Ascot & Haydock selections Saturday 17th January
We are back to a full complement of meetings on Saturday after the recent cold weather and the main focus is on Ascot today where the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase takes the limelight. From a punting perspective though, three handicaps on the card look of great interest, plus a best bet from the chief supporting card at Haydock.
Ascot 1.00: In D’Or & Kap Vert
The first big handicap at Ascot comes early and this looks open and competitive enough to have two attempts.
IN D’OR races for only the second time this season, and second time for Fergal O’Brien since leaving the owner/ridership of David Maxwell last season. The 8yo actually won this race here last season on good going, but he seems to go on pretty much any surface so should have no issues with the slightly slower ground today.
3m looks his trip and his slightly belated comeback run at Sandown last month had plenty of promise. He was only beaten 2l by Welcom to Cartries that day, but my selections is 3lbs better off and should have more room for improvement than the winner given that horse had already had the benefit of an outing before Sandown. Right-handed tracks seem to be In D’or’s thing so I expect him to be strongly in the mix today.
I was very taken by KAP VERT’s first two runs over the bigger obstacles this winter. He made most of the running, jumping fluently in the process to win at Taunton last month and connections were sufficiently impressed to throw him straight into the deep end against experienced chasers in a Kempton handicap over Christmas.
The stronger pace that day seemed to throw him somewhat and he did not get into as good a jumping rhythm, making a couple of big mistakes along the way. However he was still travelling really well turning for home before fading late on. He will have hopefully learned from competing at a higher level on that occasion, but the slightly slower going at Ascot today might put less pressure on his jumping.
Ascot 2.20: Vincenzo
There is a right bunch of rogues lining up for this chase, featuring a number of horses who often find nothing off the bridle, and some who won’t go the early gallop and get competitive in higher quality races. One horse who is yet to be included in that bracket, despite a number of second places on his CV recently is VINCENZO, and this race offers a great opportunity to get a well deserved decent pot achieved.
Having won twice in novice handicap company last winter over 2m, he finished last season with an excellent second in the Greatwood Chase at Newbury over this 2m4f trip, showing more than enough stamina in the process for the longer distance. He was made favourite for the Paddy Power Chase at Cheltenham for his return and responded with an excellent second place behind the such improved Panic Attack.
Sometimes Sam Thomas horses that run really well first time out, don’t back up, but this gelding did with another fine second on the New Course at Cheltenham to Glengouly. He is only up 3lbs in total in the ratings for those two fine runs and whilst I expect plenty in this race to flatter to deceive turning for home, Vincenzo ought to be genuine enough to keep up the pace right to the line.
Haydock 2.35: Solar System
I am hopeful that SOLAR SYSTEM can bounce back from an absence from the track since March and score first time out at Haydock this afternoon.
This JP McManus owned gelding made significant progress through the lower handicap ranks last winter having started from a lowly mark of 95. He won three times last season, following up wins in lowly races at Warwick and Ludlow with victory on this card over 2m5f. He is seemingly adaptable to all forms of going, though this good to soft ground might just be ideal.
Having won off a rating of 112 here, he ran respectably on his last two starts at Newbury and then on his first go at 3m, where a bad mistake three out at Bangor cost him any chance that day. I think he looks worth another try at this trip, at least on a sharp track like Haydock as he could have room for further improvement at the distance. He remains lowly weighted in this company, his jockey’s 3lb claim taking him down to a racing weight of 10-6 today.
Ascot 2.53: Marche D’Aligre
A horse who has raced exclusively at around 2m to date, I expect plenty of improvement from MARCHE D’ALIGRE now he is stepped up 3f in distance.
Second in a grade 2 around Chepstow’s stiff 2m as a juvenile last season, he has failed to win a race since, but has given the distinct impression he would be better served by a longer trip. Even last time around Sandown he was made plenty of use of despite a bad early mistake, but simply seemed to be outpaced up the hill by Across Earth.
He gets an ideal opportunity here to test himself over a longer trip and a mark of 122 looks exploitable. I think he will appreciate the good-to-soft going this afternoon and this 5yo should enjoy the slightly lesser tempo of a 2m3f contest.
Recommended bets:
1pt win – In D’Or – 1.00 Ascot – 4/1 general
1pt each-way – Kap Vert – 1.00 Ascot – 9/1 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt win – Vincenzo – 2.20 Ascot – 13/8 general
1pt each-way – Solar System – 2.35 Haydock – 5/1 William Hill (1/4 odds 1st 3)
1pt each-way – Marche D’Aligre – 2.53 Kempton – 8/1 William Hill (1/4 odds 1st 3)
