Ascot plays host to a fantastic card on Saturday, which includes two Group 3’s, a couple of Listed races, plus the Howden Challenge Cup Handicap.
Tote are guaranteeing a huge £150,000 in the Placepot for it, so our editor has given his selections in an attempt to land the big prize pot.
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Leg 1: 1.50pm
Leg 1 Selections: (1) Chipstead
First up I’m keen to side with CHIPSTEAD, who looks to have the ground in his favour and his record over this trip makes for good reading. In 8 races over 5f, he has won five of them, with his last effort over this trip an admirable fourth in the Shergar Cup Dash when giving weight to all his rivals. He did finish 4l behind Nymphadora at York back in July, but he’s now 3lb better off with that rival, and with the application of first-time cheekpieces, I’m hoping he can reverse that form.
Leg 2: 2.25pm
Leg 2 Selections: (2) Al Aasy
The most confident pick on the Ascot card for me has to be AL AASY, who should prove far too good for his rivals in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes. He looks back to his best this season and was unfortunate not to reel in Adelaide River last time out in the Paddy Power Stakes, where throughout the card it paid to be up with the pace. His last race at Ascot saw him win over this trip comfortably and I just think he’s much better than anything else in the race.
The chief danger looks to be Israr but he doesn’t have the same level of form as Al Aasy, and he also has to give 2lb to that rival too, so I can’t see him getting the better of the William Haggas runner. I think Al Aasy is NAP material, particularly on the Ascot card anyway!
Leg 3: 3.00pm
Leg 3 Selections: (1) Commanche Falls (2) Garrus
It was a huge run last year from COMMANCHE FALLS, who was the only one of the first six home to have been ridden prominently, and I think he looks the pick of the bunch this year. He arrives in excellent form having won three of his last four races, and this looks a good opportunity to go one or two places better than his third-placed effort last season.
As much as I like Commanche Falls, I will add in an extra selection to play it safe. Charles Hills’ GARRUS beat Commanche Falls earlier this season and has since put in a couple of good efforts in better races. The drop back into Group 3 company can help and he’s capable of making his presence felt too.
Leg 4: 3.35pm
Leg 4 Selections: (18) Hickory (6) Bless Him
This looks extremely open and you could easily make a case for almost every single runner, but I’ve narrowed it down to two. First up is James Fanshawe’s HICKORY, who has plenty of recent form with these rivals, including a close 2nd behind Baradar and a third-placed finish behind Quinault and Popmaster last time out. He’s now better off at the weights with all of those rivals and I fancy him to reverse the form.
The other I have to side with is the old boy in the field, BLESS HIM, who could easily spring a surprise here. He was only five lengths behind Quinault in the Bet365 Handicap last month, despite having to be switched out after having his path blocked, and with a clearer route here he could easily reverse that form on much better terms.
Leg 5: 4.10pm
Leg 5 Selections: (8) Nigiri
Ralph Beckett has won two of the last five renewals of this and he looks to have another excellent chance this year with NIGIRI. She arrives here in excellent form, having won three of her last four, with her only defeat coming last time out when runner-up in Group 3 company. She drops back to Listed level here and if she can replicate her impressive display at York, she could prove tough to beat. I certainly can’t see her finishing out of the top three anyway, and that’s all she needs to do for us here!
Leg 6: 4.45PM
Leg 6 Selections: (14) Woolhampton (6) Dream Composer
This is another open looking race so I’m going to be siding with two again. First up is WOOLHAMPTON, who has placed in her last two races, including when third here behind Call Me Ginger last month. She’s now 3lb better off with that rival this time around and I feel that could be enough to reverse that form. Prior to that effort she had won on her other visit to Ascot, and I think she could prove tough to beat off of effectively bottom-weight, when you factor in her jockey’s 7lb claim.
The other I want to add in is last year’s winner DREAM COMPOSER, who has dropped down to his lowest rating in almost six months. It’s not like he’s put in some poor efforts either, especially on better ground – this year his record over 5f on good or better ground reads 313. The most recent one of those came at Ascot in the Shergar Cup Dash, where he finished third despite being hampered at the start from a bad draw. I fully expect him to be thereabouts at the finish and couldn’t not include him in the placepot.
Suggested Placepot
Leg 1 Selections: (1) Chipstead
Leg 2 Selections: (2) Al Aasy
Leg 3 Selections: (1) Commanche Falls (2) Garrus
Leg 4 Selections: (18) Hickory (6) Bless Him
Leg 5 Selections: (8) Nigiri
Leg 6 Selections: (14) Woolhampton (6) Dream Composer
8 Lines x £1 = £8
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