An excellent Chester festival in the week has set this Saturday up for a real treat! Im not going to Ascot but have been in the past to this Victoia Cup meeting and it certainly always brings out one or two excellent performances from horses that undoubtedly will go into the notebook.
On with the card...
1.35pm Maiden Stakes 5f
Newcomers of this this kind are interesting, we have some excellent pedigrees in this field and in time some will go further than this minimal 5 furlong trip. The ground is crucial here as it looks like Ascot today is very soft indeed. So, I'm heading the way of Mick Channon's filly out of Sharmadal and that's the progressive SHOW FLOWER. This three year olds looks a more solid bet than any of the others, the two year old form is better than any of the others have shown, running in higher class races and running very consistently in all her races. SHOW FLOWER is a scopey type with more progress to be made this season. She'll get further than this as she has shown in time and with soft ground she'll be able to count on her stamina while others are stuck in treacle.
2.20pm Buckhound Stakes Class 1 1m 4f
Five go to post here, and it is hard to oppose the favourite as AIKEN has excellent progressive form on a softer surface. The Epsom form from his last run although winning by a neck was a good performance, obviously an odds on favooirite isn't the most original tip to give but sometimes it just can't be opposed. I'm sure this horse will go on to bigger and better things this season and one to keep in the notebook.
2.50pm Fillies Handicap 1m
My selections here hail from the same yard, both are nicely handicapped at the lower end of the weights and if they can handle the ground which may have dried out a bit by this race then I can see Richard Hannons FREE VERSE and MY QUEENIE both running big races today. Free Verse needs to run well fresh for the apprentice Ryan Powell but her form is good as she showed a excellent performance over the 7f trip at Catterick last October and looks like she's heading the right way for Her Majesty and My Queenie will get the mile trip fine, good each way prospects.
3.25pm Victoria Cup Handicap 7f
This truly is a great spectacle, these horses will be on a cavalry charge to the finish line over the 7f straight course. Over the years the easy trend to see is that stalls are either side near the rails is the place to be but that maybe different today as the ground may well be softer nearer those rails. Anyway, I'm discounting much of a draw byest as they may all try to pack the middle of the field. So, the question now is, who's got the best chance? Well, I'm certainly having ADVANCED this nine year old has consistent form on softish ground and will stay the 7f trip. He doesn't seem to like Ascot that much but this ground and trip could be playing not his hands more than some others so at 33/1 I believe it's worth an each way bet. My other selection hails from David Elsworth Andrade and is a mare that will also go on this testing ground BONNIE BRAE won a big handicap like this at Doncaster back in November the ground will play not her hands and I believe the 7f trip suits her best. If she's out quickly from the stalls then Ryan Moore could boot her to victory again at a nice each way price. I'm having one final selection and that goes to PASTORAL PLAYER although top rated I live thus Hughy Morrison bay gelding. He always puts up a likeable, courageous staying on in the finish type of performance and I'd be crazing not to have a few quid each way on him.
Good Luck if your having a punt!
On with the card...
1.35pm Maiden Stakes 5f
Newcomers of this this kind are interesting, we have some excellent pedigrees in this field and in time some will go further than this minimal 5 furlong trip. The ground is crucial here as it looks like Ascot today is very soft indeed. So, I'm heading the way of Mick Channon's filly out of Sharmadal and that's the progressive SHOW FLOWER. This three year olds looks a more solid bet than any of the others, the two year old form is better than any of the others have shown, running in higher class races and running very consistently in all her races. SHOW FLOWER is a scopey type with more progress to be made this season. She'll get further than this as she has shown in time and with soft ground she'll be able to count on her stamina while others are stuck in treacle.
2.20pm Buckhound Stakes Class 1 1m 4f
Five go to post here, and it is hard to oppose the favourite as AIKEN has excellent progressive form on a softer surface. The Epsom form from his last run although winning by a neck was a good performance, obviously an odds on favooirite isn't the most original tip to give but sometimes it just can't be opposed. I'm sure this horse will go on to bigger and better things this season and one to keep in the notebook.
2.50pm Fillies Handicap 1m
My selections here hail from the same yard, both are nicely handicapped at the lower end of the weights and if they can handle the ground which may have dried out a bit by this race then I can see Richard Hannons FREE VERSE and MY QUEENIE both running big races today. Free Verse needs to run well fresh for the apprentice Ryan Powell but her form is good as she showed a excellent performance over the 7f trip at Catterick last October and looks like she's heading the right way for Her Majesty and My Queenie will get the mile trip fine, good each way prospects.
3.25pm Victoria Cup Handicap 7f
This truly is a great spectacle, these horses will be on a cavalry charge to the finish line over the 7f straight course. Over the years the easy trend to see is that stalls are either side near the rails is the place to be but that maybe different today as the ground may well be softer nearer those rails. Anyway, I'm discounting much of a draw byest as they may all try to pack the middle of the field. So, the question now is, who's got the best chance? Well, I'm certainly having ADVANCED this nine year old has consistent form on softish ground and will stay the 7f trip. He doesn't seem to like Ascot that much but this ground and trip could be playing not his hands more than some others so at 33/1 I believe it's worth an each way bet. My other selection hails from David Elsworth Andrade and is a mare that will also go on this testing ground BONNIE BRAE won a big handicap like this at Doncaster back in November the ground will play not her hands and I believe the 7f trip suits her best. If she's out quickly from the stalls then Ryan Moore could boot her to victory again at a nice each way price. I'm having one final selection and that goes to PASTORAL PLAYER although top rated I live thus Hughy Morrison bay gelding. He always puts up a likeable, courageous staying on in the finish type of performance and I'd be crazing not to have a few quid each way on him.
Good Luck if your having a punt!
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