The pick of the Saturday prices....

Friday, 18th October 2024

The pick of the Saturday prices….

Just the one race to target this weekend….

…. the Balmoral at Ascot (4.35)….

A maximum field of 20 lines-up for this assignment up the straight mile….

…. on ground that promises to be pretty testing – with 5mm to 8mm of rain forecast to fall over the next 24 hours on ground that’s already soft….

I’m going two-against-the-field in this one….

…. partly because I can’t split the two horses at the top of my shortlist….

…. partly because I want one on both sides of the draw….

…. and partly because I think both my picks are potentially ‘forgotten’ horses in a market where the principals are priced-up on much more recent performances (produced – in one or two cases – in conditions very different to tomorrow’s)….

First-up – and the selection that would represent the nap for readers who simply can’t bring themselves to back two horses in one race – is MR PROFESSOR at the general 14s….

He won the Lincoln on Day one of the season at Doncaster – and he’ll surely relish the ground at Ascot tomorrow….

He disappointed a couple of times after that opening day win – at Newmarket and at Royal Ascot….

…. where he was maybe inconvenienced by quicker surfaces – who knows….

But he’s been placed with a new trainer in the meantime by his slightly temperamental – and very-deep-pocketed – owner….

…. and this has surely been a target at the end of a campaign where the 5yo hasn’t been overused….

David Egan is back in the saddle – and if the duo go like they did at Doncaster then they will be in the mix at the business end of the race….

The other one I want to back is the horse that finished second to Mr Professor at Doncaster – LATTAM at the general 14s…

He too has been given a light campaign and I’d suggest that – like Mr Professor – he’s been saved for and targeted at a race where soft ground is more of an expectation than a hope….

He’s good fresh and whilst he could only manage 7th in this race last season, he was coming from off the pace in a race that worked out best for those racing more prominently….

I reckon he remains nicely handicapped on the same mark of 95 that he ran off in the Lincoln….

He was beaten 1.5 lengths that day and he might have been closer still but for getting bumped when coming with his run….

I expect a big run – with the 5yo coming late – under Ryan Sexton (who knows him well)….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back in your inbox 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