FREE: Ascot Selections: Wednesday 26th October

Fairly mild midweek card out at Ascot today. Rail goes out 16m with a cutaway in the straight and a little bit of rain earlier in the week. Track has been playing on-speed, hard and fast but traditionally with the rail out where it is it can bring the swoopers right into it.

Race 1 – 12:54PM SEACORP HANDICAP (1600 METRES)

2. Playhouse Patron – 1. Demolish – 5. Amjaad – 3. Central Force

Playhouse Patron

Thought Amjaad was a little unders as a 3.10 favourite and that a 1400m race on the same day quinella’d by Playhouse Patron and Demolish on the same day at Northam was a stronger race. Love the way Playhouse Patron got to the line late there and looks to be crying out for the mile now, trusting that form reference and think the price discrepancy between the two is a little large for me at 5.50-4.00 the pair. Trusting that is the right form here and am happy to back the pair.

1.5 Units WIN

Demolish

For reasons mentioned above, I think his last start win at Northam is the race to follow heading into the opener today. Can hold up leaders back with a cutaway on offer and the mile should be of no issue to him, has alway shown promise and a good level of ability. Follows Amjaad in the run and will get every chance to go past.

0.5 Units WIN View TOPSPORT Racing Markets Here! View PLAYUP Racing Markets Here

Race 2 – 1:34PM TABTOUCHBETTER YOUR BET MAIDEN (1200 METRES)

1. Field Of Battle – 3. Circus Star – 6. Samaria – 11. Crystal Rose

Field Of Battle

Field Of Battle is better than maiden grade. He showed that to me last start when a really tough 3rd behind a couple of smart ones in Miss Drakova and Fluro Neuro. Never gave up the fight there through the line after breezing throughout and having to do some work to get there, and this race is nowhere near as deep. For a horse that can be a little questionable out of the stalls, a little reserved at the current quote he is but I think if he can find the breeze then he will be very hard to beat. Just want $3.00 to be betting.

2.5 Units WIN @$3.00+ BSP

Race 3 – 2:14PM WESTERN RACEPIX MAIDEN (1200 METRES)

5. Kosta’s Crown – 11. Grey Mistress – 9. Scenery – 3. Argent Sauvage

Kosta’s Crown

No heroes here. Need a wobble from the 1.75 currently but this has to be Kosta’s day or it is the sea until the end of time. The form he brings is far superior to his opposition, he’s much better suited at 1200m and I tend to think he’s also better back on top of the ground. Even if he does land 3 back the fence in running here he has a cutaway on offer against what look a moderate bunch at best with the fresh blood on the scene (nice triallers on debut) drawn pretty sticky. Has the fire power to be getting over these but it is D-Day his first time ever going around in a maiden. Marked him 1.85 so black figures and I’m happy to launch.

4 Units WIN @$2.00+ BSP View PLAYUP Racing Markets Here

Race 4 – 2:53PM MORLEY GROWERS MARKET HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

8. Sisu Warrior – 7. Prawns Eleven – 2. Oceanic Rider – 4. Tiffany Street View TOPSPORT Racing Markets Here! View PLAYUP Racing Markets Here

Race 5 – 3:30PM AMELIA PARK HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

6. Upper Limits – 2. Too Much Talk – 3. Vital Gem – 1. Magical Gem

Upper Limits does look very-well placed here with the proven 3yon formula up against the older horses after a terrific effort behind All The King’s Men in Saturday 3yo company when not offered much luck at all in running, looks to be progressing very nicely for Jeremy Easthope. Pray for a very unlikely wobble.

Keen Too Much Talk runs the quinella, off his 1st up win he has come back a better horse this preparation with the 2nd horse Birkett Boy plunged at his next start when also victorious. Maps beautifully here as well. View TOPSPORT Racing Markets Here! View PLAYUP Racing Markets Here

Race 6 – 4:05PM GLENROY CHAFF HANDICAP (1800 METRES)

3. Frech – 8. Glenburn Hotel – 2. Birkett Boy – 1. Etomorp

Frech

Although still a maiden, I’ve really liked how Frechhas hit the line at his 2 runs to date this preparation. Looks to be a horse crying out for more distance, and ran a great race when still pretty green over the staying distance last preparation behind a stayer that certainly has some ability in Mystical Babe. Chris Parnham takes the ride, Pope stable starting to evidently warm up and like that he’s now stretching out over the 1800m. Progressive.

0.5 Units EACH WAY

Birkett Boy I really like as a horse, just think he’s a tad under the odds at 2.80 stepping from a 1300m maiden into an 1800m CL1.

Glenburn Hotel is still trying to get out from the pocket he was caught in last start and Etomorp‘s run 1st up was nowhere near as bad as it looks on paper, I actually thought it was super and is absolutely better suited over more ground up to the 1800m here. BSPs late those two are the other two I could play around with if they can win down the middle of the track as what can generally occur when the rail is out so far. View TOPSPORT Racing Markets Here! View PLAYUP Racing Markets Here

Race 7 – 4:45PM $4 MILLION QUOKKA SLOT RACE IN APRIL 2023 HANDICAP (1500 METRES)

7. Sketta – 6. Tiff’s Lad – 2. Roch Legacy – 9 Lord Gannicus

Interesting race as by this stage of the day, a track pattern will have emerged.

If 3 deep cover is the place to be and the swoopers are getting involved, Tiff’s Lad and Roch Legacy are the two I’d be happy to back late. Had something on Roch Legacy 1st up at cricket score odds off the back of a really nice trial and he was absolutely bolting for a run when held up the entirety there, Chris Parnham hops aboard for Brad Rawiller. Tiff’s Lad endured a similar tale of the tape, completely chopped out when looked to have plenty to offer and CJP hops aboard for the apprentice. Both will be looking for that 3 wide moving line from their barriers.

Sketta is your map horse and Stevie Parnham can do no wrong at the minute. Like the way Fred Kersley’s are going at the moment and loved how well she hit the line fresh once she found some clear galloping room. Has the right jockey in the saddle to put her in a winning position from the draw.

Race 8 – 5:20PM HEINEKEN 3 HANDICAP (1000 METRES)

8. Hammarmill – 5. Ay Tee Emm – 4. Michelada – 2. Critical Altitude

Hammarmill has a ripping turn of foot. Comes here fresh without a trial and all 3 of her runs in her initial preparation was huge. Think at her most recent when they tried to ride her a bit closer it potentially took away from her finishing burst a fraction despite still running 2nd, expect them to ride her cold and save her up for one last crack at them.

If it does evolve to be a day where they are running on down the middle 3 deep with cover, Ay Tee Emm becomes a bet for me. Last start effort on a real on-speed day was enormous behind Laced Up Heels, hitting the line even harder than she did and she is seriously talented. This is easier and although he hasn’t been beginning well this preparation, if Troy Turner can get him onto a back moving into it approaching the corner, if the middle of the track is the place to be by this stage of the day I don’t think they’ll be able to hold him out, but it will be a completely track pattern dependent bet.

Staking Plan

• Race 1 Playhouse Patron 1.5 Units WIN/Demolish 0.5 Units WIN
• Race 2 Field Of Battle 2.5 Units WIN @$3.00+ BSP
• Race 3 Kosta’s Crown 4 Units WIN @$2.00+ BSP
• Race 6 Frech 0.5 Units EACH WAY

3 Units Staked, potential for 9.5 if we see our bet prices in races 2 and 3.