Jump racing sat 19th dec

[richard-westwood]

Sodexo ascot silver cup 

Ma filleule  99.23

Houblon des obeux  99.18 

Virak    99.16

Pendra   99.16

Young master  99.14

Coming towards the break from racing until boxing day so may as well go for it and try and find a nice win ....this is a very hard race and ascot makes it doubly so ....pendra is vying for fav and looks a decent sort ...must have chances but im just not sure hes shown the level needed to take this yet ...houblon des obeax is an interesting horse ...has close form ties with the young master from last season (2nd to that )....and looks to have steadily improved without being penalised .....is bring offered at twice young masters price and thats too big .....ma filleule has the profile of a horse laid out for this and whispers from gallops are suggesting this horse is fighting fit and fireing .......just what you want in a big race and top rated and available at 12/1 !....ill take some of that .....big open risky race but with racing coming to close .....lets have a bit of fun and roll the dice 

Ma filleule 5 pts ew  12/1 bet365

Houblon des obeux 5 pts ew 10/1 will hill 

[BillyHills]

Scoop 6 – Saturday December 18th

 

With just two legs left in the Tote Scoop6 last week there were still 50 tickets in with a chance of netting the £568,000 Win Fund, but once again the massive pot escaped the punters and we have yet another rollover this Saturday.

The weekend’s action comes from Ascot and Haydock over jumps and one race from Lingfield on the AW. The final leg is the very competitive hurdle race The Ladbroke, worth over £85,000 to the winner.

 

Leg 1: 12.40 Ascot

We open up with a right puzzle of a race and 16 runners doing battle over 3 miles. Top weight Woodford Island runs for Irish trainer Gordon Elliott. He was second in a similar contest at Punchestown last time. Carlo Rocks is a last time out winner and the mount of Richard Johnson; he has been raised 12 lbs for winning at Southwell so will find this a bit tougher. Kap Jazz beat Varom by a length last time at Wincanton and they meet again here. The runner up is weighted to get his revenge this time and is the pick in a very open race.

Selection: Varom 8/1 Bet365 (Kap Jazz)

 

Leg 2: 1.50 Ascot

A Class 3 handicap chase and any of ten runners could be given some sort of chance. One of the favourites is Mon Successeur from the Paul Nicholls yard. Just had four starts in the UK since coming over from France and is yet to win. He was second at Exeter last time but has been raised 7lbs which is a bit harsh. La Vaticane looked the likely winner at one stage last time when third to Aloomomo at Newbury, he drops back in trip and must have a good chance of notching his first win for the Pipe’s. Mountain King is talented but a couple of pounds too high at present while Gores Island ran well last time out and could nick a place.

Selection: La Vatican 9/2 Paddy Power (Mountain King)

 

Leg 3: 2.20 Lingfield

A visit to leafy Lingfield for a Listed contest and half of the dozen runners have won over C/D so it should be competitive stuff. Grendisar won this race last season for Marco Botti and comes here after a solid run last time out when second to Let’s Go in a similar heat. He is very useful in this type of race and should be followed. Battalion was 5^th in that race staying on too late and has come out and won since so has to be respected. Lamar and Man Of Harlech both won last time and are in decent nick.

Selection: Grendisar  100/30 Skybet (Battalion)

 

 

Leg 4: 2.40 Haydock Park

Heavy going at Haydock for this long distance chase and it will take plenty of getting so we need a real mud lark here. Sun Cloud fits the bill and he stays all day so should be bang there if he can reproduce his run here over C/D last time out. He was 2^nd the Pipe horse Vieux Lion Rouge and the only negative is that he now runs off a career high mark. Spookydooky is worth consideration despite his lack of experience over fences. He won last time out at Newbury on only his second run over fences but looks progressive. Of the others Wilton Milan and Final Assault would have a chance on their best form and make the shortlist.

Selection: Spookydooky  4/1 William Hill (Sun Cloud)

 

Leg 5: 3.00 Ascot

14 runners line up for this 3m Chase and it’s a similar contest to the one that was won by Pendra over C/D in October. He’s 7lbs worse off now but he did win with some authority and will be fancied to confirm the form with Fox Appeal, Houblon Des Obeaux and Virak who were all in behind that day. The Young Master fell at the first last time so he has something to prove but is very talented and Salubrious is very interesting for the Paul Nicholls camp. He is just out of novice stage but has won both his starts over fences to date. I’m siding with the experienced Fingal Bay; he was second Smad Place at Kempton and then was a creditable 4^th in the Hennessy. He’s well handicapped on his best form and is a consistent sort.

Selection: Fingal Bay 6/1 Ladbrokes (Salubrious)

 

 

Leg 6: 3.35 Ascot : The Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle

 

The biggest field of the day and probably the most competitive contest all day. All the top yards are represented and we have a strong Irish challenge led by the Willie Mullins horse Renneti. He was 4^th last time just behind fellow compatriot Waxies Dargle at Cheltenham in the Greatwood Hurdle and both command respect. Gordon Elliott has a cracking record in the race and he saddles Vercingetorix. Of the home contingent I’m keen on Zarib for Dan Skelton, he looks very well weighted on 10st 9lbs and the yard won this a couple of years ago with Willow’s Saviour. Ran third at Wincanton in the Elite Hurdle on his reappearance and a big handicap looks well within his capabilities.

Selection: Zarib 14/1 BetVictor (Renetti)