Before I start going through this blog, I’d like to wish all of the readers of my Betway Insider blog a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. It’s been another challenging year, but we’ve made it through and we’ve some top racing to enjoy as we see the year out.

It was great to see Betway sponsor their 4,000th race in the UK and Ireland last Saturday evening. I’m proud to be an ambassador for Betway, who have always shown great support for the industry we all love.

Saturday at Navan

Deploy The Getaway  (11:30) should take all of the beating in the opening race. He was beaten on his seasonal comeback, but he should be much fitter for that and should get off the mark over hurdles.

Belle Metal (12:05) is two from two and the fact that Paul Townend has chosen her, would suggest that she is the one to be on. It is unknown how good she could be.

Journey With Me (12:35)  is another who could be the next superstar. He was impressive in his point and even more impressive in his bumper under Patrick Mullins at Gowran last season. I’d love to see him make a huge mark on his hurdles debut.

I don’t think you’d need to be a rocket scientist to work out that Any Second Now (13:10) is working backwards from the Grand National. We all felt his was a touch unlucky last year and he’s being campaigned for that race again.

He starts his season off in the competitive Grade B Handicap Hurdle and while he does have the ability, he might be vulnerable to younger and more progressive horses on his first start of the year.

All the talk has been about American Mike (15:30) . He’s been touted as a possible Champion Bumper horse and I see that he’s the current favourite in the betting for that. He’ll get shorter by the end of the afternoon as he’s going to be very tough to beat in the Listed bumper.

Ascot

Pencifulloflead (13:15) brings proper graded chase form into the race. I like the fact that Gordon is bringing him over for this; it looks like he’s found a really nice opportunity for him. He’s the class horse in the race.

Ronald Pump (14:25)   was a really good second to Honeysuckle over 2m4f last time and that form is super strong. There are question marks around each of the horses in the field, but Ronald Pump always runs well, and it’d be great for him to have his big day in the sun.

Drop The Anchor (15:35)  could be the third Irish winner of the day at Ascot. This horse ran really well in the Country Hurdle at Cheltenham, and given his connections, you’d have to think this could have been a long-term plan.

Haydock

The Tommy Whittle Chase is a proper staying chase. It’s a real slog at Haydock over this trip and you need a horse getting lumps of weight and that’s why I think Enqarde (14:40) is the one to be on. He was going well in the race last year before he tipped up, and his trainer is a very shrewd man!

Vintage Clouds  won the Ultima last season, and if he comes back to that form, he should go well, too.