Ascot and Navan Friday Tips by Dave Stevos
Ascot and Navan Friday Tips: All Live ITV Races
It was a mixed day last Saturday and we had to make do with a solitary winner at Cheltenham. Make Good surged clear up the hill and he looks an exciting prospect for John McConnell. Militarian ran better than his finishing position suggests. His jumping was just a bit sticky at times. The ground was softer than I anticipated at Doncaster and that didn’t suit House Island or Glorious Zoff. Call Me Lord ran a decent race but faded late, and the same can be said for The Bay Birch. The Long Walk Hurdle is the big race this weekend, check out Dave Stevos’ Ascot and Navan Friday tips below…
Ascot Friday: 1.20pm – Maiden Hurdle (Class 3)
Friday at Ascot is a day of small fields and only 5 are due to run in this 21.5f maiden hurdle. Everglow proved no match for the exciting Star Gate last time. He finished 6.5L behind Evan Williams’ charge and the bookies make him favourite to break his duck over hurdles today.
Dual point to point winner Nickelsonthedime represents Kayley Woollacott and Joshua Newman takes off 7lb. This son of Shantou is the only horse with an official rating (122) and he has run to roughly the same level on all three rules starts. He was 3rd on soft ground last time and his two P2P wins came in similar conditions so he should be fine on today’s ground.
However, the one I am going to chance at bigger odds is In The Detail for Paul Webber and Rex Dingle. This son of Milan is of interest on the form of his second and final P2P start (24f sf/hvy). He was 3.5L behind Valleres that day in 3rd. Valleres went on to chase home Star Gate at Sandown in a G2 last time (8.5L behind).
In The Detail made a low key rules debut behind Bear Ghylls at Lingfield (19f sft) when the run was likely needed. He showed more last time upped to 25f on good ground, beat 14L in 4th in a Huntingdon maiden. The return to softer ground should suit on the evidence of his good P2P run. He should also be fully fit now with two runs under his belt. Admittedly, he may just be out to get a handicap mark. However, if connections do decide to have a go he does have the ability to run well. At odds of 16/1 In the Detail is the e/w selection.
Ascot and Navan Friday Tips: In The Detail e/w @ 16/1
Navan Friday: 1.35pm – Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)
We get a nice treat from Navan in Ireland on ITV4 on Friday afternoon with this 20f Grade 2 hurdle. A field of 7 will battle it out for the 20k first prize and hot prospect Holymacapony is the favourite. Trained by top handler Henry De Bromhead, this fella impressed on his rules debut at Punchestown (20f hvy). The son of Libertarian beat Gaillard Du Mesnil by 8L day that (118 rated Takarengo 27L back in 3rd). It looks like the owners of Monalee and Minella Indo may have found another nice horse and he will have plenty of backers at around 15/8.
Fakiera The Pick Of Elliott’s Pair
Gordon Elliott has a two pronged challenge with Fakiera and Eskylane. Jack Kennedy rides the former who is on a hat trick after maiden and G3 wins on his last two starts. He also has the advantage of being a course and distance winner and the soft to heavy ground should be absolutely fine. Eskylane hasn’t got a lot to find with his stablemate on a line through Gabynako. However, I think that the son of Flemensfirth is going to be best on nicer ground than he gets today.
The aforementioned Gabynako will be looking to exact revenge on the Elliott duo. He was twice narrowly beat by them in maiden hurdles at Punchestown and Fairyhouse. He deservedly got off the mark at Naas last time, hosing up by 6L in a maiden (16f sft/hvy). The 3rd and 5th that day have both won since and while he may turn the form around with Eskylane, he may struggle to beat Fakiera.
Big Ask For Allen
Willie Mullins’ sole representative is Fighter Allen and Paul Townend rides. He was well beat in a 16f Grade 2 at Naas last season on soft/heavy. He showed a nice attitude to win a Punchestown maiden (21.5f hvy) on his seasonal return but this looks much harder. A half brother to Envoi Allen, he cost a cool 310k at the sales but this looks a big ask on just his second hurdling start.
Ashdale Bob has four hurdle runs under his belt and he scored over C&D last time. He beat Wide Receiver by 1L in a maiden hurdle but worryingly, his worst run came on his only start on heavy. Lieutenant Command won’t have any worries ground wise but he was well beat behind Fakiera last time.
All things considered, I think Fakiera is the most solid option at 5/1. He relished the uphill finish here last time and with Eskylane and Fighter Allen likely to go forward, he should get the strongly run race that he needs. The son of Cokoriko is the sole Graded winner in this contest and at odds of 5/1 he is the pick.
Ascot and Navan Friday: Fakiera win @ 5/1 NB
Ascot: 1.55pm – Novices’ Handicap Chase (Class 3)
We head back into handicap company for this 17f novices’ chase. Sir Valentine is extremely interesting off 133 on his first handicap chase start. He chased home two very promising sorts in Malystic and Fusil Raffles the last twice and this is much easier. He was a big eye catcher on his only previous run at Ascot over hurdles, finishing well for 3rd behind Not So Sleepy over 15.5f. The extra 1.5f here will really suit him and so will the soft ground. If he can put in an error free round of jumping he ought to go very close.
The bookies haven’t missed him though and Nigel Twiston-Davies’ charge is just 6/1. Gary Moore runs two in this and on jockey bookings, Ar Mest looks the second string. However, the 7yo could be well treated off 127 with Tom Cheeseman taking off another 5lb. He was just 1L behind Molineaux in a handicap chase at Wincanton last term (15.5f sft) and he signed off with a decent effort behind On The Slopes off 127 at Kempton on his final start of the season.
This fella has winning form on heavy and good ground and he has placed on soft, so there are zero worries regarding ground. He was in the process of running well on his first run back last season when unseating Jamie Moore at Fakenham and he returns with his yard in great form. Gary Moore has had 10 winners in the last 14 days and 2 of his last 4 runners won. Tom Cheeseman is 1/11 for the stable (4 top 4s) and at odds of 20/1, Ar Mest is a speculative e/w pick.
Ascot and Navan Friday Tips: Ar Mest e/w @ 20/1
Ascot 2.30pm – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Trial (Grade 2)
Just six novice hurdlers will go to post for this 15.5f Supreme Novice trial. It is an extremely competitive looking heat and all six could realistically have a case made for them. Llandinabo Lad represents the high flying Tom Symonds yard and Richard Johnson retains the ride. He won very nicely in a Listed heat last time and as a result carries 5lb more than his rivals. However, he is top rated with a mark of 141 and he could well rate higher in the future. The horse he beat by 5.5L at Bangor on his penultimate start won two novices by a combined distance of 23L on his next couple of starts and Llandinabo lad is most definitely the form pick.
The remainder of this field are stepping up in class from novice company. No Ordinary Joe won handily in a Sandown bumper on his sole start so far last month. However, this is a big ask on his hurdling debut and he may need more experience. Shantou Express, on the other hand, has had four starts over timber. He won his last two, a maiden (17f gd/fm) and a novice (20 sft) by a combined distance of 35L. However, his run behind Midnight Express was arguably as good as both those runs. That came over 20f though and this trip might just be on the sharp side for Kim Bailey’s inmate.
Gordon’s Lucky Day?
The one that looks most overpriced to me is the outsider, Press Your Luck. Chris Gordon and Tom Cannon team up with this 5yo son of Doyen and he is on a hat trick. He won his first two hurdling starts at Newton Abbott (17f gd/sft) and Uttoxeter (16f gd/sft). Those wins earned him a rating of 130 but I think he is potentially better than that. Glajou, the horse he beat by almost 3L at Newton Abbott is now rated 132 as a chaser and the 4th (16L behind) is now rated 130 over hurdles.
This fella didn’t need to improve when winning under a penalty at Uttoxeter. This will be his first start under rules on soft ground but he won his point to point on yielding/soft so the chances are he will handle it fine. Looking at his pedigree, he’ll probably stay further in time but for now, 16/17f looks his optimum trip. He has stronger form than a few of these that are a lot shorter in the betting and at odds of 16/1 Press Your Luck is the e/w pick.
Ascot and Navan Friday Tips: Press Your Luck e/w @ 16/1
Ascot 3.05pm – Noel Novices’ Chase (Class 2)
We backed Bold Plan the last day when he was given a superb ride by Sean Bowen. He mowed down The Big Breakaway late on at Exeter (19f sft) and he now steps into Grade 2 company for the first time over fences. Thanks to that win he has to carry a 3lb penalty here and on the figures, he has no chance. The son of Jeremy received just a 3lb hike for his Exeter win and he is now rated 138. However, at just 6 years old he has plenty of scope to improve and he must have come out of that Exeter race extremely well given he is running again just 14 days later.
Fiddlerontheroof is the fav for Tizzard and Power and he is rated 10lb higher than Bold Plan. He is a nice horse and if you discount his Cheltenham flop he is a consistent sort. However, he has tasted defeat on 2 of his 3 chase starts and he looks short enough in the betting. Allart is just 3/1 but he is making his chasing debut and Pic D’Orhy, who is 0/2 chasing and fell last time, is a 3/1 shot too. I think the 8/1 available about Bold Plan is far too big and with trip and ground looking ideal, he is the e/w NAP of the day.
Ascot and Navan Friday Tips: Bold Plan e/w @ 8/1 NAP
Ascot 3.35pm – National Hunt Flat Race (Listed)
I am not a fan of bumper races, especially ones with less than 8 runners. This particular heat looks a minefield with all 6 of the contenders winning last time out. C&D winner Wonderwall looks to have clear claims, while the Paul Nicholls’ pair are promising sorts too. Marble Sands is another C&D winner and at the odds, he probably appeals most. However, this is a race where I’ll be keeping my cash in my pocket. No bet.
