All the essentials as going eases at Haydock on Tommy Whittle Chase day

If you believe the regard in which Benatar is held by trainer Gary Moore then you'd think he should be winning a handicap off a mark of 149, and he bids to kickstart his campaign in the 3m Listed Garrard Silver Cup Handicap Chase (3.00) at Ascot.

He'll have to be at his best to score today, however, with Gold Present, Otago Trail and the new Harry Fry-trained acquisition The Last Samuri among those in opposition.

The Grade 1 JLT Long Walk Hurdle (2.25) is the feature race on the card and, in a division which is yet to really burst into life, it would be great to see something come out and stamp their authority..

Flat fans have the opportunity to indulge, as Lingfield hosts a seven-race card which is headed by the Listed Quebec Stakes (2.15), a contest which the John Gosden-trained Wissahickon is a warm order.

There are no evening meetings but racing at Haydock, Newcastle and Thurles contribute to a jam-packed Saturday afternoon.

Going report

Newcastle (first race at: 11.40)
Soft (from soft, good to soft in places, GoingStick: 4.9 at 10.15am)

Haydock (11.50)
Heavy, soft in places (from soft, heavy in places, GoingStick: 4.8 Chase, 4.6 Hurdle at 6.47am)

Lingfield (12.00)
Standard

Thurles (12.15)
Good, good to yielding in places on hurdle course

Ascot (12.40)
Soft (GoingStick: Chase 6.3, Hurdle 6.1 at 8:30am)

Market movers

2.30 Newcastle 1 Treshnish 5-2 (from 4)
2.40 Haydock 10 Cian Legend 7-1 (from 10)
3.05 Newcastle 4 Bempton Cliffs 8-1 (from 16)
3.15 Haydock 5 Florrie Knox 5-1 (from 7)

What to back

Maddy Playle likes the look of one in the concluding race at Ascot.

Maddy is joined by Paul Kealy, David Jennings and Paddy Power's Frank Hickey in the Racing Postcast as the panel pick out the value for the action on Saturday.

What to read

Read the full report of yesterday's Grade 2 Noel Novices' Chase at Ascot as the unbeaten Vinndication impressed again in victory and was cut in the ante-post betting for Cheltenham Festival riches.

What to watch

Nigel Twiston-Davies provides the lowdown on 32Red King George VI Chase contender Bristol De Mai.

The What's The Word team of David Jennings, Johnny Ward, Nicola McGeady and host Thom Malone deliver their best bets over the Christmas period.

The best of Racing Post Sport

Dave Clark, Mark Langdon and Dan Childs are joined by Paddy Power's Malachy Rooney for a quick round-up of the weekend's football.

Final thought

The Boreen Belle Mares' Novice Hurdle (2.00) at Thurles should prove informative. Subsequent Grade 1 scorer Shattered Love was a good winner of the race in 2016 and the Henry De Bromhead-trained Honeysuckle is unbeaten under rules and could be anything at this stage.

For the freshest betting advice, based on latest going and market conditions, don't miss the Live Tipster every afternoon. Just click Raceday Live at racingpost.com or the mobile app