Horseracing betting: weekend outlook

This weekend's racing from Haydock and Ascot will highlight what kind of person you are. Do you like to plan ahead, or do you like to take things for what they are; to appreciate things for now? Click here for a free $600 welcome bonus when you join Paddy Power Poker Both courses host stellar cards, just four weeks ahead of the Festival at Cheltenham, and there will be those out there keen to get all the tips and insights ahead of the Prestbury Park puntathon from this weekend's action, and there will be racing fans galore flocking to both courses just to get a sight of these championship-class horses. Let's be fair, Kauto Star's re-match with Monet's Garden in the Commerical First Ascot Chase, after Nicky Richards' grey became just the third horse in Britain to beat the Gold Cup favourite when he has completed a race, as well as the appearance of the likes of Racing Demon, Witchita Lineman and the SunAlliance favourite Joe Lively, is enough to get any racing fan's pulse racing. Can't punters just enjoy this weekend's racing for what it is, rather than constantly hunt for clues about what might happen in Gloucestershire in a month's time? Kauto Star's participation at the Berkshire track has created a furore after Ascot's clerk of the course, Chris Stickels, took the controversial decision of watering the course to entice Paul Nicholls' stable star into racing there. Multiple Gold Cup-winning trainer Henrietta Knight came out with all guns blazing, ridiculing Stickels' action, particularly as it might not aid her stable representative, Racing Demon, who also lines up in the 2m5f110y contest. Although the sight of Kauto Star cruising around Ascot will be one for the purists, the betting pulses will be getting quicker in anticipation ahead of the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup Chase - the betting heat of the weekend. This race has often been a pointer towards horses that run well in the Grand National and the likes of Young Kenny, Shotgun Willy, Jurancon, and Forest Gunner have all gone to Aintree short in the betting after winning this contest. Andrew Thornton's mount, Miko de Beauchene, is the bookies' favourite and Bet365 go shortest at 9/2, while Boylesports and Skybet have stuck their heads above the parapet and go 11/2. Top-weight Simon is next best at a general 8/1 but carrying 11st 12lbs he has a mountain to climb. Only Shotgun Willy, who had enough class to win an Aon Chase, has won with such a burden in the last ten years, and The Last Fling, who carried 11st 1lb, was the only other horse to carry more than 11st to victory in the same time frame. One horse who does catch the eye however is Point Barrow. This horse looks tailor-made to run a decent race in the Grand National at Aintree. He is a best-priced 9/1 with Coral for Saturday's race, and although he carried more than 11st, he should at least make the frame. But that might not be enough for those punters who like to get pointers from their races, so perhaps a better bet would be to back him at 20/1 for the National with Paddy Power. At least then, those who do watch racing this weekend exclusively for pointers can perhaps get paid for their efforts. Outlook verdict: 1pt each-way Point Barrow to win the Grand National @ 20/1 (Paddy Power) Click here for a free $600 welcome bonus when you join Paddy Power Poker