It is a pulsating afternoon of racing at Ascot on Saturday, and Declan Rix has 5 runners to maintain onside in what may very well be a telling day within the run-up to the Cheltenham Competition.
Kilbeg King
1.50 Sodexo Reside! Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase
5 runners to take care of on this Grade Two novice chase contest, however we’ll hopefully have a fairly-run race due to Apple Away and Courageous Kingdom going ahead.
The previous is a Grade One winner over hurdles, however I am undecided she has replicated that type over fences but and comes right here on the again of a below-par effort, for all she was taken on for the lead early. The latter is a likeable, easy type whose current chase type has labored out properly, however Kilbeg King merely has one of the best chase type and at 3/1 appears to be like the soundest guess.
The previous Irish point-to-point winner has clearly been a late burner in a profession that has had its damage setbacks, however the nine-year-old comes right here on the again of an enormous profession greatest and has achieved nothing however progress in his final two seasons.
His run final day out in opposition to the likes of Il Est Francais and Hermes Allen was a high-quality effort and he meets nothing of that calibre right here. Good floor and first-time cheekpieces actually sharpened up the son of Doyen in that Grade One Kauto Star Novices’ Chase and I am backing him to show that effort no fluke.
Uncommon Version
2.25 Thoroughbred Business Worker Awards Handicap Hurdle
Because the 2022/23 marketing campaign progressed, the beforehand keen-goer Uncommon Version (6/1) settled down and improved his leaping, making hay within the first half of the season, profitable his first three begins over hurdles at Worcester, Doncaster and Kempton, the ultimate effort coming in a normally sensible novice hurdle on Boxing Day.
The second half of final season noticed the wheels come off, however he scoped poorly after a disappointing Huntingdon effort whereas the bottom went in opposition to him on the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals, for all each runs noticed him extremely tried in Grade Ones.
A mark of 139 nonetheless appears to be like honest based mostly on that 2022 Kempton effort alone whereas quickening floor at Ascot is massively in his favour. Whereas Uncommon Version seemed pacey as a novice hurdler, his two efforts this season actually have urged he might thrive over Saturday’s longer journey, a view backed up by his pedigree.
His current success at Kempton in all probability deserves a small improve too given he sat within the tooth of a gallop in a race that received going an extended, good distance from house. A 3lb rise seems honest with Harry Cobden once more taking the journey.
Shan Blue
3.00 – Injured Jockeys Fund Ambassadors Programme Swinley Handicap Chase
A discipline of 10 chasing this £56,950 first prize and on paper, it might show to be fairly a tactical contest regardless of the staying journey. Quickening floor and a relative pace take a look at is a set-up Shan Blue (6/1) might thrive off, for a workforce which have had nice success focusing on these huge handicaps in current seasons.
We should not neglect this 10-year-old is a Grade One winner going right-handed, due to his stylish 2020 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase success. The next season, the son of Shantou was 22 lengths clear when falling three out within the Charlie Corridor Chase, exhibiting himself to a possible star, however that tumble would change the trajectory of his profession.
Certainly, earlier than his final day out third right here at Ascot, Shan Blue had type figures of PPP and seemed, as they are saying, gone on the sport, however, first-time cheekpieces on some floor sparked him again to life. It was pretty to see. Genuinely.
The step up in journey actually ought to see him in a significantly better mild, and if the fireplace nonetheless burns prefer it did 56 days in the past, a mark of 143 nonetheless appears to be like workable, particularly on the again of Harper’s Brook, who he completed simply behind final day out, subsequently profitable.
Rapper
3.00 – Injured Jockeys Fund Ambassadors Programme Swinley Handicap Chase
Rapper is a tough horse to name for the time being and clearly one together with his fair proportion of points, as his most up-to-date type figures of PP4P counsel. Inside these pulled-up efforts there have been bleeding and coronary heart points reported, however two runs again, he seemed a horse in nice order when ending fourth in a stronger handicap than this at Cheltenham.
That was behind the likes of Broadway Boy, the reopposing Threeunderthrufive and Protektorat the place he travelled sweetly and jumped effectively regardless of softer than very best floor. He was over seven lengths behind Threeunderthrufive at the present time, however a 5lb swing within the weights can see him get nearer, if on a going day.
The late market could be key as a result of final day out Rapper was a heavy drifter forward of the Basic Chase at Warwick and ran accordingly, regardless of a superb earlier effort. A change in monitor on faster floor with a change in headgear and jockey can hopefully revive the outdated boy together with his coach Henry Daly among the many winners this week.
Pic D’Orhy
3.36 Betfair Ascot Chase
Simply the 4 runners on this British Grade One, however no Irish raiders for the house workforce to take care of. L’Homme Presse is the undoubted class act of the sphere, but it surely have to be of some concern he backs up in 27 days after a prolonged 391-day break off the monitor on account of damage. The very fact Venetia Williams’ inmate has persistently jumped left in his profession over fences is not very best round Ascot’s right-handed monitor both.
For a horse Gold Cup-bound, Saturday’s intermediate journey may additionally show lower than very best, on quickening floor, however each these variables are an enormous plus for Pic D’Orhy. The Ditcheat-based galloper was a well-beaten second to an in-form Shishkin in final 12 months’s renewal, however does not meet something of that high quality right here.
That stated, you can also make the case that the nine-year-old has persistently come up quick when going through true top-notchers, of which L’Homme Presse is, however now Pic D’Orhy has sorted his leaping and turn into much more in line with that factor of his sport, he’s total a tougher horse to beat on this grade, particularly going right-handed.
The proficient however unpredictable Ahoy Senor is able to profitable if on a going day, however with doubts concerning the odds-on favorite, Pic D’Orhy is a sporting play in opposition to him given a lot appears to be like in his favour.