This weekend the Tote are guaranteeing £250,000 in the Placepot at Ascot. GG Editor Rob Plumbridge makes his suggestions on how to scoop some of the big prize tomorrow.
Leg 1: 1.20pm
Selections: (1) Attacia (3) Hermino AA
Looking to start strong in leg 1 and ATTACIA is in brilliant heart at the moment having won two on the bounce. He sets a high standard in this and immediately goes in our Placepot.
Gary Moore is having a time with his Novice Hurdlers this year. HERMINO AA is another promising sort who can back up our other pick in this having got off the mark by 8 lengths in a maiden last time.
Leg 2: 1.50pm
Selections: (1) Bold Endeavour
A bit of a conundrum as we only get one place here in the Pot because of 4 runners. That means we need to find the winner. Here you could play two selections, but I’m opting to be brave as BOLD ENDEAVOUR is clear at the ratings and should make it a hat-trick of wins.Kinondu Kerry is the danger but needs to improve plenty to beat the the in-form selection. The same can be said for the other two. A single line in this leg leaves us some room later on when we may need it.
Leg 3: 2.25
Selections: (4) Phoenix Way (6) Danny Kirwan
Plenty with some question marks on them but PHOENIX WAY is a consistent sort who seems to enjoy himself at Ascot having come 2nd and 1st in his couple of outings here. He’s down to his last winning mark which was in a similar event here. He’s the first in of two selections here.
DANNY KIRWAN also likes the course where he’s run some of his better races. You have to catch him right, but he’s placed twice at 3 miles and one of those was last time at this course. He can fill one of the three places if on song.
Leg 4: 3.00
Selections (7) Irish Hill (5) Djelo
IRISH HILL has to fill a spot here. He’s been in superb form for Paul Nicholls with recent form of 1-2211 and is a horse firmly on the up. He’s set to go well again of a low weight and more is expected.
DJELO is lightly raced and there looks to be more to come. He was third last time over 2 miles and looked screaming out for a longer trip. This should be just the tonic and he looks a great play here to at least make the top three.
Leg 5: 3.35pm
Selections: (2) Fakir D’oudaries (4) Millers Bank
This is tough. There’s question marks over all of these one way or another. I think FAKIR D’OUDAIRIES has to go in as he is the most solid option, despite falling last time. Shishkin could win this on the bridle but for the Placepot he’s too risky at present.
Therefore, I’ve gone for two in a five runner race here. I’m chancing MILLER’S BANK too who could well be staying on best of the rest and he can finish in the top two if some of the protagonists fail to deliver.
Leg 6: 4.10pm
Selections: (6) Apple Rock (1) Itso Fury
I’m a huge APPLE ROCK fan. She has a huge heart and great attitude. She’s massively on the upgrade this season and while she may need a career best, she’s doing everything right and will be staying on late in the day to at least grab a place.
I’ll also take ITSO FURY as a safety net in this who is ultra consistent and hopefully these two can get us over the line!
SUGGESTED BET
32 Line Placepot: 50p a line = £16