Playing for wages at Ascot & Haydock....

Friday, 20th December 2024

Playing for wages at Ascot & Haydock….

In ATC today….

…. I swing the bat in the big weekend handicaps….

The Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle is the feature at Ascot tomorrow….

…. off time is 3.35….

…. and my pick is IMPERO at the 14s….

I’m also on THE CHANGING MAN in the 3.00 at Ascot – at prices ranging from 9/2 to 7/2 ….

…. and I’m on PERCUSSION at 14s in the 2.05 at Haydock….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below…. 

Read on….

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In the 3.35 at Ascot….

The market’s pretty much on-the-ball for the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle at Ascot (3.35) – with the right horses at the top of the betting….

Of the fancied ones I like Secret Squirrel and I stick to what I said about him after his reappearance at Ascot in November….

He was having his first go of the season that afternoon, he came from the back in a race in which it paid to race prominently, and he should improve for that run….

There’s more to come from him off an unchanged mark of 126 against principal opponents that have already eaten into expected levels of seasonal progression and risen up the official ratings to varying degrees….

But he’s short enough in the betting and my pick of the prices is IMPERO at the general 14s….

He’s risen swiftly up the official rankings since joining Cian Collins in September – winning three of his four goes for his new yard….

He steps up in grade tomorrow and will certainly need to improve again – but he’s entitled to having had just seven goes in total over timber….

The form of his win at Cheltenham in October has worked out nicely with the two immediately behind him having logged subsequent wins….

…. and – while he wasn’t up against world beaters at Musselburgh – he couldn’t have done the bloodless winning better (okay – he could have jumped the final hurdle with more aplomb) and he’s well worth a place in tomorrow’s line-up….

You never know for sure when they step up to the big handicap league for the very first time – but I reckon there’s more to come and he’s been targeted at this race since that Scottish expedition….

He could well turn out to be value for money at the price….

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In the 3.00 at Ascot….

I can’t argue with the market’s assessment of Victtorino for the Silver Cup (3.00) – he’s a plenty worthy favourite….

He won the race last year off just a pound lower….

…. he ran a cracker to hit the frame in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury on his sole start this term….

…. and he represents a Venetia Williams/Charlie Deutsch combo that’s been hoovering up big prizes across the last few weekends….

All that said….

…. this column stands against the crowd as a matter of default and I have to take him on….

I think Threeunderthrufive is high enough in the ratings – so too Two For Gold….

…. I think Hartur d’Arc is probably loads better than he showed at Cheltenham – but he’s got to show a bit before he can be backed….

…. I don’t know enough about Heloy Delabarriere to even think about putting him up….

…. and Flegmatik just isn’t at the races – literally – this term….

It’s a toss-up between Trelawne and THE CHANGING MAN at prices ranging from 9/2 to 7/2….

…. and my preference is for the Tizzard horse….

….. despite not having his regular jockey up….

…. because he gets 17lb from Kim Bailey’s charge – a horse yet to prove himself up to his mark at 3m over fences….

The Changing Man is up 5lbs for a losing performance at Newcastle – never ideal….

…. but he was a moral winner up against Frero Banbou who was exceptionally well-handicapped on a mark of 127 for his first go at the 3m trip….

…. with both horses finishing well clear of the remainder….

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In the 2.05 at Haydock….

PERCUSSION was beaten well-enough at Aintree last time….

…. but he’s a decent price at 14s in a first-time visor for the Tommy Whittle at Haydock (2.05)….

He hasn’t won since May 2022….

…. and he’s been in-and-out over the last couple of seasons….

…. excelling over the Grand National fences at Aintree – where his record reads 33237….

…. and putting in a number of dubious efforts – including when dropped into the hunter chase division….

But he’s still capable on his day – as he showed at Uttoxeter back in the spring from 6lb out of the handicap….

…. and he’s dropped back to a mark of just 125 – which makes him dangerous if he puts his best foot forward in first-time headgear under a first-time ride from Brian Hughes….

It’s a big if, of course….

…. but the price is there – and it was only this time last year that the 9yo was logging career-best performances – so I’m happy to speculate….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back on Christmas Day with my picks for the action on Boxing Day….

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

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

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd