The pick of the prices at Ascot & Haydock....

Friday, 12th May 2023

The pick of the prices at Ascot & Haydock….

It’s a mixed bag this weekend for big-field handicap punters….

We’re at Ascot on the flat – for the Victoria Cup….

…. one of the most competitive handicaps of the season….

And we’re up at Haydock for some early-season jumps action….

…. in the form of the Swinton Handicap Hurdle….

At Ascot conditions are pretty desperate – described as soft (heavy in places) this morning….

Meanwhile at Haydock – where it’s often heavy as porridge – the ground is good (good to soft in places) and set to dry….

Let’s crack on….

• Top of the market….

Baradar heads the market for tomorrow’s Victoria Cup (2.40) at the general 7s….

…. and it’s not hard to see where his backers are coming from….

Rated 110 at his peak, he runs tomorrow off 97 – and is a rejuvenated horse since joining George Boughey….

He won on heavy at Doncaster in November and was 3/22 in the Lincoln – off a mark of 97 – on heavy ground last month….

He’s still potentially well-handicapped and conditions will suit….

Fresh – up at the general 8s – is popular in the betting too. And – again – it’s easy to understand the case for him….

He proved himself one of the best 7f handicappers on the block last term….

…. showing up well in this race before landing a brace of handicaps over tomorrow’s course and distance off 98 and 102….

He runs off that last winning mark tomorrow and he won’t mind conditions. With Danny Tudhope in the plate he’s an obvious player….

But my job isn’t to put up horses that the market is already sweet on. You don’t need me for that….

My job is to put on my tin hat, stick my head above the parapet, and flag up ‘live’ contenders the market is overlooking or underestimating at the prices….

• Two against the field….

23 runners go to post tomorrow afternoon – and I want to be two-against-the-field….

I’ll back both win only – foregoing the opportunity to play for place money….

How you play the selections – win only, each-way, dual-forecast or lay both to big money on the exchanges – is your concern….

Some readers literally foam at the mouth when I go down the two-against-the-field route. But I play the way I play – and I make no apologies….

If you just want to back just one – then go with BIGGLES. He’d be the nap selection at 14s….

He’s only had seven goes to date – and we haven’t seen the best of him yet….

He got started at Haydock last month – where he ran well despite running too keen….

With that run taking the fizz out of him you’d think he’ll be straight enough to run an improved race tomorrow….

He’s got form on soft and heavy ground – running Baradar to within 1.5 lengths at Doncaster in November….

…. and he meets that one on 3lb better terms tomorrow – every little helps….

The other one I want to back is the reliable and consistent RIVER NYMPH – trained by Clive Cox….

He’s up at 14s too – and that’s a fair price about a horse that won this race off 100 on soft ground in 2021….

…. and who finished 3rd in last year off 102 – on ground that might have been a little quicker than ideal….

He goes off 101 this year – and the ground will be just right for him….

If he runs his race again – he’ll go close….

• In the Swinton….

Charlie Longsdon’s PARRAMOUNT had been progressive before running into ground that was too soft at Aintree last time out….

…. which might sound odd given he’d won the time before at Fakenham on ground officially described as soft….

…. but the track at Fakenham was actually riding a bit faster than advertised on the day….

… and back on better ground tomorrow at Haydock for the Swinton Handicap Hurdle (3.15) the 7yo can get back to rising up the rankings….

He was talked about earlier in the season as a horse for the Imperial Cup at Sandown – a Premier handicap….

…. which offers encouragement regarding tomorrow’s step-up in class….

Connections have taken their time with him, they haven’t over-faced him too early, and his ultimate future likely lies over fences….

But before he goes that way – possibly later in the year – connections will want to land a pot over the timber….

…and tomorrow looks like a real opportunity on ground that will suit and with Aidan Coleman back on duty in the saddle. The 10s is a fair price….

• The last word….

That’s all for today….

I’ll be back next week….

Meantime – contact me direct at nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk  

And remember – win, lose, or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned.

Against the Crowd

PS. Click here to view my pick for this afternoon’s Chester Cup….