We have some great races at Ascot this Saturday, with the Reynoldstown Novice Chase and Betfair Chase the ones we will look at in today’s article.
1.50pm Ebony Horse Club Reynoldstown Novice Chase 3m
Heading the entries here is Jingko Blue trained by Nicky Henderson, this 6yo looks to be his trainers main chance for a winner in the novice chase division as stable top prospect was pulled out of the Arkle through injury. The gelding started his chase campaign at Uttoxeter in a handicap where he won by 9 ½ lengths, the form of that race looks strong as the 3rd Jagwar went on to win a nice pot at Cheltenham last month.
Jingko Blue then went on to take a Grade 2 at Windsor where he relished the step up in trip and beat an opposing rival in this up coming race. He is expected to go to Cheltenham if running well here.
Lowrys Bar trained by Phillip Hobbs and J White is hoping to gain revenge on the Henderson horse having been beaten 2 ¼ lengths, his jockey Michael Nolan said the bad mistake at the 3rd last cost him momentum. The 7yo gelding will have a 5lb pull now so it will be interesting if his jumping holds up.
Nicky Henderson has another potential runner here in Hyland, this 8yo is having a great campaign over fences winning two listed races at Cheltenham before coming second to The Jukebox Man on Boxing Day where he only got beat 2 ½ lengths. This gelding has to also can a 5lb penalty so will his trainer miss this race and look to freshen him up for a race at the Cheltenham Festival.
The last one we will look at is Butch trained by Olly Murphy, this 8yo has only had the sole run over fences winning a three runner race at Leicester. The gelding was skinny odds that day but he won impressively by 14 lengths, he came 2nd in a Grade 2 Novice Hurdle last season so he certainly has ability.
Betting for this race (Ante Post Rules Apply):
No ID Verification Betting Site UK: Jingko Blue 2/1, Lowrys Bar 7/2, Hyland 4/1, Butch 11/2, The Changing Man 8/1 and its 10/1 bar.
Casinos Non UK: Jingko Blue 9/4, Lowrys Bar 7/2, Hyland 7/2, Butch 11/2, The Changing Man 8/1 and its 12/1 bar.
USA Gambling Sites: Jingko Blue 2/1, Lowrys Bar 100/30, Hyland 7/2, Butch 7/1, The Changing Man 10/1 and its 12/1 bar.
15.37 Betfair Ascot Chase Grade 1 2m 5f
The highlight of the day at Ascot is the Ascot Chase where we have the first and second of last year’s race reappearing again. We will start with Pic D’Orhy for Paul Nicholls who won this having been the second favourite, he made all and when being shaken up two out he kept on being unchallenged. The now 10yo gelding had a wind op in July and which kept him off the track till November when he took the Grade 2 Copybet 1965 Chase at Ascot by 3 ½ lengths making all again.
His main challenger here looks to be L’Homme Presse for Venita Williams, this now 10yo gelding will look to gain revenge but will certainly need to take a more prominent position than last season. He’s had the two runs this season, starting off in the King George where he came 3rd beaten 11 ¾ lengths by Banbridge. He just looked tapped for toe there on a tight course, but made up for it by taking the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham last month by ¾ to the Nicholls’s Stage Star.
You’d think Nicholls will have a good idea what position Stage Star and Pic D’Orhy are in the stable pecking order so time will tell come race day for the rest of us.
Corbetts Cross is also a potential runner here for Emmet Mullins, the 8yo gelding was last seen finishing 6th in the King George where he didn’t have the pace to challenge but this track would play much more to his strengths. The JP McManus owned horse was a winner at the Cheltenham Festival winning the 4m Chase so stamina will be no problem if his jockey looks at making the running.
Betting for this race (Ante Post Rules Apply):
Gambling Sites Not on Gamban: Pic D’Orhy 6/4, L’Homme Presse 15/8, Corbetts Cross 9/4, Le Patron 10/1 and 16/1 bar.
Betting Sites That Accept Credit Cards: Pic D’Orhy 13/8, L’Homme Presse 7/4, Corbetts Cross 9/4, Le Patron 10/1 and 16/1 bar.
We wish you the best of luck with your selections on what promises to be a great days action.
Please remember to gamble responsibly.
