The Royal meeting at Ascot is racing by and we hit the penultimate day of the 2020 staging. While so much at Royal Ascot is different this year, one thing that has not changed is the quality of the action and we don’t see that being any different on Friday.
It is a classy card to continue the meeting with, with only two handicaps on the seven race schedule. We’ll get stuck into the Group races elsewhere but first here is our look at the two handicaps, which form the opener and the closer on the Friday card.
1.15 Royal Ascot
Preview
Another new race at the Royal meeting is this 5 furlong sprint for 3 year old handicapper’s & there’s a big field of 22 expected to battle it out. Art Power is a short priced but deserved favourite having won his last 2 in novice company, by 5 lengths both times. As we saw in Day 3 though, short priced favourites in big handicaps aren’t always to be trusted largely due to the differing conditions such as the big field.
Keep Busy has been running in Listed company & has landed one of those so has claims but John Egan, who surely had the option of whether to ride him, has jumped ship. At a massive price of around 33/1, there’s lots of reasons to back Rayong including when suffering terrible interference here 12 months ago just as his challenge was materialising but instead, there are 2 bets at shorter odds.
Betting
The first of them in Dancin Inthestreet and he’s the one Egan has chosen to ride for top trainer William Haggas. He was 2nd on debut over 7 furlongs, the front 2 pulling clear & was then dropped to 6 furlongs on the all weather. He then got off the mark, winning really well with the front 2 clear again. On his next start, he was 5th on the all weather again but didn’t get the run of the race, finishing behind one of today’s rivals Maystar but he is 9lbs better off today.
He improved again though on his last run when dropped to this trip for the first time on good to soft ground. After being scrubbed along early, he came to challenge & looked the likely winner but managed to run into the back of everything, eventually finishing an unlucky 3rd. He’s 4lb out of the handicap but looks better than his mark & has a very low weight of 8st here. With a middle draw where he can get a good tow into the race, he looks sure to go well.
Will To Win is the second bet. After being outclassed on debut on the turf, he has since raced exclusively on the all weather winning 4 & finishing 2nd once, that being last time out off 1lb lower. All those races were over 6 furlongs &, visually, he travels the best of all & is always last off the bridle, usually showing a fine turn of foot. What is noticeable though is that the turning tracks don’t suit so those all weathers can be upgraded.
Breeding suggests he’ll be better with ease in the ground on turf and this track, with a straight & wide 5 furlong track should play to his strengths. Given the well he travels, quickens & stays, a step back in trip on a stiff track looks to be right up his street and, with Buick doing the steering, he looks massively overpriced.
Tips
PLACED – Back Dancin Inthestreet (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 10.00 Betfair Sportsbook BOG (1/5 odds 1-6)
VOID – Back Will To Win (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 15.00 Betfair Sportsbook BOG (1/5 odds 1-6)
Back them here:
Special Offer
OPEN UP AN 888SPORT ACCOUNT DURING ROYAL ASCOT, BET £10 TO GET £40 IN FREE BETS TO USE THROUGHOUT THE MEETING! CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO BET. USE CODE RACING.
New customers only – £10 deposit using promo code “RACING” – First bet must be placed on any market – Minimum stake £10 at odds of 1/2 (1.5) – Free bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days – Free bet stakes not included in returns – Deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time. General deposit method & withdrawal restrictions apply & Full T&C’s apply
4.40 Royal Ascot
Preview
We have to wait until the last race on the card for the 2nd & final handicap of the day. This is the Duke Of Edinburgh over a mile and a half, and it’s attracted a field of 19. Durston heads the market & he’s been progressive but his mark has risen accordingly. He now races off 100 which looks steep & he looks to have been priced off the back of his run behind Technician, who didn’t exactly frank the form in the Gold Cup, miles behind Stradivarius.
West End Charmer is Mark Johnston’s main hope having won well on his reappearance at Newmarket where he was enterprisingly ridden & took advantage of the considerable pace bias. He picked up a 4lb penalty for that but is officially 5lbs well in but stall 3 & a monster weight of 9st9lbs is offputting. Good Birthday was 6 lengths back at Newmarket but, without the bias & a swing of 4lbs in the weights, he should get a whole lot closer today.
Betting
However, the bet is the bottom weight & mount of Oisin Murphy, Medal Winner. He completely bombed on debut on soft but redeemed himself next time out when 2nd to Audarya on good to soft in a novice event at Redcar. His first run is easily forgiven and there should be no ground doubts with his dam’s sire being Keltos, who boosts plenty of soft ground form.
Since then, he’s won his last 2, the first when 6 lengths clear at Brighton lasts summer. After a year off, he won a Newcastle handicap off 6lbs lower, coming clear by 2 lengths & winning a shade cosily. He gave the impression there was more to come & this step up in trip should suit. He’s the most lightly raced in the field so don’t be surprised if he proves to be miles ahead of his mark further down the line.
Tips
Back Medal Winner (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 9.00 Skybet BOG (1/5 odds 1-6)
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2020
