Racing

Ascot betting tips: It Sure Is should enjoy step up in class

Syndicate Captain Cheltmental returns to take on the Boosted £5,000 Place 6 at Ascot on Friday and reckons there is some fantastic action in store. He likes the look of It Sure Is in the second race. If you agree with his selections, join his Syndicate.

 

Cheltmental: “Ascot plays host to a very warm card this Friday and despite the small fields I think we have some seriously good looking action. I’ve explained below my thoughts on each and every leg but with heavy ground and the chance of more rain I’ll hold fire on selections but check out my Syndicate page for my final slip

 

12:45 – NOVICES’ CHASE (GRADE 2) – 2M 5F

We begin with a Novices’ Chase with just the two runners but it’s ANGELS BREATH that will be the main focus after a rip-roaring chasing debut at the track.

Ground conditions will be slower but he’s won twice round here on soft and the step up 2f looks to be no issue so he really is the one to beat. MONT DES AVALOIRS has had two starts over fences but managed just 2 wins from 10 starts over hurdles and has twice run poorly round here.

Selections: Angels Breath, Mont Des Avaloirs

 

13:20 – MAIDEN HURDLE – 2M 5 ½ F

This Maiden Hurdle might take some winning considering the trip and going will ensure it’s the best part of a genuine stayers test.

IT SURE IS would be right at the top of my shortlist in terms of notable entries but ground really is an unknown for him. I was impressed with his run at Newbury and expect him to enjoy this stiffer test. Interesting side-note is that BLOODSTONE has a couple of bumper entries over Christmas who was narrowly beaten by this lad in his point so will be worth keeping an eye on.

Nicky Henderson also sends BEYONDTHESTORM who ticks the boxes for this sort of ground and trip. He’s already a 6yo so might be physically more capable of handling this test but he would need to have improved, or require others to falter in the ground. BUTTERWICK BROOK for Colin Tizzard looks an out and out stayer so he’s interesting, although an unlikely winner, as is BEAN IN TROUBLE, who showed enough on his stable debut to suggest he’ll be winning race around this trip.

FULL BACK looks a nice pointer and although his second came on good ground I think he’ll prefer slower conditions. This is a hard enough opening assignment.

HUGO’S OTHER HORSE had a spin in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham against some nice types so should improve for that run and, given he’s a half brother to CUE CARD, you’d expect this trip should be right up his street so I give him a strong chance. TORN AND FRAYED looks a bit caught for a trip at the moment and could only be watched but my first thought is he won’t enjoy this test

Selections: Full Back, Hugos Other Horse, It Sure Is

 

 

13:55 – NOVICES’ HANDICAP CHASE – 2M ½ F

A 6 runner affair but it looks a nice compact field with plenty to like. SULLY D’OC AA escapes a rise for his second at Newbury when I put him up and this looks a nice opportunity to run well again. That said, I’m not sure connections would be too worried if he just had another spin round and was saved for another day and possibly a bigger prize.

DEBUCHET is still yet to win over hurdles, but he showed his class when landing his chasing debut last month. 131 looks a fair mark as opposed to a generous one but he’ll love this ground. THE FLYING SOFA almost got the job done for us at Kempton a few starts back and ran well enough last time at this trip considering the ground was against him.

I fear the same applies here too. GREANETEEN is a horse of clear ability but he’s also shown that he’s hard to trust. This isn’t the easiest of Chasing debuts but you’d hope he’s better than his current mark and despite giving weight away all round I’d give him a chance after being minded at Chepstow earlier this season.

Selections: Greaneteen, Sully D’Oc Aa, The Flying Sofa

 

14:30 – KENNEL GATE (GRADE 2) – 1M 7 ½ F

Another small field here but it’s all class and Northern raider RIBBLE VALLEY has been eye-catching on his two hurdle starts to date. Both those wins came on slower ground so conditions should suit here although this is the acid test and he’s short enough now. He was beaten by MASTER DEBONAIR in a Cheltenham Bumper last November who re-opposes in here.

RIBBLE clipped heels that day so you can’t take the margin literally but he was 11l behind MASTER DEBONAIR who gives him 3lbs in this. He won over course and distance last month and while it was a good effort, I wouldn’t rate it as highly as some have but he’s clearly going the right way. MCFABULOUS was a short priced favourite when turned over on hurdling debut, and was also 11 lengths behind in that November Cheltenham Bumper but his only excuse was greenness. He looks to have tremendous potential but it’s hard to get away from how poor he was last month.

TIME FLIES BY completes the field and he was ultra-impressive at Cheltenham in October. Slightly disappointing back there last month but on reflection he bumped into a very nice horse who also runs on this card and I’m excited to see him hurdling now and I think he is capable of being involved here.

Selections: Master Debonair, Mcfabulous, Ribble Valley, Time Flies By

 

15:05 – HANDICAP HURDLE – 2M 5 ½ F

It would be hard to suggest 129 looks a light opening mark for SAINT DE REVE but I was taken by his performance last time and have no doubts he’ll surpass this mark in time. Sporting a first time tongue tie is interesting enough and I think he’ll love the ground so I think you can expect a bold show here.

MR MULDOON will likely enjoy the return back to this trip and while he might not have as much wiggle room as some from this mark, I think he can win from it. ASHFIELD PADDY would want to settle better than the last day but his 5lb rise would be manageable if doing so. Bottom weight KOZIER looks very interesting after a solid effort at Exeter last month but this ground will be a serious test although I think he’ll handle it. FORTUNATE GEORGE ran well enough at Sandown the last day so could run into a place again.

Selections: Saint De Reve, Mr Muldoon, Ashfield Paddy, Kozier

 

15:40 – BUMPER (LISTED) – 1M 7 ½ F

This bumper is typically one of the best British races and the line up in here looks set to provide a fascinating renewal. ISRAEL CHAMP looked to have needed his first start under rules but won like a good horse at Cheltenham last month so shoulders a penalty due to the class of that win.

SOARING GLORY won here last month in another good looking bumper with a couple of these in behind but off level weights now with KID COMMANDO he’ll need to produce the same effort to retain those placings. BRAVEMANSGAME was back in third that day but looks sure to have come on a ton for that run.

BUTTE MONTANA was a good second at Cheltenham in October and has been saved for this race, just like BADDESLEY & SHANTOU EXPRESS have been and it would be the latter of that duo would should be able to make his presence felt in this company. BENSON won nicely the last day and is going the right way.

Selections: Israel Champ, Bravemansgame, Butte Montana, Shantou Express, Soaring Glory