Ted's Treble: Three picks from Ascot and Haydock

We have a cracking afternoon of action in-store and Ed Quigley is here to serve up his best bets at Haydock and Ascot.

Haydock - 2.25 Hartington e/w

13/2 @ William Hill

HARTINGTON looks all stamina, and looks to have a terrific chance of enhancing his profile as he steps up to 3m for the first time. The Joe Tizzard team are on fire at the moment, and with Sean Bowen booked to ride, it only heightens confidence.

If you look back at his Carlisle win last time out, he was all stamina to get up in the closing stages over 2m4f. He looked in trouble four flights from home, but showed endless reserves of stamina to power home for the victory.

Everything about that run suggests that the step up in trip can unlock further improvement, and a 3lb hike for the Carlisle victory feels potentially lenient.

As an each-way player, he has a lot of boxes ticked, where Haydock's long home straight can really play to this horse's strengths. With the yard operating north of a 30% strike-rate for the last fortnight, the Venn Farm team are clearly in rude health. 

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Haydock - 3.00 Handstands e/w

7/1 @ Unibet

We have an absolute belter of a race on our hands, where we have last year's first and second Royal Pagaille and Grey Dawning locking horns once again, and then the added intrigue of the younger and unexposed types taking their chance.

Stellar Story and Haiti Couleurs are proper stayers, and can easily make their presence felt, but I really like the claims of the Ben Pauling-trained HANDSTANDS.

The six-year-old doesn't have many miles on the clock and had a lovely tune-up for this race when runner-up at Carlisle on his seasonal reappearance. He took a big step forward last season for his first spin of the campaign, and I expect something similar here.

The step back up in trip looks as though it will suit, and the cut in the ground will be spot-on for him. The Pauling team are in fine fettle at the moment, and Handstands can run a huge race with Ben Jones in the saddle. 

Ascot - 3.15 Martator e/w

6/1 @ William Hill

MARTATOR absolutely pulverised the field in this race 12 months ago, and looks primed for another big performance here. The Venetia Williams team have been a little quiet at the moment, but this individual can get the ball rolling for the team, and comes into this year's renewal looking incredibly well handicapped.

After a couple of below-par efforts, he is now back on an official mark of 139, so remarkably, he is now 1lb lower than last year's impressive display.

Martator loves the venue, as three wins from three starts over Course and Distance would suggest. Underfoot conditions should be spot-on for him, and Ned Fox is in the saddle, claiming 5lb. I think this combination looks hard to knock out of the frame from an each-way perspective. 

Ted's Treble for Saturday

Haydock - 2.25 Hartington e/w (13/2 @ William Hill)

Haydock - 3.00 Handstands (7/1 @ Unibet)

Ascot - 3.15 Martator e/w (6/1 @ William Hill)

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