Saturday racing tips

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It’s Scotland’s turn to catch Grand National fever this week and the handicap contest headlines a good card at Ayr, for which I have four selections to check out on betting sites.

Saturday racing tips: Ayr

Well-treated Palacio preferred in Ayr opener

Sans Bruit ran a cracker when a beaten favourite in a hot handicap at Aintree last week and has been out in as the pre-race favourite on horse racing betting sites for this, while support for Le Nez Creux on her first start for Gavin Cromwell (who trained the winner of this race last year) may well be significant if it comes.

The consistent Traprain Law represents the host nation’s top jumps yard and is much respected but I’m siding with the improving PALACIO to win it under a feather weight.

Sam Thomas’s gelding made a successful switch to chasing at Chepstow (2m, good) last November, before he raced too freely at Newbury and didn’t get home. He took a step back in the right direction next time back at Chepstow and was unlucky to unseat Dylan Johnston, who lost his iron when the pair returned to Newbury in February (2m4f, good to soft).

They went back there again last time, when Palacio made most of the running and went clear for a decisive 5l win (2m, good to soft). There should be enough pace on in this field to help him settle and there looks likely to be more to come.

Ayr tip 1: Palacio – 1pt win @ 7/2 (bet365)

Skelton’s Diamond can sparkle

Dan Skelton has enjoyed an amazing season and will collect the trainers’ championship for the first time next weekend. Along the way, he’s smashed through the £4m prize money barrier, a record for a trainer in this country and the horse that took him past that landmark was DIAMOND DEALER, when he scored at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft) last time. He did us a favour in the bargain with that success.

The only blip for this improving seven-year-old this season was when he made a respiratory noise in Kelso’s Borders National (4m, soft) last December. He came back well from that when a close second at Wetherby (3m, soft) next time, before putting in a terrific round of jumping in last month’s Kelso success.

He showed that day that he has the pace over a bit shorter but also the stamina when it comes to a scrap, as the front two had a real battle and the gelded son of Diamond Boy prevailed.

He’s gone up just 3lb for that and to my eye, still looks well treated. He can complete a really good season with another win.

Ayr tip 2: Diamond Dealer – 2pts win @ 4/1 (William Hill)

Tutti suited to Ayr test

Another that we’ve followed this season goes in this race in TUTTI QUANTI. Paul Nicholls has done his usual sterling job in getting this horse to progress nicely along the way, although a quick glance at his form hints that there are some inconsistencies.

He can certainly be forgiven his 20l beating by Lossiemouth in the Champion Hurdle last month but his William Hill Hurdle win at Newbury prior to that was very taking (2m, heavy).

A 13lb rise puts him on a mark of 151 for this and it won’t be an easy ride but you can still argue that, based on his Newbury effort, he is well treated. He beat Wellington Arch by 15l that day and the Jonjo and AJ O’Neill-trained second has since come out and won twice, most recently in a good handicap at Aintree last week.

Tutti Quanti gets his favoured soft ground and he can again run a big race.

Ayr tip 3: Tutti Quanti – 1pt each-way @ 5/1 (Ladbrokes)

Scottish National could go Montregard’s way

This looks as tricky as ever, although we went for decades without a winning favourite and in that respect there has, as least, been some respite for punters in the past decade.

All of those in the top ten or even dozen in the market on betting apps can have some sort of case made and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Paul Nicholls-trained Isaac Des Obeaux is well supported before the off, after his Midlands National triumph last month.

He still looks well treated but such races are never that easy to recover from and, after a 7lb rise and what will probably be less testing ground, we’ll take him on.

The one I am drawn to is MONTREGARD, who carries the JP McManus green and gold. Trainer Tom Lacey has his string in good form and this seven-year-old has really improved during the past 12 months, winning three of his five starts in that period.

The unknown is his ability to get this trip but otherwise, we know he acts on soft ground, he’s progressive and, if the form of his latest win in an Ascot Grade 3 is anything to go by, he certainly looks well treated off just a 4lb higher mark. He looks a lively each-way play.

Ayr tip 4: Montregard – 1pt each-way @ 10/1 (Ladbrokes)

Free horse racing bets

Each Saturday, Virgin Bet runs a money-back offer on one of the races shown on live ITV Racing that day.

If you decide to have a wager on that race and your selection doesn’t win, you’ll receive your stake back in free bets.

There’s no need to opt in to the offer, just place a wager on the race and if your selection doesn’t win, you’ll receive a free bet refund, up to a maximum of £10.

Only the win part of any each-way bets will be credited back to Virgin Bet punters.

Responsible gambling

If you plan to have a bet on the racing, make sure to gamble responsibly.

It’s vital that bettors take steps to remain in control of their time and budget when using gambling sites. The same applies whether you’re using the betting sites UK, slot sites, casino sites, casino apps, or any other gambling medium.

Even the most knowledgeable racing punter can lose a bet, so always stick to a budget and never chase your losses.

It’s particularly important not to get carried away by any free bets or casino bonuses you might receive, both of which are available in abundance on gambling sites, but must be approached with caution.

You can stay in control by making use of the responsible gambling tools offered, such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and time-outs.

You may also want to visit the following free organisations to discuss any issues with gambling you might be having:

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