Tag: Ascot

TABtouch Masters Is All About the Wild West

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After a terrific end to Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival at Sandown last Saturday, the spotlight shifts a lazy 3500 kilometres west to Perth in Western Australia for a trio of black-type meetings at Ascot, one of the city’s two courses. The Perth carnival has been repackaged as the TABtouch Masters, the world’s first single-track festival featuring a Group 1 race worth at least $1,000,000 on three successive Saturdays. It all kicks-off this weekend with the AUD $1 million Group 1 James Boag’s Premium Railway Stakes, run under traditional handicap conditions over 1600m.

The heat is on

Unlike last week’s card at Sandown, punters need to be wary of the different starting positions on this picturesque circuit, which sits on the banks of the Swan River. Ascot features just three turns, two of which are particularly sharp. There’s only a run of about 300m to the first corner from the 1600m chute start but history shows that hasn’t been an impediment in the Railway with the past four winners coming from either barrier 11 or 12. Track conditions are rarely an issue at this time of the year in Perth – the maximum daily temperature rarely dips below 30°C so firm conditions are the norm.

A proud history

The Railway Stakes dates back almost as long as many of the major races run on the eastern seaboard, with Nimrod winning the first edition back in 1887. It was a mainstay of the New Year’s Day racing program until the Western Australian Turf Club shifted major carnival races to late November. Just four horses have won both the Railway mile and the WFA Kingston Town Classic (1800m) traditionally run two weeks later – Better Loosen Up (1989), Old Comrade (2001), Modem (2004) and Sniper’s Bullet (2009). Northerly won the Railway in 2000 while hometown favourite Luckygray uniquely saluted in 2011 and 2013.

Raiders take on locals

One of the unique features of this carnival is the battle of east and west as a handful of trainers from Sydney and Melbourne chase the late spring riches on offer. There are five engaged in this year’s Railway – Chris Waller duo Mackintosh ($6.50 with William Hill) and Good Project ($14 with William Hill), Darren Weir’s Rageese ($8.00 with William Hill), He Or She from the Hayes/Dabernig camp ($16.00 with William Hill) and highly rated NZ gelding Kawi ($19.00 with William Hill). Local hope Perfect Reflection is the $5.00 favourite for the big Bob Peters team, trainers Grant and Alana Williams and champion WA hoop William Pike (54.5kg) from gate 2.

Back the Mack

It’s possible to make a case for about half of the 16 runners, but we’ve settled on the Group 1 form of Waller’s Mackintosh. Barrier 16 is far from ideal, but he has former Perth boy Damien Oliver aboard and carries just 54kg. The 4yo gelding was third in a blanket finish in the G1 Epsom (1600m) and Randwick before being nabbed late in the G1 Cantala (1600m) at Flemington on Derby Day, finishing 1.4L back in fifth. He’s won six of 11 career starts, including five of nine on good surfaces. A fair proportion of this field are unproven over the mile, but there’s no doubt this bloke will still be strong at the line.

Much to like about Pike

An other highlight of the day is the AUD $500,000 Group 1 Sky Racing WA Guineas (1600m) for the three-year-olds. It’s an equally open affair, Ellicazoom, one of three fillies engaged, rated a $4.80 favourite with Ladbrokes. However, another five runners are rated better than $10 chances. One of those is Get Over It ($8.00 on Ladbrokes), trained on this track by Trevor Andrews and ridden here by Pike after the suspension of Paul Harvey. In contrast to the bulk of these, he looks ready for the step to 1600m and finished fourth in the traditional lead-up, the Fairetha Stakes here two ago after being held up in the straight.

Ascot Victoria Cup Preview

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The big betting race of the weekend is the Victoria Cup over seven furlongs at 3.45. As usual, it has attracted a huge field with 29 runners spread across the track.

The bookmakers are currently offering 12-1 the field and beating five places each-way, which tells you all that you need to know about the competitive nature of the race. Ed Dunlop has already scooped one major handicap this week with the Chester Cup and saddles Zarwaan here.

The four-year-old was our selection for the Lincoln at Doncaster and he ran a creditable race to finish sixth, unable to quicken in the closing stages behind Gabrial. He had chased home Chatez on soft ground at Haydock last year and was also a close fifth in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot. He may just have needed the race at Doncaster and this drop back to seven furlongs could also see him in a better light.

Richard Hannon saddles Emell, a five-year-old by Medicean and an emphatic winner at Haydock in April. He wore blinkers for the first time when producing a fine turn of foot to beat Professor by three and a quarter lengths. The handicapper put him up 8lbs for that run and he looked unlucky not to follow up at Goodwood. He seemed to be travelling extremely well under Kieran O’Neill but could not find a gap. He eventually flashed home in fifth and races off the same mark here.

Speculative Bid is on a hat-trick for David Elsworth after winning twice at Kempton this spring. He was a very impressive winner over Brave Echo off a mark of 82 before defying a 9lbs rise in April. He beat Outback Traveller by a head and that horse is only 1lb better off on Saturday. That was a fine seasonal debut for Jeremy Noseda’s son of Bushranger and he won by seven lengths here in October. He is now a stone higher in the handicap but has to be a contender.

Russian Realm is an interesting runner here for David O’Meara having previously been trained by Sir Michael Stoute. He won well in soft ground at Goodwood last May but never really went on from there. The change of scenery may bring about some improvement and Richard Hughes is an eye-catching jockey booking.

William Haggas is always to be feared in these big handicaps and he saddles the lightly raced Dream Spirit. He beat Maverick Wave at Newmarket last August but was beaten at the same track next time and was third to Mooharib at Pontefract.

Emell @25-1 Ladbrokes

Dream Spirit @14-1 Ladbrokes

¼ odds, 1,2,3,4,5

Ascot Wednesday Preview

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There is an excellent card at Ascot on Wednesday with two Group 3 races and a Listed race.

The action starts at 2.25 with a two-year-old Conditions Stakes featuring three first-time-out winners. The one to be on here looks to be Gifted Master for the in-form Hugo Palmer stable. He was an impressive winner on his debut at Newmarket where he had the Brocklesby Stakes winner behind in fourth. He won’t have everything his own way with Mark Johnston’s Buratino and Windsor winner Handytalk in opposition but another win here could book his Royal Ascot ticket.

Montalcino is strongly fancied to win the Retraining Of Racehorses Stakes at 3.00 for Brian Meehan, another stable which has started the season impressively. Level stakes followers of the yard are already fifty points up this season and Montalcino holds an ambitious entry in the Coronation Stakes at Ascot. If she is that good, the others won’t see which way she went but I’m going to take a chance on Pulcinella. The Godolphin filly was second off a modest mark in a Newmarket handicap on her last outing but she is by that good mare Petrushka and can only improve.

The Sagaro Stakes at 3.30 looks a real puzzle, particularly if the ground remains on the fast side. Tac de Boistron is known to prefer softer ground and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him taken out if the rain fails to arrive. Forever Now was very disappointing at Nottingham behind stable companion Deuce Again last time and is surely better than he showed that day. Pallasator should go close here for Sir Mark Prescott but there are a number of improving horses here that are taking a step up from handicap company.

Stomachion and Wakea will both win races but I am siding with Luca Cumani’s Mizzou. He did nothing but improve last year and was only beaten inches on his last start here. Normally I would not back Cumani until later in the summer but he’s already sent out a couple of winners and his horses seem quite well forward. Whatever he does here, he should develop into a decent stayer this season.

The horse which may steal the headlines is Henry Candy’s unbeaten Limato. He oozed class when winning the valuable Redcar Two-year-old Trophy under a confident ride from Graham Lee and could develop into a Group 1 sprinter this season. There are plenty of speedy sorts in opposition in the Pavilion Stakes at 4.05 but I expect Limato to continue where he left off last season and make it five in a row.

Mondialiste ran a cracker in the Lincoln and did not enjoy the smoothest of runs at Newmarket last time. He looks the form choice in the Listed race at 4.35 for David O’Meara.

Gifted Master 2.25 @6-4 Stan James

Pulcinella 3.00 @7-2 Betfair

Mizzou 3.30 @9-1 Boylesports

Limato 4.05 @13-8 Paddy Power

Mondialiste 4.35 @2-1 Bet365

Horse Racing Preview February 14th

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Plenty of top quality horse racing action in the UK this weekend from Haydock and Ascot including several Cheltenham and Aintree contenders.

Ptit Zig has been one of the best novice chasers of the season so far and Paul Nicholls is pitching him in against more experienced rivals in the Betfair Ascot Chase. As we suggested in midweek, 11-4 did not last long but 9-4 still looks a decent price for a horse that has hardly put a foot wrong all season. He has won at Ascot before and there is no reason to desert him at this stage.

The pressure will be on Lizzie Kelly in the opening novice event where she rides impressive Lanzarote Hurdle winner Tea For Two. He won that so easily that his trainer is thinking in terms of taking on the best novices at Cheltenham next month and a victory on Saturday would secure his place. I was disappointed with Arpege D’Alene last time out and expect Miss Kelly to complete the hat-trick.

I’m also keen on the chances of Otago Trail later in the card for Venetia Williams. He destroyed his rivals last time out and is clearly well above average. He could take his chance in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle if he comes through tomorrow’s test with flying colours.

Over at Haydock, I expect to see Top Notch win comfortably in a bitterly disappointing renewal of the Victor Ludorum Hurdle at 1.45. Top Notch races in the same colours as Triumph favourite Peace And Co so it would be no surprise if Nicky Henderson elected to save him for Aintree instead. We put up Benbens earlier in the week at 10-1 and he is still available at 9-1 for the Grand National Trial. I was tempted to support Monbeg Dude but I’m put off by how far he got behind here in 2013. I’m sure he will run a good trial for Aintree nonetheless.

The three-mile hurdle looks wide open but it may be worth taking a chance on Bygones Sovereign at 10-1. He won by 28 lengths at Newbury last time when he stole a march on his rivals. I’d be surprised if the other jockeys allow him so much rope this time but he still races off 10st despite a 13lbs rise in the handicap.

The most popular double of the day has to be Tea For Two and Teaforthree. I was surprised how easily the 2013 National runner-up won over two and a half miles last time and he looked full of himself. I’d expect him to follow up in the last at Haydock.

Tea For Two 1.30 Ascot @4-7 Bet365

Benbens 2.55 Haydock @10-1*

Bygones Sovereign 3.25 Haydock @10-1 Bet365

Ptit Zig 3.50 Ascot @11-4*

Otago Trail 4.20 Ascot @5-4 William Hill

Teaforthree 5.05 Haydock @4-6 Betfair

*Ante-post

Ptit Zig fancied for Betfair Ascot Chase

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One of the most exciting prospects for the Cheltenham festival in March is the Paul Nicholls-trained Ptit Zig who is unbeaten in four starts over fences. He is set to line up in Saturday’s Betfair Ascot Chase after stable companion Al Ferof was ruled out through injury.

The sponsors put up Balder Succes as the 9-4 favourite on Tuesday with Ptit Zig at 11-4 but I don’t think that price will last long. Ptit Zig was long odds-on at Exeter and Warwick in November and won both races without any fuss. He was then upped in class to a Grade 2 at Ascot and dished out a nine-lengths beating to the odds-on Josses Hill.

The runner-up was surprisingly beaten last week in his Cheltenham prep but remains a serious chasing prospect. It was the superior speed on the flat which was particularly impressive about the winner, quickening clear after the last. Traffic Flude finished almost 30 lengths behind Ptit Zig but won readily at Plumpton on Monday.

Nicholls sent the son of Great Pretender to Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and he put Champagne West by six lengths. As at Ascot, Ptit Zig showed a good turn of foot from the last and his most likely target is the JLT Novices’ Chase at the festival.

Alan King’s Balder Succes was thought to be a likely contender for the Champion Chase at the start of the season but he suffered defeats on his first three starts. He was slightly disappointing when only fourth to Dodging Bullets in the Tingle Creek Chase in December. He was then beaten by Special Tiara at Kempton but bounced back to win on the same course in January.

Champagne Fever was a high class hurdler but has proved a little erratic over fences. He came close to winning the Arkle last season when just beaten on the nod by Western Warhorse. His only victory since was at Clonmel in November. He did not seem to get home when fourth to Silviniaco Conti at Kempton in the King George VI Chase and fell at Thurles last time. He looked beaten at the time with Don Cossack going on to win well.

Ma Filleule looked a very exciting prospect when winning at Aintree in April and shaped well when only a length and a half behind Sam Winner at the same course in December. The grey still holds a Gold Cup entry and may find one or two of these too quick here.

Ptit Zig 3.50 Ascot @11-4 Betfair

Want 4/1 on Sprinter Sacre today?

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Quite simply the best horse in training in 2013. Sprinter Sacre set the jumps world alight with sensational performances that regularly saw him going off at long odds on in every run. In fact, on his last 9 runs he’s gone off at 4/9, 4/5, 1/6, 2/5, 1/5, 1/4, 3/10, 1/9, 2/9.

In the 3pm at Ascot today he makes his long awaited return after having heart complications. The Nicky Henderson trained animal is apparently looking as good as ever. Even if Sprinter Sacre is 80% ready, he’ll take all the beating later today.

At 8:30am today Coral are enhancing Sprinter Sacre to 2/1 for £10. He’s currently 10/11 to win the race. So that’s more than double the odds!

Heres how to get 4/1*:

  1. Sign up to Coral here
  2. Take Coral up on their 2/1 offer
  3. Head to the 3pm at Ascot and put your £20 on Sprinter Sacre to win
  4. Watch the worlds best horse win and enjoy your returns of £48.18

*It’s actually just below 4/1 due to Sprinter Sacre currently being 10/11, it could drift to 1/1, which means you’ll get 4/1, which is entirely possible!

Enjoy the winnings!