Hi all,
Ascot kicks off its two day King George meeting with a six-race card. The feature race is the John Guest Racing Handicap (3:35) which has £23,193 on offer to the winner.
Arguably this evening’s York card is the feature meeting where the headline race is The Listed Lyric Fillies’ Stakes (7.15). There are also five intriguing handicaps with the best of them being the Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Handicap (7:50). Sadly, the Class 2 handicap only attracted six runners for a race with £30,000 guaranteed prize money. Thankfully the other four handicaps have got double figure line-ups.
York
5:30 – The early money was for previous C&D winner Challet and you can see why. He’s 2-6, 5 places at York. Granted he didn’t fire on two starts in April, but he’s been freshened up by a 92-day break and he’s become well handicapped (6lb below his last winning mark). Ascot Adventure has yet to win since joining David O’Meara this season, but he’s run well on his last two starts finishing 3rd of 16 here (6f) and when a ½ length 2nd of 7 at Musselburgh 3 days ago. Effective on rain softened ground and provided this doesn’t come to quick should be bang there once more.
6:40 – Little Muddy won two of her first three starts this season and posted a career best when ¾ length 2nd of 16 to one of today’s rivals Roundhay Park over C&D 13 days ago. Nudged up 2lb for that effort demands more from the mare but she should go well on ground that suits. Kats Bob produced a seasonal best when a 1 ¼ length 2nd of 15 at Hamilton last month. Up 2lb and two notches in class but is on his last winning mark and should go well for a yard among the winners.
7:15 – We haven’t seen Electric Eyes since she finished a 2 ¾ length 2nd of 14 to Commissioning in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket last October. A winner on soft ground at Thirsk on her racecourse debut. Underfoot conditions shouldn’t pose a problem for this well regarded filly. Open to further improvement and although her stamina for 1m 2f must be taken on trust I think she’ll stay. The yard’s horses are going well and if she’s ready to roll after her long absence she can make a winning start to her 3-year-old career.
8:20 – Betweenthesticks won twice during a productive juvenile campaign including an all the way success in a C&D nursery last October. He’s gone close on his last two starts at Lingfield and Hamilton 7 days ago. Capable of another bold show with underfoot conditions set to suit. Star of Lady M won four times as a 2-year-old including two successes on soft ground. Made a low key start to the season but was back to form when ¾-length 3rd of 8 at Windsor 25 days ago. Capable of going close if building her last effort.
Rather than go to Ascot I’ve had a look at a competitive 5f handicap at Cork.
Cork
5:57 – Mymomentintime returned from a 9 week absence to finish a length 2nd of 16 at Tipperary 23 days ago. Doing his best work at the finish, the colt is off the same mark here and looks capable of winning off his present mark. Gustavus Weston has become a very well-treated horse and was still travelling well enough when not getting the clearest of run 2f out, before eventually finishing a 6 ½ length 10th of 20 to Strike Red, in the valuable Scurry Handicap at the Curragh last Saturday. Drop back to 5f and has yet to win over the minimum trip (0-7) but he’s well handicapped to ignore dropped in class.
Betting Advice
York
5:30 – Ascot Adventure – 1pt win – 9/1 @ Bet365 & Coral
6:40 – Little Muddy – 1pt win – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
7:15 – Electric Eyes – 1pt win – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
8:20 – Betweenthesticks – 1pt win – 13/2 @ Bet365 & Coral
Cork
5:57 – Mymomentintime – 1pt win – 17/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and Gustavus Weston – 1pt win – 16/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John