Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Ascot, Haydock and Lingfield on Saturday. View selections below.
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ELGIN (3.35) may continue to defy the handicapper by landing the Grade 3 handicap hurdle at Ascot.
Alan King’s top weight has been a grand money-spinner for this column in 2017 and the assessor lumped another 6lb on his official rating following a brave victory over Misterton and Old Guard in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham.
That was another cracking performance coming hot on the heels of Elgin’s course and distance success in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle. Elgin has a similar to profile to last year’s winner Brain Power, another five-year-old, which defied 11st 11lb.
With Nicky Henderson in such rampant form, Verdana Blue will command plenty of support on the back of her very easy success over course and distance last time out.
She finished fifth to Elgin on her previous start, one place behind Air Horse One, and they both reoppose on improved terms.
Magic Dancer is lurking at the foot of the weights and 5lb claimer Richard Patrick will be doing his lightest at 9st 9lb on this improving young novice. His Cheltenham victory over Oxwich Bay and Champagne City has been franked in the interim.
Popular Unowhatimeanharry is looking for back-to-back triumphs in the Long Walk Hurdle and is sure to go close.
However, it was a bit off-putting that he failed to reel in outsider Beer Goggles at Newbury and I’d rather have an each-way punt on L’AMI SERGE (2.25).
The Henderson-trained gelding found 2m 3f on the sharp side when chasing home Lil Rockerfella in the Coral Hurdle. Back up in trip and on his preferred much softer ground, L’Ami Serge can reverse placings on 6lb better terms. He sluiced through the mud at Auteuil to score over 3m 1f and the hood he wore last time is retained.
At Haydock, LIMITED RESERVE (2.10) looks a solid favourite in the 2m 3f handicap hurdle following his course and distance success from Man Of Plenty and Clyne last month.
He earlier split Elgin and High Bridge (winner since) at Ascot and he handles this very deep ground.
CAPTAIN REDBEARD (2.45) is a decent each-way price for a competitive renewal of the Betfred Tommy Whittle Chase.
He ran well for a long way in the Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree before fading into sixth behind Gas Line Boy. The handicapper has dropped him 2lb.
At Lingfield, Battalion bids to repeat last year’s success in the Betway Quebec Stakes, a Listed contest over 1m 2f.
He hasn’t been in top form since and is passed over in favour of MASTER THE WORLD (1.45).
David Elsworth’s durable gelding has really taken to the all-weather, scoring over course and distance last month before running Red Verdon close at Kempton, trying to concede that classy winner 3lb.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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