First up in Saturday’s free Hit Rates tips, we have LAGONDA, who has placed in the top four in 56% of her races.

A low mileage nine-year-old who looks dangerous in today’s affair, given she is racing off a career low mark of 106 here today and showed positive signs when racing at Ludlow last time out after an eight month absence. Winning once last year at Chepstow off a mark of 115 when racing over hurdles, she is racing considerably lighter over fences, and although she hasn’t won over the larger obstacles in seven appearances, she has produced fairly consistent results of 2,5,2,3,4,PU,3.

Although pulling up at Cheltenham in her only blip, this was a much tougher affair, and bouncing back after a 230-day break to finish third off today’s mark, further improvement looks on the cards with this run under her belt.

Heading to Ascot for the 14:25, our next free Hit Rates tip is KATEIRA, who has placed in the top four in 84% of her races.

A seven-year-old mare who has been extremely consistent throughout her entire career and hasn’t failed to finish inside the top four in her last 10 appearances. Producing top-quality racing, Kateira has won five of her last 10 starts, and given two of those wins have come in her last three appearances, she’s a mare heading in the right direction. Winning at the Grand National meeting in April when winning a 19-runner affair comfortably, she took a seven-month break before returning at Wetherby last month.

Making a mistake two from home, she couldn’t recover when finishing third, but making amends on her follow-up performance at Kempton last month, she looks in great shape for today’s affair. Winning a listed race by 2 ¾ lengths when beating Della Casa Lunga, the pair pulled over 24 lengths clear from the trailing pack, and a follow-up performance looks on the card for the consistent Kateira here today.

Rounding up today’s Hit Rates at Ascot, our final free Hit Rate of the day comes in the 15:35, where we have IMPERO, who has finished in the top three in 70% of his races.

A five-year-old who has run most of his career on the flat but to little effect when failing to pick up a win from his 17 appearances. However, making the switch to Cian Collins’ yard and sent over hurdles in September, the gelding looks like a totally different horse. Racing on his stable debut at Listowel in September, Impero ran a respectable second place on soft ground before improving dramatically in his next three appearances.

Winning a maiden hurdle at Downpatrick by an easy seven lengths, before landing a handicap at Cheltenham in October which consisted of a few jumping mistakes, there is still plenty of scope for improvement, which he proved last time out. Cruising to another wide-margin victory of seven lengths at Musselburgh last month, he is handed an 8lb rise for today’s affair, but given his form of late, this doesn’t look to be enough to halt his progress.