The November Racing Weekend at Ascot races culminates in a cracking card on Saturday, 22 November. Grade 2 action headlines proceedings in Berkshire with the 1965 Chase over fences and the Ascot Hurdle on a busy day for the jumps throughout the British Isles.
Supporting races on the card are a couple of intriguing handicap chases. The Berkshire National is still new to the regional circuit of such long-distance events and will test the stamina of those running in it. Later on, the Hurst Park Handicap Chase over an extended two miles honours a former racecourse in the county with the last three winners of it taking part again.
Minor contests at Ascot races on this day are a novice hurdle and staying handicap hurdle for mares. Helping make sense of all the action for you are our horse racing experts. They know all the form and spot value on Cheltenham betting sites from the prices on offer. This track puts on contests just as competitive as there with regular fixtures attracts quality horses.
View the shortlists with all of our experts’ Saturday selections below. They make a detailed case for each of their fancies, based on studying past performances at premier racetracks like Ascot, Cheltenham and others, so you know the horses to follow and keep an eye on. Read on and discover who they picked on this card and why.
Ascot Races Preview for 22 November
12:25 – 2m 5f 146y Class 2 Novice Hurdle
He carries a penalty, however, alongside James Owen’s Showcase second Percy Shelley. Catching the eye behind that one in last month’s Cheltenham results was ETNA BIANCO. The Joe Tizzard stable has found form in November and won this very race in two of the last three seasons. Another furlong-and-a-half for Etna Bianco to show what he can do looks ideal.
As an Irish Point winner with a good piece of bumper form, he only has three lengths to find with Percy Shelley on their last encounter tackling a longer trip. Big Ticket, a wide-margin scorer between the flags before joining the Twiston-Davies team, receives 1lb weight for age from his elders, meanwhile, and this four-year-old could build on his Rules debut second around Aintree.
12:55 – 2m 7f 123y Class 3 Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (0-130)
The Racing Post Go North Lady Buttons Mares’ Hurdle Series Final goes the way of Rockola Vogue under a well timed ride by jockey Kielan Woods! 👏 pic.twitter.com/KSYE39RPX9
— Musselburgh Racecourse (@MusselburghRace) March 21, 2025
One of the trickier Ascot races on this card to assess. Plenty of recent winners have landed this off 115, but Skelton’s Notnowlinda and in-form Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore raider Spit Spot have it to do from such a mark. The latter only won by a neck under a 5lb claimer last time and now has one taking 7lb off seeking her hat-trick.
Emma Lavelle has a strong hand courtesy of Harry Cobden mount Presenting Doy and Porter In The Park, who has a 10lb claimer aboard. Good Luck Charm goes well fresh for Anthony Honeyball, but ROCKOLA VOGUE is a consistent mare and appeals most. David Killahena & Graeme McPherson’s charge landed her Bangor reappearance off the same mark as the Lady Buttons at Musselburgh.
A 6lb rise looks fair for Rockola Vogue in her bid to follow-up under Kielan Woods. Bottom weight Bobbi With An I could improve for this longer trip for in-form team Tizzard. The others don’t make much appeal, for all the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate runs two and Owen’s Mermaids Cave landed a seller last time out.
1:30 – 2m 5f 13y Grade 2 1965 Chase
Pic D’Orhy goes back to back in the Copybet 1965 Chase! 🥇🥇#ITVRacing | @Ascot | @CobdenHarry | @PFNicholls pic.twitter.com/DgB65OMBj9
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) November 23, 2024
His excellent record at this venue and dropping back in trip give him an edge, however. Race terms favour King George second Il Est Francais, but his running style may set things up for others. A bigger threat comes from last-gasp Arkle hero Jango Baie, a Cheltenham winner who has seen form franked by the runner-up, Only By Night, beating the boys at Naas. He goes well fresh for Nicky Henderson.
Gidleigh Park is a lightly-raced type from Harry Fry’s stable, who just finished ahead of Jango Baie at Aintree. Off just three chase starts, he could still have more improvement in him. Old Roan runner-up Master Chewy completes the line-up and got past Il Est Francais for fifth in the Ryanair Chase last term. He looks a difficult horse to place right now.
2:05 – 3m 5f 75y Class 2 Berkshire National Handicap Chase (0-150)
Twice placed at Cheltenham races either side of a summer break, this eight-year-old scored previously over an extended 3m 4f around Haydock under Joe Anderson, who again takes the ride and 3lb off with his claim. Regarde has seen the second from Merseyside come out and go one better twice since. That franks his form, alongside April Meeting conqueror Ask Brewster following-up at Chepstow. Nudged up 2lb since Cheltenham, this test could be ideal for him.
National Hunt Chase second Rock My Way is an obvious threat also back up in trip. He’s also tricky to win with for the Tizzard team. The veterans in the field led by topweight Our Power look vulnerable, but mare Credo shaped like this would be worth a go when third in the Badger Beers around Wincanton.
On his placed efforts at Carlisle and Sodexo Gold Cup fourth here last time, meanwhile, Snipe could have have more to offer for the Skelton stable. Like Rock My Way, he’s a tough one to catch right but, after a string of fourths, goes up in distance. Aspurofthemoment comes over from Ireland with Gavin Cromwell struggling for form right now.
2:40 – 2m 3f 63y Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle
Both Potters Charm, an unlucky faller around Wetherby last time, and Welsh Champion Hurdle hero Celtic Dino have had a run and look open to further progress. The latter steps out of handicaps into graded company and up in trip for Sam Thomas with his Chepstow form franked in spades since by Alexei, who landed the feature Greatwood Hurdle on the Cheltenham race card last Sunday.
Course specialists Altobelli and Crambo can’t be ignored either. The former represents Fry, who has three wins in this race during the last decade. Altobelli has also come from the handicap route. Crambo is a two-time Long Walk Hurdle winner, meanwhile, with an excellent record fresh. His only downside is carrying a Grade 1 penalty.
Kateira is best over this distance, but doesn’t get the full 7lb sex allowance fellow mare Wodhooh receives because of her Listed match success over surprise Champion Hurdle heroine Golden Ace. National Spirit scorer Nemean Lion, Willie Mullins veteran Winter Fog and Olly Murphy new recruit Gwennie May Boy complete the line-up.
3:15 – 2m 172y Class 2 Hurst Park Handicap Chase
Topweight Boothill won the two previous renewals of the Hurst Park for Fry, but is still 2lb above his 2023 success. Harry Derham inmate Teddy Blue and Gabriel’s Getaway fought out the finish of a Premier Handicap chase over course and distance last month with the runner-up now 2lb better off with the winner. Honeyball’s other runner BROOKIE looks worth a punt, though.
An intended runner in last Friday’s Grade 2 Shloer Chase, he stays in handicaps instead. Brookie meets felow Cheltenham horse Calico off 4lb better terms. It would be 7lb, but Skelton stable conditional Tristan Durrell now takes over in the saddle and 3lb off. That yard also runs the mare Shakeyatailfeather, who didn’t have much luck in-running here in October.
Hampered three fences from home, she also found herself short of room jumping the second last and finished fifth. Amateur jockey Heidi Palin now rides Shakeyatailfeather and takes a handy 7lb off, which compensates for being 2lb out of the handicap. Sans Bruit was behind her the last day in sixth and seems better caught in the spring.
