The Inside Track

Tuesday 19^th June

Ascot

5.00 – Ashbrittle 1pt win 9/1 Victor and Sky, 8/1 generally

Over reason years, the best way of finding the winner of this race, has been to find a horse that spent the winter National Hunt racing, and is unexposed over staying trips on the flat.
Ashbrittle fits the criteria perfectly, is trained by David Pipe, who has an excellent record with this type of horse, is ridden by the champion jockey, and is nicely drawn in stall 4.  Despite being a staying handicap, I still favour a horse that is low drawn so that they can be switched off early against the rail, and relax through the race, rather than being trapped out wide, and using up plenty of energy whilst trying to hold a position.
Ashbrittle was trained last year on the flat by Ralph Beckett, and although disappointing in this race, the stable was badly out of form at the time, and that run is easy to excuse.  Prior to that, he had won off this mark at Doncaster over 14 furlongs, and has shaped on several occasions that this type of stamina test could bring about further improvement.  During the winter, he never really took to hurdling, despite winning a maiden, and finishing second a couple of times.  He’s quite a quirky individual so catching him fresh could be the best policy.
There are any number of dangers, so I’m not going to list them all, but at 8/1 I feel Ashbrittle is worth a small bet, on a day that is more one to savour than invest in at Ascot.

Brighton

6.00 – Imaginary Diva 2pt win 5/1 Sky and bet 365, 9/2 generally

A very weak looking handicap, which won’t take much winning.  Imaginary Diva looks to hold strong claims as a horse that is back down to her last winning mark, who has slowly been coming to hand this year.
She has been running respectably in better quality handicaps than today’s, but now her mark has fallen below 60 for the first time this year, she drops to class 6 and given a bit of luck in running she should be too good for a modest looking bunch.
She has winning course form, and Ryan Powell who was on board for her last victory, takes over in the saddle for the first time this year, he is decent value for his 3lb claim.  I had priced her up as a 7/2 chance, so 4/1 or bigger is worth taking.