came over 2mf and likely didn’t stay.

Back in trip (2m) here will, therefore, suit and won first time out last season over hurdles.

He’s also got form with the likely favourite – Williethebuilder – when 2nd to him at Kempton last Christmas (3 1/2 lengths) .

However, the pick is a massive 16lbs better off this with the Christian Williams runner, despite Toby McCain-Mitchell claiming 3lbs.

Of the others, the Joe Tizzard yard are in good order and they won this with Alexei last season.

So their Rightsotom is another to note, who sports the first-time blinkers and should also be better for a recent run at Chepstow.

🥇TRUSTINTIMES
🥈Rightsotom
🥉Williethebuilder 

 

 

 

Andy Newton’s Wetherby ITV Racing Tips: Handstands Can Leap To Charlie Hall Victory

 

13:10 Wetherby: Position Payout At bet365 Handicap Chase (GBB Race) – Class 3, 4yo+ (0–125), 2m 3½f, ITV

PALAMON can make amends for his recent Plumpton second, when Harry Skelton seemed to just get out-jocked in the closing stages by Caoilin Quinn.

Skelton went for a run up the inner that day, but had the door closed. And in the process had no time to switch on the outside with the Plumpton straight not the biggest.

That came only 12 days ago, so will be fitter than most here, with several back from breaks and before that win was an easy win at Southwell.

Tanking Along, who is seeking a three-timer, and the Harry Cobden-ridden Kahavari are next best.

🥇PALAMON
🥈Kahavari
🥉Tanking Along

13:45 Wetherby: bet365 Montagu Mares’ Hurdle (Listed Race) (GBB Race) – Class 1, 4yo+, 2m, ITV

WATAMU is chanced over last year’s winner Kateira, who would take the beating if back to her best.

But despite the Skelton mare being the top-rated (140) hasn’t won a race since taking this 12 months ago – beating former Champion Hurdler Golden Ace.

And was hardly impressive on her first run back – when well back at Chepstow recently.

So cases can be made for some of the others – La Conquiere, for the in-form Jamie Snowden yard and Ooh Betty.

But I was taken by the way Watamu won last time at Stratford. Winning on the bridle by 2 1/4 lengths and it could have been three times that.

She’s only aged 5 and has is 3/7 over hurdles – with two of those wins coming under Harry Cobden, who is also back in the plate.

🥇WATAMU
🥈Kateira
🥉La Conquiere

14:18 Wetherby: bet365 Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered as the West Yorkshire Hurdle) (GBB Race) – Class 1, 4yo+, 3m, ITV

STRONG LEADER is a tentative pick to follow up in the same race he won last season.

He’s another that’s not won since, but beat Take No Chances that day by a neck and even though he’s 4lbs worse off is taken to uphold the form.

Sean Bowen rides again and with his main rival – Take No Chances – also hard to win with (0-10), I’ll stick with this Olly Murphy runner.

The pick also has a fair record fresh –  winning first time out for the last two seasons, so the 203-day break actually looks a plus.

Lavida Adiva and Paggane are the only other runners, with the former interesting.

This Faye Bramley runner won on the flat at Goodwood last month so will be fit and gets a handy 11lbs from Strong Leader.

Meaning her mark of 142 brings her bang-on the same rating as Strong Leader (153). This former Willie Mullins runner could be over-priced with Harry Cobden riding.

🥇STRONG LEADER
🥈Paggane
🥉Take No Chances

4️⃣ have been declared for the Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby on Saturday ✅

STRONG LEADER 🎥
LAVIDA ADIVA
PAGGANE
TAKE NO CHANCES

❌ No FRENCH SHIP or LUD'OR. pic.twitter.com/vFNotHJ9kk

— Jake Price (@JakePriceRacing) October 29, 2026

14:55 Wetherby: bet365 Charlie Hall Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) – Class 1, 5yo+, 3m, ITV

HANDSTANDS is the pick in what looks a poor renewal of the Charlie Hall Chase.

This 7yold hasn’t really kicked on as many thought he would after winning the 2025 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown.

But has clearly had a few issues since, so has had some excuses. Stopping quickly in the Ultima Chase at Cheltenham last time.

Is back rated 2lbs lower though and is still a young horse at 7, so the Pauling yard have time to get him going again.

Ben Jones also come here instead of heading to Ascot, which is interesting.

Of the rest, the old boy Pic d’Orhy (11) was 2nd in this when trained by Paul Nicholls last year. He’s now with Dan Skelton and will be looking to become the oldest winner since 2004 (Grey Abbey).

We’ve also got the 2024 winner The Real Whacker back and he won for the first time last time out at Perth, so heads here in good order.

While Paul Nicholls has won the race 5 times and tries to equal the record of Nigel Twiston-Davies (6) with Hitman and Twinjets.

🥇HANDSTANDS
🥈Pic d’Orhy
🥉The Real Whacker

15:30 Wetherby: Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap Hurdle – Class 3, 3yo+ (0–130), 2m, ITV

RACE TO BASE is one of the looser ITV Racing tips – in a race that only sees four runners and cases can be made for them all.

But this Nick Schofield runner heads here off a good 2nd at Sandown in April and is only 3lbs higher.

He’s had a break since and is still only 6yolds, so should have more to come.

That win also came off a wind op and there were some nice prospects behind that day – notably Kocktail Bleu and Minella Yoga.

Filibustering has Harry Skelton booked for Harry Derham, but the yard are a bit quiet.

So if the pick doesn’t fire – maybe Klitschko can land the knockout blow.

🥇RACE TO BASE
🥈Klitschko
🥉Filibustering 

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