Mick Fitzgerald’s ITV Racing Tips:
13:30 Ascot – Sir Rumi
14:05 Ascot – Belhaven
14:40 Ascot – Totally Charming, Safe Voyage (each-way)
15:15 Haydock – Nibiru (each-way)
*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.
13:30 Ascot – Sir Rumi
The ability to handle soft ground is going to be huge and Sir Rumi has already won two races in these conditions. It’s heavy in places at Ascot and a few of these will struggle in those conditions. Owners Amo Racing are flying and their Sir Rumi looks ideally placed to continue that good run. Nathanael Greene has to be respected but did bomb out at Doncaster on heavy ground when last seen in November.
14:05 Ascot – Belhaven
Harry Eustace’s runner Belhaven is proven on soft ground having won in similar conditions at Nottingham. Timeless Melody proved he handles this type of ground at Leicester and hit the line strong over 7f that day. The step up to a mile shouldn’t be a problem. Michael Bell’s filly One Morning is worthy of a second look although the lack of a recent run is a slight concern.
14:40 Ascot – Totally Charming, Safe Voyage (each-way)
The 7f Victoria Cup is one of the hottest handicaps of the season and the draw will play a major part. George Boughey has booked Billy ‘the kid’ Loughnane for Totally Charming who finished down the field in the Irish Lincoln, but was very strongly fancied on the day. He won last season on heavy ground at Doncaster when Ryan Moore was jocked up and has a stall 13 draw.
I’ll also add in the John Quinn-trained Safe Voyage who has the box 22 berth. He’s a very reliable sort with form on soft ground and could be interesting back to 7f after finishing placed in the Thirsk Hunt Cup over the mile last weekend.
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15:15 Haydock – Nibiru (each-way)
Tony Martin saddles Nibiru who disappointed at Aintree but was a decent runner-up at Leopardstown to Gaelic Warrior in a valuable handicap hurdle last February. Fellow Irish raider Byker is another player for the Charles Byrnes team, ridden by his son Philip, who takes off a valuable 5lb.
Byker receives the four-year-old age allowance too, which definitely puts him in the mix. He won on fast ground when trained by Richard Hannon which is also a plus as they are watering at Haydock to keep it safe. Ground conditions may not be ideal for Brentford Hope who appreciates some cut and the Swinton Hurdle is a different ball game to what he has been running in this far.
Mick Fitzgerald’s ITV Racing Tips:
13:30 Ascot – Sir Rumi
14:05 Ascot – Belhaven
14:40 Ascot – Totally Charming, Safe Voyage (each-way)
15:15 Haydock – Nibiru (each-way)
*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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