Paul Ferguson has three selections for us on Saturday including; Il De Re in the 2.35 at Ascot. Compare odds and bet.
Yesterday’s selection Mr Watson was heavily backed before depositing AP McCoy on the Wetherby turf on his way to post and was duly withdrawn. Despite a few broken teeth and several stitches, the champion is back in the saddle this afternoon and he can strike at Ascot aboard My Tent Or Yours (2:00) who can make a winning debut over hurdles.
A hugely impressive winner under McCoy on his racecourse debut in a Ludlow bumper last December, the son of Desert Prince went on to chase home Up To Something at Newbury and The New One in the Grade 2 at Aintree in April.
The New One is two from two over hurdles and today’s selection travelled like the best horse in that race, before being outstayed by Nigel Twiston-Davies’ four-year-old. The fourth, Court Minstrel, has won impressively over hurdles already too, so the form is very strong and My Tent Or Yours has since been bought by JP McManus.
AP partners It’s A Gimme in the Listed handicap hurdle and he is certainly capable of winning one of these off his current mark of 135. At 10/1 overnight (Hills) he represents a bit of each-way value, but he might struggle to cope with Ile De Re (2:35) this afternoon, who looks ‘thrown in’ on his return to hurdles.
Since joining Donald McCain the dual hurdle winner has won the Chester Cup and the Northumberland Plate, so a mark of 123 makes him extremely appealing. Though he would ideally prefer softer ground and may well appreciate further as the season goes on, it’s hard to ignore him at the foot of the weights here and the 4/1 on offer with Ladbrokes on Friday evening looked worth taking, despite this looking very competitive.
Fontwell winner Puffin Billy is interesting in the concluding bumper, but there looks to be a bit of depth to the contest, so the third selection of the day comes in the shape of Smad Place (2:50) in the John Smith’s Hurdle up at Wetherby.
Alan King’s grey remains completely unexposed over this sort of trip, with his first start at 3m resulting in a third place behind Big Buck’s in the World Hurdle in March. He unshipped Robert Thornton at Aintree the following month, having earlier won a valuable Ascot handicap on his seasonal return in January, where he proved he goes well fresh.
Only five, he still has bags of improvement in him and it will be disappointing if he can’t progress past the likes of Tidal Bay, Cape Tribulation and Restless Harry. At 9/4 (also with Ladbrokes) early Friday, he represented better value than Silviniaco Conti, who is my idea of the Charlie Hall winner, though he looks short enough around the 11/8 mark overnight.
Good luck and enjoy a cracking day (and night at Santa Anita) of racing both sides of the Irish Sea, with Down Royal staging their big meeting of the year. Expect Bog Warrior to take a bit of beating in the Ladbrokes Chase over 2m4f at the Northern Ireland track.
Saturday’s selections:
2:00 Ascot My Tent Or Yours
2:35 Ascot Ile De Re
2:50 Wetherby Smad Place
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Last Year’s Book Results – Leading Prospects:
- SPRINTER SACRE – Unbeaten – winner at Aintree & Cheltenham
- SIMONSIG – Winner at Aintree & Cheltenham
- CINDERS AND ASHES – 10/1 winner of Supreme Novices Hurdle
- BOBS WORTH – 9/2 winner of the RSA Chase
- MENORAH & SILVINIACO CONTI – Both Aintree Winners
- SIR DES CHAMPS – Unbeaten inc 3/1 Jewson Cheltenham Winner
- FINGAL BAY – Won 4 times inc Challow Hurdle
- RAYA STAR – 10/3 winner at Wetherby, 12/1 Ladbroke Hurdle winner, 15/2 Scottish Champion Hurdle winner
- AMBION WOOD – 14/1 EBF Final Sandown winner
- CHAMPION COURT – 6/1 G2 Dipper Novices Chase winner
- PALACE JESTER – 14/1 winner at FFos Las
- SWINCOMBE FLAME – Hat-trick winner inc Lanzarote Hurdle at 9/2
- TEAFOR THREE – 5/1 NH Cheltenham Chase winner (Manifesto Novices’ Chase)
