Frank Hickey’s Horse Racing Tips
13:30 Newmarket – Lady Boba
13:50 Ascot – Chipstead
14:05 Newmarket – Zoulu Chief
14:25 Ascot – Claymore
15:00 Ascot – Dark Trooper
15:15 Newmarket – Heredia (each-way)
15:35 Ascot – Fresh
*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 Newmarket – Lady Boba
This race has been won by the likes of Al Husn and Via Sistina in the past two years and Lady Boba makes her handicap debut off a mark of 82. She is a sister to King Of Conquest (Listed winner rated 111), King Vega (rated 105 but was second in a Solario Stakes) and Capital Structure.
The Ralph Beckett stable have had an amazing season and are still operating at a 20 per cent strike rate for the last two weeks. Lady Boba was third in a Newbury maiden on debut last October on heavy ground and wasn’t seen until July this year when a half length second to Real Gain at Chelmsford.
Lady Boba won at Ffos Las last time out in a maiden over 12f on soft ground and won from Art De Vivre by just under a length. Art De Vivre bolted up in a handicap at Thirsk off 73 on next start and is now rated 81. Rossa Ryan said that while she handled soft ground at Ffos Las, he felt she would be better on good ground. She has the potential to be rated 100+ on breeding and her form points to her being well handicapped off a mark of 82.
13:50 Ascot – Chipstead
Emaraaty Anna sets the standard on ratings being rated 111, with Nymphadora rated 104. Chipstead was good enough to win a York handicap back in May off a mark of 102 and it hasn’t really happened for him since, but he has first time cheekpieces on.
He ran below form in the Wokingham but 5f is more his trip. He’s a double-figure price and three places are on offer. He is worth chancing.
14:05 Newmarket – Zoulu Chief
The draw in stall 14 might not be ideal for Zoulu Chief with the stalls being on the far side. Even allowing for that, there is a chance he just breaks quickly and edges across from the wide stall to be in a good position on the front end. He showed what he was capable of on his second start at Newbury when a 150/1 shot, when making all in impressive fashion.
He was beaten in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and a Glorious Goodwood nursery but bounced back with a bang in a Windsor nursery over 6f, winning by nearly five lengths off a mark of 80. He went to York for a really strong nursery off 86 and again won impressively and has gone up to a mark of 97, however, that form is red hot. He is rated 97 and next highest on ratings is Woodhay Wonder on 87 and Zoulu Chief must give him 5lbs.
14:25 Ascot – Claymore
Al Aasy was a little unlucky at Leopardstown but according to the sectional times, he wasn’t quite as unlucky as maybe first perceived. He definitely is the one to beat but I will take a chance on Claymore, who was an impressive winner on debut two years ago at Newmarket and he had My Prospero back in third that day.
He was second in the Craven on his next start six months later behind Native Trail who was second in the Guineas and won the Irish version.
He returned in May in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes but bled. He’s been off since and there are plenty of risks attached but this isn’t a vintage Group 3 and he has the ability to figure if on his ‘A’ game.
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15:00 Ascot – Dark Trooper
Dark Trooper is a fast improving three-year-old who has won his last four starts in handicaps off 83, 86, 89 & 97, including at Ascot. His two defeats this season were at the beginning of the campaign when running over 7f.
He has a bit to do on ratings but the Ed Walker yard are in form (24 per cent strike rate in the last two weeks). He could get a good pace to aim at with a few in here who like to race handy.
15:15 Newmarket – Heredia (each-way)
There is only a 1lb ratings gap between Inspiral and Mqse De Sevigne. Inspiral is seven wins from 11 starts and has only lost once against her own sex when second to Prosperous Voyage in a Falmouth Stakes at 1/7 fav last season.
Mqse De Sevigne was being campaigned as a 10f filly but this season she has improved. She has won two Group 1’s, first over a mile in Deauville in the Prix Rothschild when she had the likes of Remarquee, Rogue Millennium and Sounds Of Heaven behind. She then followed up beating Via Sistina and Above The Curve in the Prix Jean Romanet over 10f.
I will chance Heredia each way though even though she has plenty to find on ratings. She was a Sandringham winner last year off a mark of 98 and was poor after that, however, she’s been much better this season.
She was second to Azure Blue over an insufficient trip of 6f at Newmarket on her reappearance and was an impressive winner of the listed Dick Hern Stakes at Haydock in August when winning by nearly 4l eased down.
It’s her first start in a Group 1 but she looks to be improving at the right time and is worth a shot.
15:35 Ascot – Fresh
Popmaster is 3lb well in after his Listed win at Newbury on his last start. Fresh won twice here last year over 7f off marks of 98 and 102.
He was fifth in the Wokingham Stakes off 101 and shaped well in the Bold Lad Handicap at the Curragh when a never nearer sixth to Big Gossey, shaping like he wanted to go back to 7f.
The stalls are stand side, so it could be best to be drawn high and he is in stall 18. He will need luck in the run but is too well treated to ignore.
Frank Hickey’s Horse Racing Tips
13:30 Newmarket – Lady Boba
13:50 Ascot – Chipstead
14:05 Newmarket – Zoulu Chief
14:25 Ascot – Claymore
15:00 Ascot – Dark Trooper
15:15 Newmarket – Heredia (each-way)
15:35 Ascot – Fresh
*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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