Hi all,
Really struggling for winners at present and back to the poor form of the first two weeks of June. Plenty of betting opportunities today so there’s a good chance we can turn things around today. Let’s start at Ascot where there are four competitive handicaps for punters to get stuck into.
Ascot
2:30 – Trainer Charlie Fellowes is struggling for winners but he did have runner-up here yesterday and his runners always seem to go well on Ascot’s straight course. He saddles Perfect Inch who struggled when stepped up to Group 3 company at Salisbury but prior to that she had put good effort to finish 2nd of 9 at York. Now 5lb higher but she remains on the upgrade and can go well.
1pt win – Perfect Inch – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:05 – Just the 11 runners go to post for this valuable handicap over 1m 4f but it’s a strong field with the likes of Kipps, Shandoz and Grand Bazaar all capable of going well. Kipps gets the first time cheekpieces and if the headgear has the desired effect, he’s got the ability to go close. Shandoz returned from a 322-day lay off to win over C&D, beating Grand Bazaar in the process. He’s going the right way and has only been raised 4lb for that win. However, I think there is the proverbial Group horse in handicap in My Frankel, trained by Sir Michael Stoute. Just the one start as juvenile behind Palace Pier and returned to action this season when beating recent Salisbury winner Nasraawy in a Leicester maiden. Improved for the step to 1m 4f when winning a Kempton novice under a penalty. It was a strong race at Kempton and has been given top weight for his handicap debut. That said I think he can go onto better things.
1pt win – My Frankel – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:40 – Spanish City doesn’t win very often for a horse of his ability but on his day he’s more than capable of going close here. Made a cracking return to action when 3rd of 22, beaten just a length, in the Wokingham Handicap over C&D. Wasn’t disgraced when 7th in the Bunbury Cup but put in a rare disappointing effort in the International Stakes here over 7f. If you forgive that run and he can reproduce his Wokingham performance he should be in the mix.
1pt each way – Spanish City – 10/1 @ Bet365
4:15 – Another big field handicap this time over 7f. Society Lion looked a horse worth following when overcoming a wide draw to win at Goodwood two starts back. Was sent of the 6/4 favourite for a hot handicap at Chelmsford and ran well to finish 3rd of 14. That was his first start on the all-weather but the return to turf will suit and remains capable of better. In the same ownership is Blue Mist. The 5-year-old finally landed a big pot when winning the International Stakes over C&D 42-days ago. Prior to that had got no luck in the run when 9th in the Silver Wokingham. A big field on a straight track really suits him so he has his optimum conditions and despite a 6lb penalty could be capable of defying his career high mark.
1pt win – Blue Mist – 5/1 @ Bet365
1pt win – Society Lion – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Haydock
The Group 1 Betfair Sprint Cup is the race of the day but I’m going to concentrate on two of the handicaps on the card.
2:50 – The 1m 6f Old Borough Cup has a very competitive look this year with 17 declared to go to post. The going is soft and a bit of rain is forecast so I don’t think the ground will dry out. Plenty in with a chance.
Rhythmic Intent has improved for the step up to middle distances and last time out and ran out an impressive winner over 1m 5 ½ f at Newbury 20-days ago. Up 6lb which could be lenient and goes very well on soft ground.
Future Investment is another who goes well with ease in the ground. Last time out he put in a career best effort when winning at Chester on his first run over 2m. Up 6lb for that success, demands more from the 4-year-old, and he drops back in trip but should run well again.
Diocletian an easy winner at Chester last September bounced back to something like his best back at that venue when 4th of 6 in a Listed race back at the same venue 16-days ago. Soft ground suits and he’s a contender.
Australis improved on the all-weather winning at Wolverhampton on his seasonal return in June and then finished runner-up in the Northumberland Plate. He didn’t replicate that form when back on grass when only 5th of 10 at Ascot last time. He may not have been suited by the quick ground that day. Yet to race on soft ground but he’s got the physique to do well on it. He can’t be ruled out if handling the surface as he looks on a nice weight.
Cape Coast an improving 3-year-old middle distance handicapper, returned from a mammoth 1024 day lay off to finish runner-up at Catterick two starts back. He improved further when winning a competitive 1m 6f handicap at Newmarket 57-days ago. He’s lightly raced and although he’s up 5lb looks capable of more progress. William Buick takes the ride and given he’s a prominent runner should be suited by the track and has a handy draw in stall 4. Trainer Mark Johnson won this race in 2012.
1pt each way – Cape Coast – 10/1 @ Ladbrokes (paying 4 places ¼ odds)
4:00 – Come From The Dark won over C&D, on soft ground, 12 months ago before finishing a close up 2nd of 17 at Ascot a month later. Only returned to action at York 17-days ago when down the feld on good ground. The race was probably needed that day and better can be expected on today’s surface. Trainer form is a slight concern but he can’t be discounted.
Aplomb is another who goes very well on soft ground and gets it for the first time this season. Hasn’t been disgraced in big field handicap on much quicker ground than he likes although struggled at York last time. The first time cheekpieces are applied and if they have the desired effect, he’s more than capable of landing a handicap like this of his present mark.
Militia comes into the race at the very top of his game having won his last three starts. This a much better race but he’s only been raised 4lb for his last success and his improvement may not have ended just yet.
Count D’orsay reallyhit form last autumn when getting an easy surface, winning at Ripon and Catterick sandwiched between those wins he was an excellent 2nd of 22 at York. Hasn’t had his ground on his four starts this season and has dropped down to his last winning mark. Can’t be totally discounted and has place claims, if bouncing back to form.
1pt win – Aplomb – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Coral
Cheers
John