Steve Mullington's Tips
Steve heads to Wetherby on Saturday for his Nap of the Day
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Steve Mullington's Tips - Saturday, 31 October
A full schedule of domestic horse racing meetings takes place on Saturday, with the day's racing including some high-profile National Hunt fixtures as the core winter season begins to build up.
Wetherby host their prestigious Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase meeting, while Ascot’s raceday is highlighted by the Class 1 Regal Encore Handicap Chase.
Meanwhile, over in Northern Ireland, the marquee Grade 1 Champion Chase will have punters scrambling to watch the Down Royal action.
Here are my strongest thee bets of the afternoon:
2:18pm Wetherby – Lavida Adiva (Nap)Â
The Grade 2 bet365 Hurdle (Registered As The West Yorkshire Hurdle) is usually a decent barometer to the staying hurdle division for the rest of the season, and it is always worth making a mental note of the result on the day.
Olly Murphy’s Strong Leader may have won this very contest last year, but he only scrambled home by a neck over Take No Chances, and quite frankly, raced against much inferior opposition to today.
I’m a big fan of Murphy’s charge when there is plenty of juice in the ground, but on Saturday, I just cannot have him on Good (and drying) ground and he’s a punting swerve.
I do however rate Ruth Jefferson’s LAVIDA ADIVA (NAP), who she recently told Go Racing In Yorkshire, was her horse to follow this season.Â
The seven-year-old mare is a proven distance winner, having previously landed the high-profile Listed Beeswing Mares' hurdle over 3 miles and ½ furlong at Kelso, and she appears to run all her best races on turf described as Good – last season’s Pertemps Final being a perfect example.
Under the race conditions she benefits from a massive weight concession, carrying just 10st 9lb, which is literally lumps over the leading male contender.
Given that the seasoned former champ Brian Hughes is in the saddle, and that she carries 11lb less than the 153-rated favourite Strong Leader, she holds a great chance of taking down the favourite.
Recommendation: Lavida Adiva (Nap) - 9/1 with bet365
2:55pm Wetherby – The Real WhackerÂ
With no rain falling in West Yorkshire for the last few days, trainer Patrick Neville must be clapping his hands as THE REAL WHACKER absolutely relishes good ground and his connections openly say it is the key to unlocking his very best performances.
He famously won this race in 2024, with jockey Brian Hughes getting him into an early rhythm over Wetherby's fences, and he simply jumped them better than most.
The ten-year-old comes into this year's race having made all to win a handicap chase at Perth last month, off a mark of 149, and he will clearly be fit.
Early season appears to be the perfect time to catch The Real Whacker these days, and I would like to think that under a masterful Hughes ride, the veteran pairing can dominate this 3m test from the very flag fall.
Recommendation: The Real Whacker - 9/2 with bet365
2:33pm Ascot – Viroflay (Each-Way)Â
With Paul Nicholls’ daughter Olive, now officially retired, the coast is now clear for young 7lb claimer Lucas Murphy to make his name on the jumping scene for the stable.
I would be highly surprised if any horse other than the four at the top of weights, could capture this 3m handicap, so my preference is for the Nicholls runner.
On an official rating of 144, VIROFLAY (Each-Way) likes to be up there in the vanguard from the moment they set off, and once he does get the eventual lead, I cannot see him relinquishing it.Â
The nine-year-old’s current odds of 6/1 represent excellent each-way value.
Recommendation: Viroflay (Each-Way)Â - 6/1 with bet365 (3 places)
* Betting odds correct at the time of publication. All odds are subject to changes.
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About Steve Mullington
Steven Mullington has almost 35 years of experience in horse racing and sports betting, beginning as a Ladbrokes board-marker during his university years before building a career as a racing blogger, YouTube contributor and writer for bookmakers, agencies and other organisations; he is also a member of the Sports Journalists’ Association.
Steve narrowly missed out on winning the Racing Post Naps competition in 2025 after tipping Powerful Glory at 200/1 on Champions Day, and has recorded several other top-three finishes in the competition’s prize-money standings.
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