Friday, March 31, 2017

Suasive suggestions for Ascot's Sunday card?

Somebody I know is going to Ascot on Sunday and, strange as it may seem, they've asked me to mark their card.

It does happen very, very occasionally.

I can't deny that initial satisfaction, that warm, comforting glow that runs through the veins when contact is made and the request proposed but any sense of self-indulgent pride is quickly swept away when I recall that I've never actually received a repeat request - from any friend, acquaintance or racegoer. For some peculiar reason, it always seems that once is more than enough.

Bearing all that in mind, here's where I am with Ascot's final jumps card of the season; the official going is currently described as good.

2.00 ROA/Racing Post Owners Jackpot Maiden Hurdle
Venetia Williams' Burrows Park brings some respectable-looking form to the table, having been beaten a length by River Frost at Plumpton in November and then finishing third behind Chalonnial at Bangor just before Christmas; the former was ninth in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham a fortnight ago while the latter ran third behind Finian's Oscar in the Tolworth at Sandown. Burrows didn't jump well the last day at Fontwell and was pulled up but has been given time to recover; on his racecourse debut he won on good ground in France over ten and a half furlongs.

2.30 Mitie Events & Leisure Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
Weekender readers, myself included, were waiting for Alan King's Dino Velvet, eighth of 22 in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham, to show up for this but he's missing (as was stablemate Hidden Cargo in the opener) so Fred Winter form is represented by Nicky Henderson's pair Domperignon Du Lys (eleventh) and Percy Street (sixth) along with the Paul Nicholls trained Dolos (thirteenth).

Since Cheltenham the handicapper has left the Henderson pair alone but has dropped Dolos two pounds and jock Stan Sheppard can claim another five. Of the others So Celebre and Gregarious are respected; the former appeared to have improved at Huntingdon last time and there could be more to come while the latter beat Deauville Crystal who has subsequently won twice.

On RPRs this contest is between the top two. Coming to two out Dolos was third in the Fred Winter but patently failed to come up the hill. You'd imagine the stiff finish at Ascot could pose a similar problem but the trip here is a full furlong shorter than at Cheltenham and the vibes for the Nicholls horse were strong before the Festival. With the weight concessions, Dolos is preferred.

3.05 Geotech Soil Stabilisation Novices' Chase
There looks to be plenty of pace here with Casse Tete, Present Man and Value At Risk (sporting first time cheekpieces) all keen to get on with it. Dark Flame was disappointing last time but has good form behind Poker School around here while Philip Hobbs wanted to get Brother Tedd in the novice handicap chase on the first day at Cheltenham as the horse's chase rating is some 16lbs lower than his hurdle rating... In which case all he has to do is jump round to win? Ascot's fences are stiff enough - on balance I prefer previous course and distance winner Present Man.

3.40 Ascot United FC Novices' Handicap Chase
A few inter-linked form lines here... Champagne At Tara was beaten a neck by Red Devil Star over course and distance in December and has since beaten Un Prophete a head at Leicester. Red Devil Star was beaten over eight lengths by Imperial Presence a week ago while Clic Work didn't jump well at Kempton last time out. On good ground San Benedeto may just be good enough to give the weight away.

4.15 grandnational2017.com Veterans' Handicap Chase
Further work required but I like No Duffer who will appreciate better ground and has won going right-handed at both Perth and Sandown.

4.50 Iron Stand Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
It's good to see Puffin Billy return to action after 711 days on the sidelines. Le Reve hasn't had quite as long away from the track but may need the run while Billy No Name ran a bit of stinker carrying my money last time out. Ultimately Dell' Arca has been disappointing considering he won the 2013 Greatwood Hurdle and Westerndorf didn't appear to stay this trip. Back in November Ben Pauling told Weekender readers he thought Expedite was 'very well handicapped' with a rating of 114. Expedite has since had a couple of mishaps over the larger obstacles but his latest effort - fourth over hurdles off a mark of 125, beaten six lengths by River Frost (ninth in the Coral Cup) - reads well. He's a tentative selection in an open event.

Finally a word for one of my favourite horses, Reve De Sivola, who tragically collapsed and died at Kelso last week. The horse did me (and this blog) a few favours over the years, particularly in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, winning three consecutive renewals between 2012 and 2014.

Fittingly, Ascot will name this year's renewal the JLT Reve De Sivola Long Walk Hurdle.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

It can be onerous providing tips for non-racing folk having a day at the races. Their expectations are high that you can deliver a few winners and make the day profitable but we know that you need to play the long game when punting!

In an effort to allow you to share any blame that may come from not providing a winner let them know that one of the readers of your blog has suggested that Gregarious at 13/2 might be worth a small wager. The form of his 2 Sandown wins has a nice feel to it, particularly when beating Deauville Crystal who has gone on to win readily off a mark of 121 making the selections 116 mark look very attractive. The concern is that the ground might be a bit fast but other than that he could run a big race at nice odds.

Good luck!

TW

GeeDee said...

Thanks for that, TW. Your concern about the ground proved spot-on with Gregarious being taken out. One to keep an eye on going forward; my first impression is that looks a decent performance by So Celebre.

A couple of winners (Present Man 15/8, San Benedeto 11/4) and Expedite (8/1) making a place in third will hopefully keep the complaints in some sort of check.. ;)

I received an unconfirmed report that Loose Chips was backed at 12/1; "I liked the name."
;)
PG