Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Ascot and Haydock on Saturday. View selections below.
Back a winner at 4/1 or more and get a risk free bet up to £50, with bet365’s ITV 4/1 Offer
AUSTRALIS (3.00) is a strong stayer on an upwards curve and should justify favouritism in the two-mile handicap at Ascot.
Roger Varian has plotted Australis’s career carefully with his long-term future in mind. The four-year-old beat smart Caravan Of Hope at Wolverhampton before the runner-up reversed places in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle in June. Australis could make up into a Cesarewitch type in the autumn if taking this in the style expected.
SHELIR (2.25) can make it a fruitful raid south for David O’Meara and Danny Tudhope, successful with Summerghand in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood last Saturday. Shelir has twice been unlucky with the draw in big handicaps this summer, running fifth to Motakhayyel from an unfavourable low pitch in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, before being drawn on the wrong side when eighth to Blue Mist in the International Stakes here a fortnight ago.
EQUITATION (1.50) goes well at Ascot and is an each-way price in the 6f handicap. Stuart Williams sent him out to beat 15 rivals over course and distance last September under today’s apprentice Marco Ghiani and Equitation may have found five furlongs on the sharp side when chasing home Tune The Barone here 13 days ago.
CARADOC (3.35) has been expensive to follow but is worth one more chance in a competitive 1m 4f handicap. Ed Walker’s gelding found himself in a hopeless position turning for home at Epsom on Derby Day, then flopped when fancied to atone at York, finishing a never-dangerous ninth to Sinjaari. There may have been mitigating circumstances, however, as he raced on the slowest section of the track in the straight.
Caradoc was in terrific form last summer and if Walker can re-ignite the flame he is a match for favourite Look Closely, raised 8lb for last month’s impressive course and distance victory. Jeremiah pipped Sam Cooke a nose after a ding-dog battle here a fortnight ago and will be supported along with triple all-weather winner Omnivega.
VERACIOUS (2.05) will trade at much shorter odds to land the Dick Hern Stakes at Haydock for Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore. She was last seen running fourth to King Of Change in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at muddy Ascot last October and should have benefited from a wind operation. Veracious meets lesser rivals in this Listed contest and will be very hard to beat.
Compare horse racing odds and bet at the best prices
Tally Ho
Alan
To compare the odds on all today’s horse racing, click here
NB. All odds shown are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change.
