Hi all,
First selections since Sunday for the service, the races haven’t excited me quality wise and there just hasn’t been anything worth backing at the odds I’m looking at.
The unseasonably dry weather has been taking its toll on field sizes in England this week and continues at Ascot on Friday with just 44 runners on the seven-race card. It’s not much better for Ascot on Saturday either with just 48 runners over seven races. At least Saturday’s Betfair Chase Day card at Haydock has seen 62 runners declared over a seven-race card.
The ground at Ascot today is good, good to soft in places, unusually for this time of the year the ground in the south is drying out as it has at Ascot. I have had a look at four of the races on the Ascot card and have a few selections from the Berkshire track for you.
Ascot
2:05 – Events At Ascot Handicap Chase (Class 2) – 2m 5f
At least we have eight runners here for this handicap chase. Smarty Wild finished 3rd of 12 here (heavy) last December. The 7-year-old returned from an 8-month absence with a promising 5 length 5th of 11 to Dublin Four in similar race at Newbury 15-days ago. He’s on mark that’s a winnable one but does need to cut out the mistakes. If he, can he won’t be far away.
Pink Legend returns for the first time since winning a Listed Mares’ handicap chase at Cheltenham in April. It was good ground at Cheltenham and the 7-year-old seemed to appreciate the application pf the first time cheekpieces that day. She’s just 2lb higher and should go well.
1pt win – Pink Legend – 9/1 @ Bet365 or 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
2:40 – Garden For All Seasons Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) – 1m 7 ½ f
Nine go to post for this handicap hurdle and you can make a solid case for four of them
Captain Morgs won a novice hurdle over C&D last October. Back from a 6-month absence with a 5 ¼ lengths 3rd of 12 Cheltenham on his handicap hurdle debut last month. Could be capable of better here.
Leoncavallo has returned to action in good form when 3rd of 12 in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las before finishing a 2 ½ lengths 2nd of 14 to Soaring Glory in Listed Handicap Hurdle over C&D 20-days ago. The 9-year-old is up 1lb for his latest effort but can win off this sort of mark.
Highway One O Two won a Grade 2 Novice Hurdle at Kempton in February 2020, his last success. The 6-year-old struggled last season but built on his seasonal reappearance at Chepstow when a 7 ¾ length 5th of 14 to Soaring Glory at Ascot last time. He get’s 3lb from Leoncavallo here and is entitled to get closer to that one here.
Method Madness must be respected on his handicap hurdle. The 6-year-old 1-3 over the smaller obstacles (Ludlow) last season. Finished 2nd of 10 on his final start of last season at Ffos Las in April. Should be fit enough on his seasonal return, won off 159-day absence in February, and a mark of 112 looks interesting although he needs to less keen than he was on his last two starts.
1pt win – Method Madness – 10/1 @ Bet365 or 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:15 – Not Forgotten Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 3m
Kapga De Lily had a good season over fences last season and showed she can run well away from the mud when a 1 length 2nd of 8 at Haydock on good ground. Seasonal return over 3m and should go well if ready to roll, did win first time up last season, on her seasonal reappearance.
1pt win – Kapga De Lily – 9/2 @ Bet365
3:50 – Royal Ascot Racing Club Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 4) – 2m 5 ½ f
Hidden Depths has won his last two starts at Hereford. Has a 7lb penalty to carry for his last success 10-days ago and should go well again provided this race doesn’t get too tactical.
Getalead is another seeking the hat trick and found plenty for pressure when winning at Warwick just 2-days ago. Both wins have come on good ground and he can race off the same mark. The one to beat, if turning out so quickly but could have had a hard race last time.
Cheers
John
Hi all,
First selections since Sunday for the service, the races haven’t excited me quality wise and there just hasn’t been anything worth backing at the odds I’m looking at.
The unseasonably dry weather has been taking its toll on field sizes in England this week and continues at Ascot on Friday with just 44 runners on the seven-race card. It’s not much better for Ascot on Saturday either with just 48 runners over seven races. At least Saturday’s Betfair Chase Day card at Haydock has seen 62 runners declared over a seven-race card.
The ground at Ascot today is good, good to soft in places, unusually for this time of the year the ground in the south is drying out as it has at Ascot. I have had a look at four of the races on the Ascot card and have a few selections from the Berkshire track for you.
Ascot
2:05 – Events At Ascot Handicap Chase (Class 2) – 2m 5f
At least we have eight runners here for this handicap chase. Smarty Wild finished 3rd of 12 here (heavy) last December. The 7-year-old returned from an 8-month absence with a promising 5 length 5th of 11 to Dublin Four in similar race at Newbury 15-days ago. He’s on mark that’s a winnable one but does need to cut out the mistakes. If he, can he won’t be far away.
Pink Legend returns for the first time since winning a Listed Mares’ handicap chase at Cheltenham in April. It was good ground at Cheltenham and the 7-year-old seemed to appreciate the application pf the first time cheekpieces that day. She’s just 2lb higher and should go well.
1pt win – Pink Legend – 9/1 @ Bet365 or 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
2:40 – Garden For All Seasons Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) – 1m 7 ½ f
Nine go to post for this handicap hurdle and you can make a solid case for four of them
Captain Morgs won a novice hurdle over C&D last October. Back from a 6-month absence with a 5 ¼ lengths 3rd of 12 Cheltenham on his handicap hurdle debut last month. Could be capable of better here.
Leoncavallo has returned to action in good form when 3rd of 12 in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las before finishing a 2 ½ lengths 2nd of 14 to Soaring Glory in Listed Handicap Hurdle over C&D 20-days ago. The 9-year-old is up 1lb for his latest effort but can win off this sort of mark.
Highway One O Two won a Grade 2 Novice Hurdle at Kempton in February 2020, his last success. The 6-year-old struggled last season but built on his seasonal reappearance at Chepstow when a 7 ¾ length 5th of 14 to Soaring Glory at Ascot last time. He get’s 3lb from Leoncavallo here and is entitled to get closer to that one here.
Method Madness must be respected on his handicap hurdle. The 6-year-old 1-3 over the smaller obstacles (Ludlow) last season. Finished 2nd of 10 on his final start of last season at Ffos Las in April. Should be fit enough on his seasonal return, won off 159-day absence in February, and a mark of 112 looks interesting although he needs to less keen than he was on his last two starts.
1pt win – Method Madness – 10/1 @ Bet365 or 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:15 – Not Forgotten Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 3m
Kapga De Lily had a good season over fences last season and showed she can run well away from the mud when a 1 length 2nd of 8 at Haydock on good ground. Seasonal return over 3m and should go well if ready to roll, did win first time up last season, on her seasonal reappearance.
1pt win – Kapga De Lily – 9/2 @ Bet365
3:50 – Royal Ascot Racing Club Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 4) – 2m 5 ½ f
Hidden Depths has won his last two starts at Hereford. Has a 7lb penalty to carry for his last success 10-days ago and should go well again provided this race doesn’t get too tactical.
Getalead is another seeking the hat trick and found plenty for pressure when winning at Warwick just 2-days ago. Both wins have come on good ground and he can race off the same mark. The one to beat, if turning out so quickly but could have had a hard race last time.
Cheers
John