Ascot Saturday Tips and Preview by Dave Stevos
Ascot Saturday Preview of Live ITV4 Races
We finally ended our losing run on Day 2 of the International Meeting at Cheltenham last weekend. Redford Road’s stamina told in the 24f Grade 2 and he won well, despite drifting all the way out to 14/1. Knocknanuss fell when still going well enough and unfortunately he didn’t survive. Monsieur Lecoq was given a poor ride by Lizzie Kelly and he is back in action again at Ascot. Mega Yeats paid the price for setting a suicidal pace in the finale and faded out of it. The live ITV4 action comes from Ascot on Saturday where the Long Walk Hurdle is the feature. Check out Dave Stevos’ Ascot Saturday tips and preview below…
Ascot Saturday Tips: 1.50pm Handicap Chase (Class 2)
The first live race on ITV4 this Saturday from Ascot is this 13 runner 19f handicap chase. The ground is going to be very testing so an ability to handle heavy conditions will be vital. Of those near the top of the market, Golden Whisky looks extremely interesting carrying just 10st 7lbs. He won very nicely on heavy ground last time at Ffos Las and is only 6lb higher here. He is a full brother to the useful handicapper Topofthegame and he could be very dangerous at odds of 8/1.
One that could go well at a bigger price is Got Away for Leighton Aspell and Oliver Sherwood. This daughter of American Post has winning form on heavy in France and this is near her optimum trip. Her last win came on good ground but she has won on soft in the UK too, a Listed chase at Leicester. She runs off a mark of 135 here, 2lb lower than when going down by a neck to Mister Whitaker at Cheltenham in April. She should strip fitter after her reappearance run at Newbury and Sherwood has had 3 winners from his last 11 runners. At odds of 16/1 Got Away is the e/w pick.
ASCOT SATURDAY TIPS: GOT AWAY E/W @ 16/1 (4 PLACES) NB
Ascot Saturday TIPS: 2.25pm – Long Walk Hurdle (Grade 1)
The blue riband race at Ascot on Saturday is the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle. A field of 6 contenders will go to post for this 3 mile heat and Paisley Park is the favourite. This superb stayer prevailed by a length at Newbury on his comeback and extended his unbeaten run to six. However, all his best runs have come on ground ranging from good to soft and heavy is a complete unknown for him. He is undoubtedly the best horse in the race but odds of 1/4 do not appeal and on the forecast ground he could be worth taking on.
The booking of Davy Russell catches the eye on Agrapart and he was sent off at just 7/1 for this last season. However, he has failed to fire since winning on the flat here back in May. Agrapart will relish the ground though and if he is in the mood he could surprise with a bold show. Papagana is a rapidly improving 6yo who has also won on heavy. This daughter of Martaline hosed up in a pair of Listed heats on her last two starts. She was particularly impressive last time, giving Culture De Sivola 2lb and a 9L beating (24f gd/sft). It will be fascinating to see how she performs at this level and a small each way interest is advised at 25/1.
ASCOT SATURDAY TIPS: PAPAGANA E/W @ 25/1
Ascot Saturday Tips: 3.00pm – Handicap Chase (Listed)
10 will line up behind the tapes for this 24f contest and it will be a proper slog on the heavy ground. Black Corton has to carry top weight off 161 and it won’t be easy for him. The one I like in this contest off a mark of 147 is Acting Lass. Don’t be fooled by the name as this horse is an 8yo gelding by King’s Theatre. He only ran once last season (pulled up) but he looked back to his solid Novice form when winning at Chepstow last time (23.5f sft).
Harry Fry’s charge enjoys getting his toe in and while he has yet to encounter heavy his form figures on soft read 124111. His dam won on heavy ground so hopefully he handles it well. Harry Fry has booked Sean Bowen for the ride and he has an excellent record for the yard. Bowen has 14 winners and 42 top 4 finishes from just 97 rides for Fry. Harry Fry also has a fine strike rate at Ascot with 19 winners and 20 places from 71 runners. Acting Lass could enhance that record here and at 9/1 he is the each way NAP of the day.
ASCOT SATURDAY TIPS: ACTING LASS E/W @ 9/1 NAP
Ascot Preview: 3.35pm – Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
The final live race of the day on ITV4 at Ascot is a 16f handicap hurdle. Our old pal Monsieur Lecoq makes a quick reappearance after his good run at Cheltenham last weekend. He is 5lb higher than when beat a neck in a competitive handicap hurdle at the same track, but Chester William’s 5lb claim offsets 2 of those pounds. He has had two rides on this fella in the past and he is yet to finish out of the first two. The promising claimer won on him at Ffos Las and was runner up at Sandown.
Monsieur Lecoq has won on heavy ground but his welter burden here has to be a worry. He could easily win this but the one I like off a nice low racing weight is Sir Valentine. This fella was decent on the level and has only had three runs over timber. He fell first time out but made amends with a stylish win at Newbury (16f gd/sft). He got to within 8L of Ribble Valley off level weights in another Novice last time (16f sft) and that horse has since been placed in a Grade 2.
Sir Valentine also lost a shoe that day so it was a fine effort. He makes his handicap debut off 130 which should be workable. While he is unraced on heavy he handled soft pretty well last time and his pedigree suggests it might suit him. His dam is by Black Sam Bellamy while his sire Cacique has produced a few decent soft ground horses too. He perhaps lacks the experience of some of his rivals but he is unexposed and if he handles the ground he could reward e/w support at 14/1.
