Races

Michael Heaton’s Friday Ascot Preview

Posted on | Posted by Michael Heaton

RACE 1

SPICY THANG did it tough first up in a Saturday Graduation when racing wide without cover towards the rear of the field on an on-speed day but to her credit she still reeled off some good late splits. She gets a much better setup here. WILUNA LASS led cheaply first up last week and was only gunned down in the final strides. She’s drawn the outside but has the speed to cross them and she’s a previous track/distance/grade winner with 2kg more than what she carries here. KINGS COURT is the other on-speed runner in the race and had no luck when off the track last time out but should either lead or breeze. NATURE’S RECKONING is a nice filly but the aggressive drop from 1800m to 1000m looks a bit too sharp for her.

Numbers: 3-5-1-2

Suggested Bet – SPICY THANG WIN

RACE 2

MIDNIGHT STAR is a 9-start maiden who has been a costly commodity to date but she appear to have found her race. She’s jumped a lot better with the addition of blinkers at her past 2 starts, closed off strongly after getting briefly held up last time out and now gets an extra 200m which looks ideal. BEYOND THE LIMITS stuck on okay for third in the same race and can roll straight to the top here. UNIVERSAL IMPACT was solid in a C1 last start and should enjoy the run of the race for in-form apprentice Natika Riordan. GOLD ENIGMA might be exactly that?

Numbers: 6-4-9-7

Suggested Bet – MIDNIGHT STAR WIN

RACE 3

MISS VALMALENCO hasn’t run a bad race this prep and chased hard behind the tearaway leader and eventual winner when second last start. She maps to get a gun run parked just behind the speed for Holly Nottle and Summer Dickson’s yard is striking at 24% from her past 50 runners. LIPSTICK JUNGLE looks the big danger. She’s been luckless at her first 2 runs back and now drops in grade with blinkers on for the first time. MR KISSINGER is an honest type but it looks a sticky map having drawn outside of Miss Valmalenco, Caporetto and Knockonheavensdoor. CAPORETTO is the likely leader and looks better suited back to 1200m off a freshen.

Numbers: 2-4-3-5

Suggested Bet – MISS VALMALENCO WIN

RACE 4

Only a 5-horse field to do battle in the Old Comrade Stakes and they all come through the Grandstand Cup. BONJOY was a huge win that day off the back of an electric Bunbury Stakes win where she had to reel off the fastest last 200m of the day over 1400m to get up. She’s now up 2.5kg to 59kg but has won 4 of 6 at the Ascot mile and looks likely to zap them again. ESSENTRIC NATURE was the unlucky runner of the Grandstand Cup when getting held up at a crucial stage and he gets a 2.5kg swing on Bonjoy for it. SENSESSIONAL would’ve preferred this race to be run last weekend for the wet track but he was brave in the Grandstand Cup and could take up the running in a race devoid of any natural speed. ELITE MISSILE drew out of contention at his last 2 starts but was huge on both occasions.

Numbers: 1-4-2-3

Suggested Bet – BONJOY WIN

RACE 5

Loved the run of BONDITRAM first up in a high-rating maiden. He closed off strong late to finish third to subsequent winners Roaming America and Mama Says So and now gets an extra 200m as well as Chris Parnham in the saddle. LE FEM LE CHOIX gives the impression she’s still a bit raw but has her share of natural ability. She shouldn’t be a maiden for long. MAESTRA was a massive debut in the same last-start race as Bonditram when having to drag back from an outside draw and then rocketing home in the fastest closing splits of the day but she’ll likely have to do the same from another tough alley here. EFFORTLESSLY an improver second-up.

Numbers: 2-9-11-7

Suggested Bet – BONDITRAM WIN

RACE 6

OCTOPTHORPE makes his debut off the back of 2 sharp recent trial wins. He looks a professional jump-and-run type, looks the likely leader and should be able to shake off likely breeze horse Yandy Blue on straightening. Fellow debutant FUTURE REVOLUTION trialled up well despite being a bit wayward and now gets winkers on which should help. Looks a nice enough type. DESORT ORA has been knocking on the door for a win and her best runs have been when settled off-speed which looks the most likely outcome from her sticky draw here. CEYONE looked very raw at the trials but loved the way she has been finishing off so she’s a watch on debut. Looks like she’s got a motor.

Numbers: 5-4-10-13

Suggested Bet – OCTOTHORPE WIN

RACE 7

CELEBRITY ANGEL only faced moderate opposition in her recent trial but was impressive when covering additional ground and pulling away to win under a hold. She’ll land in a forward position for Chris Parnham and her runner-up finishes to Spicy Thang and True Fiction last prep are good enough for this. FREE TO FLY looked the winner first up before getting nabbed in the final stride. She has a sticky draw to overcome but has returned well and finished behind a stack of Saturday types last prep. BELAURA STAR resumes and caught the eye in his recent trial. ARTIE’S ECLIPSE punches forward again but will be tip toeing late at the end of 1100m.

Numbers: 8-9-3-6

Suggested Bet – CELEBRITY ANGEL WIN

RACE 8

SCENIC GEORGE is extremely hard to catch (1 from 19) which doesn’t fill you with confidence but he’s returned well this prep. First up he was blocked for the entirety of the straight and still beaten less than 4L by Pingers (subsequent 66+ winner) in a Saturday Graduation and second up he was strong late in a better race than this. He may need luck from his inside draw but drops into a C1 and still drops 1kg after the claim. ESPHINO is a former $950,000 yearling and was purchased by Team Gangemi for a comparatively modest sum of $80,000 in an Inglis Digital sale 5 months ago. Trialled up well enough and looks a consistent type for this level. ORDER ONLINE faced stronger opposition at his 2 starts this prep and now gets blinkers for the first time. SNIPER’S SON resumes and hasn’t won for a while but had a consistent last campaign and Metro Brown has the team firing.

Numbers: 3-2-5-7

Suggested Bet – SCENIC GEORGE WIN

RACE 9

NICKELPLAY was solid first up then stuck on well for second at her last outing after box-seating from barrier one. She’s drawn the inside again and drops from a C3 back to a C1 so provided she gets clear at the right time, it looks a suitable setup for her. MOONWALK has been freshened and returns to the care of Team Williams since his last-start third to now-Lex Piper Stakes winner The Crimson Pirate. BONDI LIFESAVER trialled up much better this prep and won accordingly first up. ROSENTREA has returned sharply improved this time in.

Numbers: 8-7-4-6

Suggested Bet – NICKELPLAY WIN

RACE 10

PONY UP resumed off a 60-day break when story an authoritative win in Perth’s NARS heat at Belmont. He stays in the same grade second up and has drawn alongside likely leader Highly Spoken so he should be able to roll forward and have a tactical advantage over his main dangers. STARATING was huge first up over 1600m off a 12-month layoff when held up at crucial stages in the straight then missing by a head. She put the writing on the wall with a smart trial beforehand and is well placed in this company. for it. ARRANGEMENT improved out of sight at his second race start when stepping to 1600m and winning virtually untouched. HEWILLDOUS can play a part the day he jumps cleanly.

Numbers: 5-4-7-3

Suggested Bet – PONY UP WIN

Quaddie (Race 7 – 10)

3,6,8,9,11

2,3,5,7

4,7,8

4,5,7

180 combinations

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