The race scheduling is baffling again this weekend with top quality racing at Ascot, Lingfield and Haydock. As an avid fan of the flat, I am going to pass over Haydock’s jumps card including the Swinton Hurdle. They could easily move it to one of the recent bank holidays when there was very mediocre stuff on offer on the level.
Handicaps dominate proceedings at Ascot and I have to admit that the course proved a bit of a bogey meeting last year (with the exception of Royal Ascot). Whereas seven furlong handicaps used to be specialist races they now seem to be a dime a dozen. The Victoria Cup is the feature event tomorrow with the usual suspects gathered for the extended sprint distance.
You could fancy a dozen horses here and still not find the winner so it’s definitely not a race to get heavily involved in. I was kicking myself for not supporting Glen Moss last time, especially as Ryan Moore rode one of his rare poor races on Sir Reginald. The bad news for David Brown is that Glen Moss picked up a 5lbs penalty which may just be enough to thwart him on a track he loves.
Heaven’s Guest won another one of these races here last October, beating Bertiewhittle, Loving Spirit and Redvers among others. Of those, Loving Spirit looked to be having something of a prep race at Kempton last time and could be worth a flutter.
You also have to respect the claims of Brownsea Brink who was in electric form last autumn when winning three on the bounce. He ran a cracker in the Spring Cup at Newbury and that is usually a good guide to this race. Richard Hughes does the steering and should give us a run for our money.
It could be a good day for Hughes as he partners Hamelin for Lady Cecil in the opener and Pether’s Moon for Hannon in the second race. Both have winning chances.
Hamelin won well at Kempton and then confirmed that he is more than an all-weather performer by winning at Leicester off a mark of 85. He is up 6lbs here but looks like a handicapper worth following. Pether’s Moon is in great form having won at Kempton and then chased home Gospel Choir at Newmarket. He finished in front of Irish Derby winner Trading Leather last time and a repeat of that performance would be good enough.
Hamelin 2.05 Ascot at 11-4 Bet365
Pether’s Moon 2.40 Ascot at 9-2 Ladbrokes
Loving Spirit 3.50 Ascot at 12-1 Paddy Power
Brownsea Brink 3.50 Ascot at 14-1 Ladbrokes
