2/4/2021 Horse Racing Tips and Best Bets – Ascot, Good Friday races

Ascot will host their traditional Good Friday meeting this upcoming Friday, headlined by the Old Comrade Stakes (1600m). The weather is fine, the track is good (4) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.

1 Allmamoney (Bet Now: $1.35) is short but he does look the one. Ran over 1400m here two weeks ago and was very good from the back when a close up second to Magical Dream in a close finish. That filly would be $1.50 here, so it does look the right form. Nothing flash re price but he should be winning.

2 Powerful Force (Bet Now: $4.80) looks next best but I do feel $5 is on the skinny side. I think he is that price due to the Williams/Peters/Pike combo. He’s had numerous chances to break the maiden tag, and while he has run well, he hasn’t been able to get the job done. He was a month between runs when racing last week at Pinjarra, so there should be improvement to come.

3 Warcidium (Bet Now: $8.00) is an interesting runner. He ran over 2200m here last time out when potentially on trial for a Derby berth. He didn’t fire a shot and was very plain behind Final Chill. Is he looking for the paddock? Or was 2200m a bridge too far? At his best, he can give the fav a decent race.

3 American Grin (Bet Now: $2.35) on top. Adam Durrant trained gelding that ran over this track/distance just over two weeks ago. He took an age to wind into his work but did hit the line pretty well late when third. Should be better for that 1500m run under the belt and prove hard to beat in what looks a thin maiden.

4 Big Screen (Bet Now: $2.50) should be suited back to maiden grade. He has contested 3YO handicaps his past two, two back being outclassed behind subsequent Stakes winner Kissonallforcheeks. Had a break and ran over 1000m here three weeks ago when near the speed and tiring late in a plain effort. Better suited at this trip and with the run under the belt, he’ll be a leading contender.

7 Molly Magee (Bet Now: $7.50) is several weeks between runs for Gary Crispin since racing over 1400m at Bunbury when wide no cover for the trip and battled away well when third to Allmamoney, who franked the form as mentioned in the first race. Just needs luck from the draw to be around the mark.

9 Be Optimistic (Bet Now: $3.40) is a Luke Fernie trained filly who has the runs on the board to give this a shake. Good in defeat two back in the 2YO Magic Millions at Pinjarra. Then went to the Supremacy and just found them a bit sharp behind Hoi An, but was beaten just under three lengths. Back to maiden grade pretty much, she’s hard to beat.

6 Far Too Strong (Bet Now: $6.50) is a son of All Too Hard for Lindsey Smith that debuted over 1200m here a few weeks ago and just didn’t fire a shot in the run, struggling from the outset behind He’s Gold, who won the Perth Stakes a week later and is now a Karrakatta Plate contender. Tick over trial was a good piece of work so watch the market.

10 Crowned Princess (Bet Now: $23.00) could finish right over the top of these if she gets the speed in front. Resumed in the Supremacy when back near last in the run and just couldn’t fire a shot, so forget she went around. If she can use the inside gate, she has the finale to be dangerous at odds.

The double figures available for 7 Zip Zam Zoom (Bet Now: $8.00) looks very much acceptable IMO. He doesn’t have the best of winning strike rates, but I reckon his two runs back from a spell have been quite strong. He has drawn poorly both runs and been forced back. Has found the line strongly each run. I hope the inside gate is used and if he can sit closer in the run, he’ll only run well.

3 Winsalot (Bet Now: $2.70) is working up to a win for Lou Luciani. This filly ran over 1690m at Bunbury last time out where she was off the speed and didn’t stop chasing in a good effort. Just had no answers in picking up Special View. Form around her reads well and should prove hard to beat in a winnable race.

1 Proceeds Of Crime (Bet Now: $12.00) is a knockout chance. They rode him positively at Pinjarra last start, the first time in a fair while, and the result was a dominant win over 1400m, proving strong to the line and through it. If he can build off that, he can be dangerous against these at a price.

I want to give 1 Sheikh (Bet Now: $4.80) It another chance. He’s been really disappointing this time in, failing to fire in two runs after being unbeaten in two runs in his first prep. Admittedly, those two races he has been beaten in have been stronger than what he faces this time and he does get Chris Parnham steering again.

3 Koranis (Bet Now: $3.50) is racing well this time in for Jarrad Noske. He ran over the mile here last Wednesday when up on the speed under Dhurun before being clicked up on the turn to build the revs and away he went. He gapped them and was impressive. He can build off that and 1800m should be no issue.

Paul Roberts has 4 Triseum (Bet Now: $7.50) flying at the moment. Has won his past two, both coming here. Two back she got the job done over the mile before going to this trip and really, it was the bob of the head that went her way in a tight go. Should get dragged back from the gate and will be hoping for a genuine tempo.

Tricky race to sort out. Landed with 6 Just A Pinch (Bet Now: $3.10) for the Casey camp. This filly is first up, having not raced since the Placid Arkw here she just found the class a bit rich but was far from disgraced in defeat behind Chantorque. Clearly a drop in grade/depth, trialled well…hoping for a positive ride from the draw.

3 Nurhaci (Bet Now: $3.40) is a leading chance but is short enough at $3. Resumes for Adam Durrant after a solid prep in the early part of the Spring, which included his maiden win in impressive fashion at Belmont. Has trialled very nicely leading in and should land a plum spot from the inside gate.

Fast run 1000m should suit 1 Ginger Knight (Bet Now: $13.00), who has run over 1200m here his past couple. Has been a bit keen in the run, wide and doing work in both runs and while he hasn’t won, he has been far from disgraced. Better suited here I feel and he does look the value runner.

Bit surprised $15+ is available for 3 Crystal Valley (Bet Now: $15.00). He ran over this track/distance two weeks ago where he was a few weeks between runs and jumping to 2200m from the mile. Not a great set up but liked the way he closed off very late in the piece. She’ll improve with that under the belt and each way, is a bet for sure.

4 Final Chill (Bet Now: $4.60) doesn’t have the best of winning strike rates but one thing that is clear is that Pike does get on with him. Lovely ride from him saw the gelding bolt up here last time out, with a mid race move proving to be the difference between winning and losing. Now he has a win on the board, could well go on with it.

15 Smoking Barrel (Bet Now: $46.00) can add value to exotics. He finished behind Final Chill in that race mentioned above but I didn’t think he was too bad in defeat from the back in a solid effort. Senior jock takes over now and if he can settle a pair or two closer in the run, could be dangerous.

The class runner of the field is clearly 1 Trap For Fools (Bet Now: $10.00), who has had four weeks off since contesting the Bunbury Cup. He was near a brutal speed and tried hard, but just couldn’t quite see it out when tiring late, but entitled to. If he finds the front here and rolls, he’ll take catching.

3 Dig Deep (Bet Now: $2.60) is racing in super form at the moment for the Pearce camp. Lovely ride from CJP saw him win the Grandstand Cup two weeks ago, getting the suck run behind the speed before angling into clear air and finishing best. 1600m is also an unknown, but the gate should offset it.

4 Arctic Stream (Bet Now: $7.00) looks to be in for a good prep. He resumed in the Bunbury Stakes when off the speed and presented to win. Loomed but first up, just lacked the fitness to put them away when second to impressive winner Western Temple. He’ll come on from that and has to be respected.

1 Crystal Spirit (Bet Now: $3.20) has the weight, but surely he has the class. He ran in a very strong 78+ race two weeks ago at this track/distance and I thought was far from disgraced in defeat behind a very much in form Excellent Dream. Has to contend with the 62kg impost but really, he’s in a provincial race here. Has to be going close to winning.

5 King’s Authority (Bet Now: $4.80) is racing well for Neil Dellar. This gelding has run over 1000m his past few, including here. Be very forgiving of his last start effort. Was wide no cover on speed and the jock got the whip caught in the rein so the horse couldn’t be ridden out properly. He can bounce back here.

7 Me’N’Taz (Bet Now: $9.50) will put himself on speed and give his all, which could well be the spot to be at this track. He has won his past two, winning at York two back before stepping up in depth at Bunbury where he was too good from the front. Last bit will test, but he’ll give a sight.

BEST BET: Race Nine Number 1 Crystal Spirit

NEXT BEST: Race One Number 1 Allmamoney

LONG SHOT: Race Four Number 7 Zip Zam Zoom

 

Quaddie Tips (Races Six Through To Nine):

Leg One: 1, 3, 6, 8

Leg Two: 2, 3, 4, 15, 16

Leg Three: 1, 2, 3, 4

Leg Four: 1

$50 Investment = 62.50% of the dividend if successful