Races

Scott Embry’s Saturday Ascot Preview

Posted on | Posted by Scott Embry

RACE 1

DATE WITHTHE DEVIL gets a 1.5kg weight swing and an extra 200m to try and turn the tables on PULL THE TRIGGER from last start. Thought he did a good job to finish fourth in that event after being held up in the early stages of the home straight and with an uninterrupted run here can get over them late. PULL THE TRIGGER was able to use his barrier last start so expect he lobs in the box seat again and gets every chance. WAR MATTERS savaged the line in a high speed maiden last start. TONI’S SPIRIT might still want a bit further.

Numbers: 4 – 3 – 6 – 1

Suggested Bet – DATE WITHTHE DEVIL WIN

RACE 2

I LOVE YOUR SMILE put in two really good runs earlier this preparation behind subsequent Northam Cup winner Bucket’s Ride and behind emerging staying talent Hemlock Stone. Last three have been well below her best but this is a significant drop in grade. O’Donnell on first time is the added X-Factor. KERMAN ROCK similarly is not racing anywhere near the peak of his powers but Chris Willis’ horses can grow a leg off 7 days. LORD RANDOLPH ran past some very limited animals last start, but this is not a strong line-up. CHOICE THINKING is afforded a great chance to go from a maiden to a 60+ and win.

Numbers: 1 – 3 – 8 – 2

Suggested Bet – I LOVE YOUR SMILE EACHWAY

RACE 3 

CHOLLIMA should be too sharp for these. First-up she was held up until the race was over and still finished within 2L off Cosmic Crusader / Keep Attacking / Brave Spirit / Miss Flirtatious / Wubin Gold / Esprit Garcon / Sentimental Belle over 1200m and second-up she was again held up until the race was over before flashing home into third. This is her chance to stay off the fence and wind up over them back in grade. AMJAAD can lead and control and has returned in excellent order. BE BARDOT found the step to 1800 a bridge too far and comes back in distance here. DUN WITH THE BLUES trialled well.

Numbers: 2 – 5 – 6 – 3

Suggested Bet – CHOLLIMA WIN

RACE 4

ROYAL TORONADO was a brilliant third behind Great Fortune two starts back and then reproduced it last week with a fast finishing fourth behind Fly With Caution. 7 days later he meets that galloper 2kg better, he gets back out to 1800m and he gains the services of William Pike. Plenty to like. FLY WITH CAUTION has been underrated his entire career. Tough win last week and gives the impression he’ll run the trip no worries. DECORATION somehow missed in the photo finish on Opening Day. ODINAKA sneaks back in grade nicely.

Numbers: 7 – 1 – 2 – 4

Suggested Bet – ROYAL TORONADO WIN

RACE 5

JOKERS GRIN is the most exciting galloper on the program – and that’s saying something with Railway and Winterbottom Stakes hopefuls left, right and centre in the Asian Beau and Prince Of Wales – but he could be anything this horse. Get back sprinters are brilliant to watch and he’s got serious gears. Always wary first time at Ascot but the track couldn’t be playing any better after 3 weeks. KINGS HONOUR is a logical danger because he has no weight and a map where he can lead on his own. CAPITAL FLIGHT drops out of the Crawford and gets Pike. THE BOSS LADY trialled very well for her return.

Numbers: 7 – 9 – 1 – 3

Suggested Bet – JOKERS GRIN WIN

RACE 6

WIND AND THE LION made a serious impression on debut as a 2 year old. He had trialled like a really nice juvenile but on race day he went to another level and burst through to win by 3L eased down. 400m jump out was anything and then in his 1000m trial he was zapped by September Born (who wore blinkers) and considering his effort in defeat behind West Star in the Belgravia last weekend happy to follow through here. Just needs the right ride from a tricky barrier. REPOSSESSION, SINFUL LIVING both ran well in the Max Simmonds Stakes on Opening Day and both map well here. CATCH CARTER was a different horse in blinkers.

Numbers: 1 – 4 – 2 – 3

Suggested Bet – WIND AND THE LION WIN

RACE 7

SNOWDOME won the Prince Of Wales in 2023 first-up, no trial and Hall of Fame trainer Neville Parnham follows the exact same path in 2024. There’s one obvious difference between then and now – he returns as a gelding. From barrier 1 Brad Parnham has the option to hold up underneath Bravo Centurion or take a sit on him leader’s back. Proven WFA sprinter. BRAVO CENTURION faced his toughest test to date in the Crawford and came through a highly impressive winner. This is another step up for him but he keeps improving. SALOON BAR meets him 1.5kg better and was charging at him late. BOOTS LIKE BRUCE was a revelation over winter.

Numbers: 4 – 8 – 3 – 5

Suggested Bet – SNOWDOME EACHWAY

RACE 8

ZIPAWAY won the WA Guineas in 2023 before finishing a head away from Group One glory in the Northerly Stakes when beaten narrowly by Dom To Shoot and Zaaki. Ran two great minors in the Autumn Stake and Sir Alister Clark Stakes at Group Two level in Melbourne earlier this year and has trialled well for his return. Goes around eachway and that looks an attractive betting proposition. SUPER SMINK is back to her best and reunites with Chris Parnham who has ridden her to all four victories. She maps to get a lovely run midfield with cover and she’s showing her customary turn of foot which went missing last preparation over autumn. YONGA LASS looks right place, right time and is very dangerous with a gap late. MOJO RHYTHM the blow out.

Numbers: 3 – 2 – 15 – 12

Suggested Bet – ZIPAWAY EACHWAY

Same Race Multi – Super Smink (Top 3) + Zipaway (Top 4)

Super Smink has returned to somewhere near her best form and from the draw she should get the run she needs to win. Reunites with Chris Parnham who has ridden her to all four career wins and the timing looks right. Zipaway is last season’s WA Guineas winner who has trialled well for his return and should settle in a similar position to Super Smink and adds value to the SRM.

RACE 9

ESPRIT GARCON clearly has a few soundness issues that Tiarnna Noske is working her way through – he resumed in bar plates (hind) and now has concussion plates (front) added. While a beaten favourite at his return he was still a great run after sitting three and four deep the trip. Going to side up with him again but wary that he may not be at his absolute best. WUBIN GOLD was a huge run in the same race, as was KEEP ATTACKING. They’ll both settle in similar positions off speed with Esprit Garcon. MISS FLIRTACIOUS looks to have a great map with only Tycoon Harry the only other speed horse in the race.

Numbers: 3 – 12 – 6 – 14

Suggested Bet – ESPRIT GARCON WIN

Quaddie (Race 6 – 9)

1,2,3,4

3,4,5,8

2,3,15

3,6,12,14

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