Ascot 20/12/08

[Spooner]

Great card, Strong fancy in the Ladbroke. 14:45 - Ashkazar Ashkazar 2nd inthe Fred Winter's Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham back in March looks very good form, Beaten two lengths by Crack Away Jack who was only beaten 1L by Chomba Womba last time out. He is a three times winner over this distance in five runs. Trainer won this race back in 2006 with Acambo, Timmy Murphy was on board who is the jockey tomorrow. A cracking e/w bet at the moment, I can see him going off favourite. @ 13/2 Ladbrokes

[WoodyTHFC]

Re: Ascot 20/12/08 1.05 Oedipe 5/1 var bog 7.5 pts e.w Anticipated return of trabolgan but another henderson horse I like in oedipe. Now he is not always reliable but at his best he is very useful and talented and he has shown that in a couple of decisive victories in his career. One at kempton showing he has no problem going right handed, indeed I think its a help to him, something like the racing post trophy could be a decent target for him at some point. His win at ain. was another impressive victory, beat three mirrors that day with the third a mile back. Sure he has gone up in the weights as a result and wasnt great lto in the hennessy but I felt the nature of that race wasnt really for him as it turned into a real test on ground perhaps not for him. This should be more likely for him and perhaps on more of a speed track, ground shouldnt be as tacky and if he can put a good round of jumping in, he has pretty decent claims for such an inform yard. 1.40 Binocular 5/4 pp bog 15 pts The switch to asc really suits binocular here, he has already won at asc. beating caj convincingly and his turn of foot really comes into play at this venue. At say a muddy chelt. like last week it may have been harder for him to truly see out the trip but I dont see that as a problem here. This speedier track suits his smart turn of foot, something he showed to great effect last season when thrashing celestial halo last season. He proved little more than his well being lto but still did the job efficiently enough, something some of his rivals today havent done yet this season. 2.10 Blazing Bailey 6/1 var 7.5 pts e.w BB is a horse I have often spoke in high admiration of. Not the easiest of rides at all and he needs a lot of work and encouragement but he is a classy act on his day and when with the right conditions. Lto he didnt have the right conditions, the race turned out to be a bit of a lottery for bb, a major stayer. They went no pace early and when mccoy kicked on, bb and a couple of others couldnt quite respond, a mistake two out didnt help either. Today with a pace setter like lough derg who normally goes a good clip, I cant see that being the case, stamina should be tested tomorrow and it will be interesting to see how both of henderson's cope with it, I have the odd doubt. The only thing Im a bit concerned with BB is that there are no blinkers on again today, he did improve with two victories at the end of last season with them and yet they have left them off so far and its possible he may need them. However the likely stamian test that shoudl be provided today by lough derg should help him today and I can see him, teh highest rated horse in the field, overturning the form with a few of these of lto. 2.45 Ashkazar 13/2 var bog 7.5 pts e.w See above in my ante post selection. Quite simply I see it very possible he is a CH contender and therefore off 147 today it should go fairly close if not win really. Competitive field but this one just has that class edge, afterall it was second to CAJ giving just two pounds and that is seen as a legitimate CH contender. Further improvement is very possible too and it could be another win in this race for connections that won it two years ago with acambo.