Ascot host a jumps card full of hugely competitive handicaps and Graded contests on Saturday. GG tipster Joe Napier has looked through the card and come up with three best bets for you to follow.
2.05 Ascot – Windsor Horse Rangers Berkshire National Handicap Chase
He has a tendency to make a few jumping errors but ASPUROFTHEMOMENT has tended to bely those and continue improving since joining Gavin Cromwell, who had a welcome winner on the flat at Dundalk on Wednesday which may produce a turning of the tide in terms of his stable’s form.
His six-year-old here has run well throughout the summer, but despite racing in the drier months, he has regularly acquainted himself with softer ground, winning on his stable debut on soft-to-heavy over hurdles in January and winning a Galway Festival handicap over 2m2f in August on soft too. He has since finished third in the Munster National with soft in the going description upped to 3m for the first time over fences.
He made a few jumping mistakes that day, but was still in there pitching at the final fence and the 6lb “tax” on his mark for racing in Britain here does not look overly harsh. He has seen out 3m very well over hurdles in the past too, so the step up to marathon distances looks a very plausible positive.
2.40 Ascot – Ladbrokes Ascot Hurdle (Grade 2)
Without a blip in her copybook just yet, WODHOOH can be confidently fancied to extend her almost exemplary record in this Grade 2 despite a decent turnout from the home side. Gordon Elliott’s mare twice won fresh last season, so there is little reason to expect she will be at anything but 100% here.
Wodhooh won a hugely competitive mares’ handicap at Cheltenham to begin last term, with subsequent easy William Hill Hurdle scorer Joyeuse in behind and she showed she can beat the boys when strolling home in the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival too. A Grade 1 appearance had to follow, as she gave Lossiemouth more to think about than most before her when going down by a little under three lengths in the Aintree Hurdle.
She reached a serious level of form that day and even considering she has eight rivals, among whom there are some potential springers in terms of form, any price of odds against looks worth snapping up. At just five years old, there could easily be more improvement to come too.
3.15 Ascot – Castello Banfi Hurst Park Handicap Chase
Almost always ready to roll after a break and back in calmer waters than Graded company, BOOTHILL may be able to stamp his class on this field even at the age of ten.
Harry Fry’s charge won this in 2023 off a 2lb lower mark, having also won the Byrne Group Handicap Chase over the same course and distance previously. Overall he is three from four over track and trip, only losing his unbeaten record when last of four in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase to Jonbon in January, but that was no disgrace in such a hot race.
Given his time off since and down to a mark in the 150s, he has a realistic chance of returning to the winners’ enclosure. It is only 18 months since he was a highly competitive fourth at the highest level at Sandown and there should be enough life left in his career to claim a race of this nature before the sun sets.
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