Ascot betting tips:
13:50 – El Rio
14:25 – Eaton Collina
15:00 – Bluegrass
15:35 – Frere d’Armes
16:10 – Charging Point
16:45 – Run To Milan
17:20 – Rocky Man
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
13:50 – El Rio
Winning pointer El Rio showed little in a couple of bumpers for Colin McBratney but he probably would have made a successful start over hurdles for Kim Bailey on his hurdling debut at Chepstow in February had he stood up. El Rio was still a couple of lengths ahead and finding for pressure but fell heavily at the final flight. He is worth siding with to make amends here.
14:25 – Eaton Collina
Eaton Collina took advantage of a sliding mark when getting off the mark over fences at Chepstow in February and there was plenty to like about the performance. Eaton Collina travelled with enthusiasm and jumped well at the head of affairs and he stuck to his task well after being headed in the straight, showing a good attitude to regain the lead and score by three and a half lengths. A 5 lb rise in the weights shouldn’t prevent another bold bid from Eaton Collina, whose trainer Kerry Lee was in good form last month.
15:00 – Bluegrass
Bluegrass shaped better than the result would suggest when a distant runner-up at Stratford last time, proving unsuited by the emphasis being placed on stamina (additional yardage took the distance to beyond two and a half miles), and he will appreciate dropping back in trip. Bluegrass hadn’t jumped fluently when runner-up at Newbury on his previous outing but he was better in that department at Stratford, and an opening mark of 110 could easily underestimate him given the level he showed on the Flat when with Aidan O’Brien (he was third in the 2022 Dante Stakes). It’s worth noting that his trainer Stuart Edmunds won this race last year.
15:35 – Frere d’Armes
Frere d’Armes managed to win a couple of novices over hurdles last season but he appealed as the type to make a better chaser and he raised his game when making a successful start over fences in a handicap at Kempton in November, impressing with how well he jumped and travelled. Frere d’Armes then built on that when defying an 8 lb higher mark at Newbury, beating Aucunrisque and Datsalrightgino in a novice handicap that has proved to be a very strong piece of form. He hasn’t been seen since that victory towards the end of November but fitness is rarely an issue for horses hailing from Dan Skelton’s stable and he still looks well treated after a further 8 lb rise in the weights. It’s also likely that he has more to offer after only a couple of starts over fences.
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16:10 – Charging Point
Charging Point shaped with encouragement when third on his handicap debut at Southwell in February and he confirmed that promise to get off the mark over the same course and distance last time. Charging Point was hampered approaching the home turn in that two-and-a-half miler, but he picked up strongly in the straight to hit the front approaching the last and pulled six and a half lengths clear. The way he stayed on last time suggests this step up to nearly three miles can unlock further improvement and he looks up to defying a 9 lb higher mark.
16:45 – Run To Milan
Run To Milan was disappointing at Sandown last time but he ran well to finish third in the Veterans’ Final there the time before, showing that he retains plenty of ability at the age of 11. Run To Milan looks well handicapped off a mark 8 lb lower than the one he defied at Exeter last season, while it’s also a positive that his trainer, Victor Dartnall, has been among the winners of late.
17:20 – Rocky Man
Rocky Man shaped as if amiss when pulled-up at Ffos Las on his latest outing in January, but he has been given plenty of time to get over that and he looks interesting based on his two other outings this season. Rocky Man looked some way ahead of his opening mark when making a successful return at Wetherby in October and then arguably produced a better effort in defeat when runner-up at Ffos Las, where he found only an unexposed rival too strong. He needs to bounce back from his latest effort at that venue but is worth another chance.
Ascot betting tips:
13:50 – El Rio
14:25 – Eaton Collina
15:00 – Bluegrass
15:35 – Frere d’Armes
16:10 – Charging Point
16:45 – Run To Milan
17:20 – Rocky Man
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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