ITV Racing 17/02/24 - PREVIEWS, BETTING TIPS AND RACECARDS FOR THIS WEEKEND'S HORSE RACING

ITV Racing's cameras are live from Ascot, Haydock and Wincanton on Saturday for some top graded action in the UK, featuring the Ascot Chase.

The final few clues are falling into place as we approach The Cheltenham Festival with a range of handicaps, novice races and Grade One action to pick through across the three cards.

With heavy rainfall across the country all week, stamina sapping ground will make all the races attritional tests so it's going to pay to keep those who can slog through the mud onside.

Our Main fancies for Saturday's live ITV Racing:

NAP: Apple Away (Ascot, 13.50), 5/4

Next Best: Butch (Haydock, 14.40), 5/2

Dark Horse: Bad (Ascot, 14.25), 7/1

Odds correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change, please gamble responsibly.

APPLE AWAY sets a strong standard in this after what she achieved as a novice hurdler last season, scoring a Grade One at the Aintree Festival.

Was no match for the impressive Grey Dawning on her chase debut but got off the mark at the 2nd time of asking in good fashion against a rival who’s been an impressive winner since.

A tricky puzzle this with three runners sharing co-favouritism, it might be worth siding with RUBAUD for Paul Nicholls who’s proven himself highly effective over 2.5 miles in small runner fields at this level.

Found himself being a big gamble for the Boodles last season but saw his run fall flat up the hill. BAD has seemingly kicked on from that though and has been fairly consistent this campaign in handicaps.

Coming 3rd at this venue on seasonal return over 2 miles in a deep race, he then ran well again in a grade 3 event at Newbury to be a close 2nd.

BUTCH taken to staying trips in fine fashion this season, winning two novice events before taking a handicap in his stride at Cheltenham when last seen.

Proven to be versatile on all types of ground, he’s rapidly improving over hurdles as a staying type and might not yet have hit the ceiling.

Has been progressing nicely as a chaser, IRON BRIDGE has some decent form in the books despite not winning very often.

Only seen twice this season however, when pulling up on his comeback at Newbury over an inadequate looking 2.5 miles before running a good race to be 2nd to the runaway Nassalam in the Welsh Grand National.

A real gritty stayer who managed to capture the win in an attritional renewal of the Classic Chase at Warwick last season.

Hasn’t quite managed to hit the same heights since that win but has been going well in defeat this season despite being 11 years of age. Coming a distant 3rd in the Welsh National and 3rd in the Fleur Du Lys Chase when last seen.

A star novice chaser, L'HOMME PRESSE looked to be going close in the 2022 King George before unseating.

A serious injury saw him off the track for over 2 years but he returned in fine form to win the Fleur Du Lys Chase in impressive fashion, getting the better of Protektorat. That outing will have sharpened him up considerably and he has a serious class edge on his rivals here.