Hi all,
Another busy weekend of action starts today. Ascot is back in action again on Saturday with the Victoria Cup (4.05), worth £100,000 in guaranteed prize money the big betting race of the day.
Haydock’s Saturday card is a rare of jump and Flat racing. On the flat you have the Listed Spring Trophy Stakes (3.35) over 7f and 35 minutes earlier you have a very competitive looking Grade 3 Swinton Handicap Hurdle (3.00).
Elsewhere there should be plenty Classic clues on offer. Down at Lingfield the highlights of seven-race card are the Listed Derby (2.40) and Oaks Trials (3.15). Across the Irish Sea there’s also the Group 3 Blue Wind Stakes (3.25) at Naas.
Thankfully the field sizes for today’s big handicaps at Ascot and Haydock have held up well. The best of this afternoon’s action from Ascot, Haydock, and Lingfield can be seen on a nine-race programme on ITV4.
I will begin Saturday’s preview at Ascot. As ever my selection can be found at the end of the main piece.
Ascot
1:45 – Royal Ascot Local Schools Art Competition Handicap (Class 3) – 1m 4f
Flyin’ Solo progressed well in handicaps last season. A lightly raced 5-year-old, just the 9 career starts and looks capable of bit more improvement this season especially when the ground isn’t too soft.
HMS President was beaten just a head over C&D in the Shergar Cup last August, off 1lb higher. Likley needed his seasonal reappearance at Musselburgh. A consistent middle-distance handicapper he seems likely to give his running.
Duke Of Verona was strong at the finish when getting up close home at Wolverhampton last November. Both career wins have come on the synthetics but he ran well on turf last spring so reason why he can’t be just as effective on the grass. Starts the season off on what looks a competitive mark. The first time cheekpieces are an interesting addition and if he’s ready to roll can go well.
3:30 – British EBF Fillies’ Handicap (Class 2) – 1m
Daniel & Claire Kubler had a winner at Chester on Thursday and they have a chance of another here with Don’t Tell Claire. The mare won a similar fillies’ only handicap over C&D (good to firm) last September. The quicker the ground and the stronger the pace the better for her. Now 8lb higher than for her latest win but capable of big run if ready on her first start since October.
4:05 – tote Victoria Cup (Handicap) (Class 2) – 7f
The big betting race of the weekend and with 25 horses set to meet the starter it’s a typically tough puzzle. Plenty in with a chance as you would expect. Magical Morning was beaten a head in a valuable mile handicap at York last August and ended last season with a 2 ½ length 3rd of 20 here in Balmoral Handicap (1m). Drop’s back to 7f is interesting for his seasonal return but he may be better over a mile.
Clive Cox saddled River Nymph to win this 12 months ago. He bids for back-to-back wins in the race but he may need softer ground. A stronger contender for the trainer looks to be Aratus. A winner of his three starts last season all over 7f. He was far too keen when last of three on his reappearance at Leicester. Now 4lb above his last winning mark and is an interesting runner in big field handicap for the first time.
Chiefofchiefs likes Ascot’s straight course with his two best RPR’s coming here. He won the Silver Wokingham (6f) in 2020 and finished a 3-length 7th of 27 in last year’s race. Will strip fitter for his Kempton seasonal return, will be suited by the forecast strong pace but the Charlie Fellowes yard has been quiet over the last couple of weeks which is a concern.
Star Of Orien put in a great effort when a head 2nd of 19 to Danyah in the valuable International Stakes (Handicap) over C&D last July. Not at his best on three subsequent starts last season but is more interesting back over C&D and on a sound surface.
Dark Shift is 3-4 at Ascot, including a C&D success. The 4-year-old makes his seasonal reappearance but won first time up last season. Looks set for a big run for an inform yard.
Fresh’s form figures at Ascot are 2123. He seemed to stay 7f when a 3rd of 16 here last October. Excellent return to action when a short head 2nd of 9 at Kempton 19-days ago. Had Chiefofchiefs 1 ½ lengths back in third last time. Has a valuable handicap in him this season when all the cards fall right.
Alrehb failed by ½ length to land the hat trick when 2nd of 10 to Boardman at Haydock last time. At least he proved he can be just as effective on the grass as the all-weather. Nudged up 1lb for that run but shouldn’t be far away. Gioia Cieca was a length back in 4th in the Haydock. The return to faster ground suited the 4-year-old better than good to soft had done on his seasonal reappearance. Get’s 2lb from Alrehb and looks on a competitive mark.
Lingfield
2:35 – SBK Derby Trial Stakes (Listed Race) (Colts & Geldings) – 1m 3 ½ f
Just the five for this Derby Trial but it’s a fascinating race all the same. After New London’s defeat at Chester Godolphin will be looking for a big run from recent Newbury winners Walk Of Stars and Natural World. The former heads the betting and is a best priced 8/1 for next month Derby. Natural World doesn’t have a Derby entry but the son of Frankel looks to have potential for better after a good racecourse debut success last month. Given how well the Aidan O’Brien runners went at Chester you must respect United Nations. He finished 2 length 4th of 8 in a listed race at Epsom on his seasonal return but could well improve further for the step up in trip. Lionel was a ¾-length 3rd of 12 to Natural World at Newbury last time. There are races to be won with him on the evidence of that run. He has a Derby entry and is an interesting contender. I wouldn’t be surprised if he improved to finish ahead of Natural World here.
3:15 – SBK Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes (Listed Race) – 1m 3 ½ f
A bigger field for the Oaks Trial. Whatever the fate of United Nations in the Derby Trial, I will be disappointed if the Aidan O’Brien trained Emily Dickinson can’t enhance her Oaks claims here. The daughter of Galileo shaped with plenty of promise when 5th of 12 to Above The Curve at Leopardstown and built on that promise with a success in Naas maiden 12-days ago. Today’s 1 ½ furlong longer trip should bring out further improvement in the filly.
Haydock
2:25 – Pertemps Network Long Distance Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) – 3m ½ f
Proschema was in excellent form last spring winning at Cheltenham & Aintree on good ground. The top-weight is back from a 175-day break here. He should stay 3m around here and looks set for a big run.
Honest Vic finished a 7 ½ length 5th of 22 to Third Wind in Pertemps Final at Cheltenham last time. Did best of those who raced prominently that day and won’t be far away if in the same form here.
Panic Attack appreciated the return to good ground and the fitting of the first-time blinkers when staying on to win at Cheltenham last month. Up 4lb and should go well if she gets her ground.
3:00 – Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) – 1m 7 ½ f
The going at Haydock is being described as good to soft but the track was expecting some rain on Friday evening so how much they get could have a big influence on the outcome with several of the leading fancies preferring a sound surface.
Anna Bunina and West Cork were first and second in the Scottish Champion Hurdle last month. The runner-up gets 3lb from the winner today and has a good chance but I think the mare can confirm form with him especially with Mark McDonagh taking off a handy 5lb albeit she wouldn’t want the ground to ease much before post time.
Herbiers was a neck 2nd of 7 at Cheltenham last month. He’s been nudged up 3lb and in deeper race but should go well with forecast strong pace set to suit him.
Cormier a winner at Cheltenham and Kelso wasn’t disgraced on his hat trick bid when a 9 ¼ length 7th of 26 to State Man in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham. He finished runner-up in this race 12 months ago and looks set for another good run.
Milkwood last season’s Scottish Champion Hurdle winner possibly needed the run when an 8-length 5th of 8 to Anna Bunina in this year’s renewal. He likely wasn’t suited by a slowly run race last time either. He’s another who will be suited by a strong pace.
Severance has run wellon his last three starts and posted a career best on RPR’s when 1 length 2nd of 16 at Aintree last month. Previously he ran behind Cormier at Cheltenham and Kelso but there should be much between the pair today. Given the form of the Ben Pauling yard he’s got to be high on the shortlist.
Philip Hobbs saddled War Sound to win this in 2015 and he’s got a chance here with Luttrell Lad. One of the least experienced of the field, having only had the four starts over hurdles, the 6-year-old returned from a 159-day break with a promising 2-length 2nd of 7 in a Chepstow novice hurdle 19-days ago. Handicap Hurdle debut off what looks a workable mark but ideally would want good ground.
Betting Advice:
Ascot
1:45 – 1pt win – Duke Of Verona – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and 1pt win – HMS President – 8/1 @ Bet365
3:30 – 1pt win – Don’t Tell Claire – 8/1 @ Bet365
4:05 – 1pt win – Fresh – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and 1pt win – Dark Shift – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Haydock
2:25 – 1pt win – Honest Vic – 7/1 @ Bet365
3:00 – 1pt win – Severance – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and 1pt win – Luttrell Lad – 8/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John