There is a celebration of the flat from Ascot, as Champions Day takes place on Saturday. Andrew Mount visits the big meeting with his three best bets.
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Posted: 1.12pm, Friday, October 18th
1.20 Ascot – ALSAKIB (0.5pt ew – 66-1 bet365, William Hill)
ALSAKIB’s three runs on slow ground (according to Proform’s going allowance) has resulted in two wins and a 12-1 third of 15 to Royal Rhyme over an inadequate 1m2f at Goodwood. Andrew Balding’s four-year-old also likes Ascot, scoring by three lengths in a 1m4f handicap last September and keeping on well into fourth when going down by just over two lengths in the 1m6f Copper Horse Handicap at this year’s Royal Ascot. He had mud-lover Al Qareem back in second place when scoring over 1m6f on good to soft going at York on his penultimate start and it was the patient tactics rather than the trip that contributed to his defeat (11-length seventh) over 2m at the same venue next time. The patiently-ridden runner-up and sixth both won next time and he’s worth chancing to small each-way stakes at a huge price.
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1.55 Ascot – JAMES’S DELIGHT (2pt win – 14-1 William Hill, 12-1 generally)
The Clive Cox-trained JAMES’S DELIGHT has form figures over this 6f trip on officially good to soft or softer going of 11112 (4-5), with the sole defeat by a short neck at Deauville last time when the going (officially ‘very soft’) was much quicker than advertised. The three-year-gelding doesn’t need to improve massively on the clock to take a hand in the finish of this Group 1 contest and looks well drawn in stall 7 of 20. The booking of Ryan Moore is another positive and he looks overpriced.
3.55 Ascot – ROYAL RYHME (0.5pt ew – 50-1 generally)
ROYAL RHYME has form figures on officially good to soft or softer going of 111151 (5-6), with the sole defeat by just over five lengths when 16-1 for this race last year. He failed to settle in the early stages that day and ended up doing too much too soon, setting the race up for the closers. The pace scenario looks very different this year and there’s a chance he could be in receipt of an easy lead. He’s improved 3lb on official ratings since last year’s run and he hasn’t had his ground on his last four starts, including when only three lengths behind Economics in the Irish Champion Stakes.
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets
1.20 Ascot – ALSAKIB (0.5pt ew – 66-1 bet365, William Hill)
1.55 Ascot – JAMES’S DELIGHT (2pt win – 14-1 William Hill, 12-1 generally)
3.55 Ascot – ROYAL RYHME (0.5pt ew – 50-1 generally)
Alsakib
Jamess DelightAndrew Mount’s tips for Saturday, 19th October 2024.
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