Hi all,
Rathbone suffered the fate of all good each way bets in finishing 4th at Chelmsford yesterday evening.
It’s Friday and the weekend starts here. There’s a decent card at Ascot which part is day one of a two-day meeting at the Berkshire track.
The highlight of the weekend though is Haydock’s Betfair Chase Day. In addition to the Grade 1 feature race there is an excellent supporting card with Betfair Stayers Handicap Hurdle the standout of four competitive looking handicaps that have attracted good field sizes.
Onto today’s action. It’s soft, good to soft in places at Ascot. There’s a possibility of some rain on Friday morning which should keep the going soft.
The four handicaps that close the card are the ones that interest me most.
Ascot
2:05 – Coral Handicap Chase (Class 2) – 2m 5f
Red Risk heads the overnight betting. The 5-year-old looked useful recruit to the Paul Nicholls yard when winning easily winning a Ludlow handicap chase (soft) in February. Looked a bit rusty when 3rd of 10 at Market Rasen on his return to action last month. Today’s easier should better than last time and he’s got solid claims.
Espoir De Guye looked a handicap chaser on the up last season. Runner-up to Simply The Betts on his chase debut before winning back to back handicap chases at Exeter and here (2m 3f) last December. Ran poorly when pulled up at the Cheltenham Festival (8/1) in a race won by Imperial Aura. Has had a wind-op since that run and hopefully he can get back into the groove today. The softer the ground the better his chance.
1pt win – Espoir De Guye – 100/30 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
2:40 – Coral ‘Fail To Finish’ Free Bet Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) – 1m 7 ½ f
Nicky Henderson has saddled the winner of this race three times in the last 10-years and he has likely short priced favourite Buzz. A winner of his first two starts over hurdles last season before disappointing in a Grade 2 at Kempton. Showed that running was all wrong when finishing 3rd of 12 in the Welsh Champion Hurdle on his handicap hurdle debut last month, a neck behind Ballyandy.
Ecco who finished a well beaten 8th in the same race, was sent off the 9/2 favourite is next in the betting. It’s hard to see him beating the favourite on that running but he did win twice last year, including C&D, and may be better going right-handed. Gets’ the first time cheekpieces today which should help him concentrate better. If you forgive his last run, he looks on a winnable mark.
The 9-year-old Eddiemaurice has won twice at the course in the past, including this race in 2016. He will be sharper for a recent spin on the flat and must be respected on a track that suits.
Kloud Gate was progressive handicap hurdler two seasons back winning twice before finishing lame when favourite for the valuable Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton in January 2019. Not seen out since and has a 678-day absence to overcome today. Probably on a good handicap mark if he retained his old ability.
Rosie And Millie looked useful in mare’s novice hurdles last season winning at Ayr before finishing runner-up in a Listed race at Haydock. Returned from a wind-op to finish a promising 4th in a Listed race at Wetherby last month, the third won a handicap hurdle at Fakenham this week. Improvement can be expected and she could get into the money on her handicap debut.
3:15 – Watch Racing Free Online At Coral Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 3m
Wandrin Star goes well fresh and has won first time up in the past two seasons. Found plenty for pressure when winning at Wincanton, off 2lb lower last October. That win came over an extended 3m 2f but he’s just as effective over 3m provided they go an even gallop. First run since a wind-op could be the time to catch the 9-year-old.
Didero Vallis won twice over fences in this class two seasons back before seeming to struggle in a higher-grade company. Two low key runs early last season before bouncing back to form when runner-up to Top Ville Ben in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby in December. Goes well on soft ground and looks competitive off a mark of 132 if ready to roll first time.
Townshend won a C&D handicap chase on heavy in January and will appreciate today’s drop-in class after a poor run here behind Regal Encore 20-days ago.
Favorito Bucks won this race in 2018 off 1lb higher but it was good ground that day and the 8-year-old’s best form has come on a sound surface.
Pure Vision is a fascinating contender on his first run since a wind-op. The 9-year-old returns from a mammoth 734-day absence but is potentially on a good handicap mark for his return to action. Trainer Anthony Honeyball has a good recent record with his chasers returning from a 181+ day layoff with 11 winners from 31 runners 36% +37.53 13 placed 42%.
Onefortheroadtom in the same colours as Pure Vision finally got off the mark over fences at the 11th attempt when winning at Fakenham back in March. Seasonal return but has gone well fresh in the past. He’s got plenty of ability and is only 4lb higher than for his last success.
1pt win – Didero Vallis – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Onefortheroadtom – 6/1 – Gen
3:45 – Coral Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (Class 4) – 2m 7 ½ f
Apple Rock won on his seasonal return at Carlisle (soft) two starts back but failed to give his running when beaten favourite (5/6) at Wetherby last time. Today’s stiffer stamina test should suit the 6-year-old better.
Tide Times has shown ability in maiden company putting up a career best on RPR’s when 3rd of 15 at Chepstow 24-days ago. Handicap hurdle debut and races like he can improve for the step up 3m.
Certainly Red is a maiden after seven starts over hurdles but has placed on three of his last four starts. Solid third at Lingfield last month off an unchanged mark. No problem with trip/ground and the 6-year-old who wouldn’t be winning out of turn.
1pt win – Certainly Red – 11/2 – Gen
1pt win – Tide Times – 6/1 – Gen
Cheers
John