On the profit trail at Ascot & Haydock....

Friday, 9th May 2025

On the profit trail at Ascot & Haydock….

This afternoon’s picks at Chester….

In ATC today….

…. I swing the bat in all the weekend’s biggest betting heats….

The Victoria Cup is the feature handicap at Ascot tomorrow….

…. the off time is 2.40….

…. and my pick of the prices is METAVERSE at 16s….

I’m also on KOTARI in the 3.15 at Ascot – he’s up at 10s….

…. and – over hurdles in the Swinton at Haydock – I’m on GOBLET OF FIRE at 11s….

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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METAVERSE has the potential to be overpriced at 16s for Saturday’s Victoria Cup at Ascot (2.40)….

I reckon David Menuisier’s charge is definitely in the right kind of place on the track – berthed in stall 13 – given that most of the likely early pace in the race is situated in the high-numbered stalls….

For those berthed on the low end quite a bit will depend on exactly where Lewis Edmunds chooses to go early doors on the most likely trail-blazer – Ebt’s Guard….

You can invest a lot of time and mental effort trying to figure these kinds of things out – only for the jockey to do what you least expect or least understand on the day….

For me, it’s always better to focus principally on digging out horses at prices with the potential to rate higher than their current perch….

…. and that’s the box that Metaverse ticks for me….

He disappointed backers at Doncaster on seasonal debut in March….

…. having been backed into favouritism he ran too free and ran out of petrol in the later stages….

He made up for it last time in a C3 at Kempton on the AW – where he produced a career-best when beating Kitaro Kich a length….

…. the form hasn’t been tested to destruction – but the sixth that day did chase Probe home in second at Chester on Wednesday…. which is promising….

Tomorrow’s assignment represents a big step-up in both class and level of opposition….

…. but Metaverse gets in towards the bottom of the weights off his revised mark of 88….

…. and what better time is there to push the button and go hunting for the big money than when you’re horse is fit, in-form and on an upwardly progressive curve….

He might well fall short – that’s the risk with these kinds of bets – but if there’s more to come (as I believe) then he could look a big price as they hit the business end of the race tomorrow….

One thing is for sure – he will appreciate the quick ground….

…. and – like I said – it looks to me like he’s in the right kind of place on the track….

It’s not easy to assess Turquino in the Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% Handicap at Ascot (3.15)….

… given that the horses he’s beaten in his two novice wins for Andrew Balding are 0/22 in subsequent races….

The fact that he’s favourite means I’m not going to concern myself with him too much anyway – because I’m going to oppose him come hell or high water….

The obvious one to me is Fireblade – who scored his first win on his first go since joining Dylan Cunha….

…. but he’s an obvious one for the rest of the market too….

…. and – at the prices – preference is for last year’s winner KOTARI at the general 10s….

He’s back down to a mark of 80 – 2lb lower than the rating he won the race off last year….

…. and if he repeats that performance then he goes close tomorrow – it’s as simple as that….

But will he? That’s the million-dollar question….

A bare read of his performance at Epsom on seasonal debut last month wouldn’t necessarily fill you with confidence – he was beaten 13.5 lengths over the 12f trip….

But he ran a bit keen, he might well have needed it, and he certainly wasn’t given anything like a hard time by Rhys Clutterbuck….

I’ve got no doubt that he’s quite a bit better than that….

…. the handicapper’s been very generous in dropping him 3lb for the performance….

…. and fresh jockey Rob Hornby has won on the horse previously….

He could be a bit of a surprise package at the prices….

In the Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock (1.35)….

…. I’m backing Nicky Henderson’s GOBLET OF FIRE at the general 11s….

He appreciates decent ground….

…. he’s clearly been held back for a spring campaign….

…. and he won with a bit to spare at Hereford last time….

…. he was certainly comfortable enough to suggest he can overcome the 5lb rise the handicapper’s given him….

That was his first run for 171 days….

…. I’d expect him to strip fitter for the run….

…. and I reckon he’s all set to get competitive tomorrow at a nice price….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back with more 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