Lots of high-quality jumps racing to savour on Saturday afternoon including an eight-race card from Ascot (12.15-16.17) where Bryony Frost will be attempting to match last weekend’s Cheltenham heroics on another gutsy performer in Black Corton.
You can live stream all eight Ascot races, as well as every race from the UK and Ireland when logged into MansionBet, and our tipster has selections for all the action at the Berkshire venue.
12.15 – tote.co.uk Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Division 1 (2m3½f)
Northern Poet and NO NO MAESTRO both start their handicap careers from workable marks and are in with a chance. Slight preference at the early prices is for the latter, who has joined a Fergal O’Brien team going great guns. A drop in trip meanwhile ought to suit College Oak as he didn’t seem to get home at Newton Abbot.
Selection: No No Maestro @ 7/1
12.47 – tote.co.uk Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Division 2 (2m3½f)
Again, a pair of handicap newcomers in Riggs and STRAW FAN JACK make plenty of appeal. Dan Skelton’s runner improved to finish second in a Market Rasen maiden over a similar trip in the early spring and could shape well now.
However, on the back of his recent Hereford win and with trainer Sheila Lewis enjoying a fine time of it, Sean Houlihan’s mount is given the vote with fitness on his side.
Selection: Straw Fan Jack @ 15/2
1.20 – Ascot Underwriting Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (2m3f)
The recent Plumpton winner DR SANDERSON was posting an improved effort in that reappearance and he had plenty to spare, so a 7lb hike is not certain to ground the ambitions of Paul Nicholls’ charge.
He can give Aidan Coleman a nice Saturday afternoon winner in the McManus hoops. Handicap debutant Trincomalee is due plenty of respect going up in trip.
Selection: Dr Sanderson @ 7/2
1.55 – tote.co.uk Handicap Chase (Listed, 2m)
Capeland is already a C&D winner and should run well for the Paul Nicholls/Bryony Frost alliance, while Flaminger was determined when scoring recently at Fontwell but now faces an increased challenge.
Preference, therefore, is for Venetia Williams’ IBLEO, winner of his first two starts over fences last season following a long absence and, when last spotted in March, shedding his perfect chase record when perhaps finding the trip beyond him at Huntingdon.
Selection: Ibleo @ 5/2
2.32 – Fever-Tree Novices’ Hurdle (2m)
Captain Morgs made a pleasing start to his career for Nicky Henderson when inched out in a Warwick bumper at the start of the month and looks one to follow now heading over timber.
Rated 90 on the Flat, ADDIS ABABA was pitched in deep on hurdles bow at Newbury in February, placing third behind subsequent Supreme Novices’ third Chantry House. He can improve and put that experience to good use.
Selection: Addis Ababa @ SP
3.05 – Sodexo Handicap Hurdle (Listed, 2m)
Kid Commando is unexposed and any strong support for Anthony Honeyball’s runner has to be noted given he won readily on hurdles bow in January, before a solid effort in a Grade 2 novice at Kempton.
SEBASTOPOL is now delivering on his promise and signed off last season winning the Scottish County Hurdle off a mark of 136. He’s won first time out before and should go close under the former champion jockey Richard Johnson.
Selection: Sebastopol @ 9/2
3.40 – Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3, 3m)
Black Corton (third) and Regal Encore (second) come back for another crack at this prize and the top-weight is preferred of the pair. He’s a thoroughly likeable performer who rarely gives anything bar his best and should be in the mix under Bryony Frost.
COMMANCHE RED however could have plenty to offer based on his Boxing Day rout of some good animals at Kempton. He was beaten into third back there in a Grade 2 novice in February, but that form has worked out well and further progress is likely.
Selection: Commanche Red @ 9/2
4.17 – tote.co.uk Standard Open NH Flat Race (2m)
Little in the way of form for this bumper and those that have run (Marble Sands and Off The Planet) don’t set the pulse racing. ARTURUS is closely related to great Hurricane Fly and was bought by connections for the princely sum of €230,000.
There are plenty of winners in the family already and this son of Camelot is in perfect hands with Nicky Henderson, who produced such an impressive bumpers scorer at Cheltenham last Saturday and excels in this sphere.
Selection: Arturus @ 11/8
*All odds correct at time of writing.
