Flat Racing ~ Saturday May 9th

[BillyHills]

3.45 Ascot: Totescoop6 Victoria Cup Handicap (7f) 29 runners line up for the Victoria Cup and an impossible puzzle to solve. High numbers have done best recently so that’s a good place to start. Dream Spirit has the profile of an improver, only had four starts last season and already showed a certain amount of ability. Willie Haggas loves getting them ready for the big handicaps and is drawn well in 20. Heaven’s Guest is drawn in 22 and has run well here at Ascot on more than one occasion. He comes here in top form after a recent victory and the young jockey takes off 5lbs, which will be handy. I’ll take two against the field and try and find a bookie, which pays 5 places! Selections: Heaven’s Guest EW 16/1 Betfred (first 5) : Dream Spirit EW 14/1 BetVictor (first 5) Other TV Races

[chris34]

Re: Flat Racing ~ Saturday May 9th 2.00 Ascot Penhill is an interesting runner on debut for the Cumani yard having won 3 races last year however the last 2 were not the strongest races 1 was a 3 runner event the other a 5 runner event. That form doesn’t look strongest and went off the boil back end of last year, returns just 3lb off last winning mark and has to be respected for this yard. Forgotten Hero caught the eye on seasonal debut at Epsom, perhaps not seen to best effect on that course and a return to a more conventional track will help. He finished that race off well and if building on that would have a chance with soft ground no issue. King Calypso might be the answer, progressed well on the AW at Kempton and made a very pleasing return to action on turf at Windsor when not getting the cleanest race and looked in need of a run aswell but still ran a solid race. 3lb higher today for that effort but clearly still progressing and would be dangerous to dismiss in this field. 1pt e/w King Calypso 10/1 BetVictor 3.45 Ascot (Victoria Cup, Heritage Handicap) Really competitive renewal as you would expect for this Heritage Handicap, could potentially be run on good/soft ground if tonights rain gets into the ground. Like any race like this it is a bit of a lottery and reliant on the gaps appearing when required etc. Big Baz is my pick well built individual who proved himself to be more than capable to hold his own in these big field handicaps this summer, when 3^rd at Newbury in the spring cup a drop back to 7f looks a good idea given he didn’t quite see the trip out on turf. Has form on turf with some cut and remains progressive. 1pt e/w Big Baz 18/1 WilliamHill (5 places) 4.00 Haydock (Spring Trophy Stakes, Listed Event) This looks a tight event with the top 4 very closely matched on official ratings and the bottom one improving rapidly. Bravo Zolo is the one at the bottom and has won his last 3 starts, they have all been on the AW and in small fields, this represents a huge step up in company but folly to dismiss and very much unknown on turf aswell as very testing conditions. That Is The Spirit ran an awful race at the Curragh on reappearance with a shrewd yard and wont mind testing conditions if back on song. Diescentric ran a very promising race on return from a break at Wolves latest, that was over the extended mile and it may be with age he requires further, again soft ground no issue. Aeolus has not had a run yet this season which may count against him in a field like this and with testing conditions and also not convinced over this trip yet, looks out of this in my opinion. Everyone knows Penitent and the more rain we get the better for him, he loves it when the mud is flying. Not beaten far in 2 starts so far this season which are easy to excuse given the fast ground conditions. He is 1 from 1 over this CD and from a yard going well presently. 2pt win Penitent 4/1 bet365