The pick of the prices in the Challenge Cup....

Friday, 6th October 2023

The pick of the prices in the Challenge Cup….

There’s plenty of action at Newmarket & York on Friday and Saturday next week….

This weekend is a bit quieter….

…. with only tomorrow’s Challenge Cup at Ascot (3.35) standing out as a must-play betting puzzle for big-field handicap fans….

A field of 18 goes to post on ground described this morning as good….

…. with little or no rain forecast between now and the off….

Plenty of familiar faces line up for what will be the fifth big-field C2 handicap run up the 7f strip this term….

…. and I wouldn’t put it past Quinault – winner of last month’s bet365 handicap – to go close again….

He’s won 6 of his last 7 races on turf – going up the handicap 37lbs in the process

…. and he’s another 5lb up from his last winning mark tomorrow….

…. yet he still gives the impression that there might be more to come….

He’s too short for this column at the 7s – but the key thing about him tomorrow might be his starting berth in stall 1….

…. given that he’s the one obvious pace horse in the race….

The high side of the draw has had the edge in the most recent big-field 7f handicaps run at the track….

…. but that could change tomorrow with Quinault likely to blaze a trail on the far side….

The one I like over there – at the prices – is James Fanshawe’s HICKORY at 12s….

He’s done nothing wrong in his races over track and trip this term….

… running 2nd in the International in June off 87….

…. and 3rd in last month’s bet365 Handicap off 89….

 Tomorrow he goes off 89 again….

…. getting more weight from the horses that won those two races he contested earlier in the season – Baradar and Quinault….

…. and weight from every other runner in the field….

He’s one of the most lightly-raced runners in tomorrow’s field….

…. and he’s fresher than most at this late stage of the season….

He’s a player and the price is fair enough….

• Finally….

That’s all for today….

I’ll be back next week….

Meantime – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd