Saturday’s racing features competitive handicaps galore on both the flat and over jumps. Matty Sutcliffe looks to make it two fantastic punting weekends in a row, with four early value selections.
Published: 4.25pm, Wednesday, 8th May (Odds correct at time of publishing)
1:30 Ascot – Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% Handicap (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-90) – Maasai Mara 14/1 0.5pt EW 3 places (More likely available on the day)
If declared, then MAASAI MARA will (hopefully) have no issues starting the race this time after he was left behind at the start at Sandown last month. The gelding son of Roaring Lion has taken to hurdling with aplomb, but rates an interesting contender back on the flat and looks well handicapped on last season’s exploits.
When with the Gosdens, he progressed as a three year old after a gelding operation/equipped with blinkers, winning on handicap debut at Kempton before bumping into a subsequently 96 rated rival, then regained the winning thread here over 1m2f to just get up from Westerton, who’s now rated 14lbs higher. Maasai Mara then finished a solid 4th in the Lester Pigott handicap at Epsom off a 1lb higher and that form has worked out very well, with the 3rd now rated 101, the 2nd rated 103 and the winner rated 107.
If tapping back into that promise, then he would have to improve much beyond to take this 0-90 given the calibre of rival he was up against last spring and looks overpriced at this stage with track/ground to suit.
2:40 Ascot – Victoria Cup (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (4yo+) – Pearle d’Or 10/1 2pt WIN
I wrote this about PEARLE D’OR last season after his 3rd in the Howden Cup:
“A 2lbs rise will surely underestimate the level of improvement David O’Meara will continue to bring out of PEARLE D’OR. It was evident that those who raced on the nearside were favoured in the Howden Handicap, so Pearle D’Or’s effort up the centre can be marked up plenty. He broke away from his far side group and probably got lonely in the closing stages, though still kept on well enough. Punters who supported him can feel somewhat unlucky too, given he was drawn in 9, and stalls 13,11 and 12 had all finished strongly up the nearside. Had Crowley gone left out of the stalls, I’ve no doubt Pearle D’Or would’ve won the race. We might not see him again this season, as O’Meara will surely mind his mark for some of the top handicaps at Ascot next season.”
Pearle d’Or, like many others, had little chance held up in the Newmarket season opener, shaping as if coming on for the run and that should have put him cherry ripe for this contest, particularly given that run came without his usual hood on, which was a clue in itself.
His C&D record reads 213, and given he posted RPR’s of 93,91,94 and 95 in the last four starts of last season, he looks sure to take advantage of his handicap rating of 90 soon enough. The yard had earmarked this race in a recent stable tour and have provisionally jocked up Silvestre De Sousa, who’s have an all time 17% SR (£7.55+) when teaming up together.
3:15 Haydock Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) Castel Gandolfo 66/1 (Paddy Power/Betfair) 0.5pt EW 4 places + N’Golo 50/1 0.5pt EW 4 places
I wrote this about CASTEL GANDOLFO after his promising effort at Cheltenham in October:
“The well backed winner Our Champ will likely take all the plaudits for his seven length route in the opener of Cheltenham’s showcase meeting this year, but he was fairly flattered on the front end having a very easy time of things, and there were some positives to take out of those in behind him. Castel Gandolfo’s three career wins have come in spring, so it’s worth noting whenever he runs above expectations outside of that time of year. He replicated his 4th in this contest last season with another fourth this year recording a 4lbs higher RPR, catching the eye running on strongly from the rear having initially been caught widest of all on the turn. Likely to be dropped a pound or two, he’s one to note for your trackers in order to remember backing him in the spring.”
He’s had a break to avoid the bad winter ground and returned with a rare spin on the flat at Wolverhampton top likely knock the freshness out of him, and he wasn’t entirely disgraced at Cheltenham last month beaten into 6th against some in form sorts with the winner a well backed stablemate.
Those runs should have him spot on now and he’s just 3lbs higher than his win at Kelso last May. He’s finished second twice on his only C&D starts, and the forecast quick ground will be in his favour and he looks to have been seriously mapped out for this contest. The other at a price is N’GOLO, who sprung a surprise in this race in 2022 when readily winning by six lengths. He’s only been seen twice since but showed up well enough for a long way at Kelso in the Morebattle before naturally weakening after his 475-day layoff. Connections have miraculously dropped him 8lbs in two runs and he’s surely been primed for a repeat of this contest, so looks worth a play at insulting odds.
Added: 11.35am, Friday, 10th May (Odds correct at time of publishing)
1:30 Ascot – Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% Handicap (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-90) – Rhythmic Intent 25/1 0.5pt EW 4 places (5 places Hills/Sky)
I backed RHYTHMIC INTENT in this race last season when beaten a length at 16/1 (RPR 97) and while he’s still winless since 2021, he’s 12lbs below that effort and hasn’t been disgraced on the all-weather this winter to suggest he’s not without a chance of rediscovering winning form.
He was too keen and raced wide at Southwell last time out, but the form of his 1 3/4L 3rd there on penultimate start has worked out strongly. The winner (Andaleep) is rated 6lbs higher having placed in his next two starts including in the All-Weather Vase at Lingfield, the second was beaten a length by the 4th Howth next time out, and the 5th (Valsad) had two of them in behind when winning next time out.
Given it’s been a terribly long time in between drinks, there is the question of whether his willingness to win is there but he’s too well handicapped to ignore and he’s drawn well to grab the rail and have an uncomplicated ride under Silvestre De Sousa who’s been in terrific form since returning to these shores.
2:05 Ascot – Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% British EBF Fillies’ Handicap (Class 2) (3yo+ 0-100) – Rose Prick 8/1 1pt WIN
Horses to the fore of the weights have often fared well in this race and if ROSE PRICK can back up her Listed third in the Snowdrop Stakes at Kempton last time out then she must have a chance of going close. Ed Walker does well with his fillies as they age, and he’s also had his string in fine fettle in the last two May’s, with a profit margin of £51.23 to a £1 stake (15-4-5 this month).
The daughter of No Nay Never can let herself down by being keen, but wasn’t disgraced in black type company in a quiet season as a 3yo, posting RPR’s of 94 and 87 latterly showing up well over C&D in the Valiant Stakes, won by stablemate Random Harvest, before weakening after taking a keen grip. She stuck to her task well last time out posting a career best RPR of 98 ahead of two of these, and if that’s blown the cobwebs off then I fancy this well bred sort to progress well this season. The yard have a 22.78% all time strike rate when teaming up with Oisin Murphy and they’re enjoying a fantastic start to the flat campaign with six wins and five places from their last twenty runners (at the time of writing).
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