Ascot 24/01/2022

Conditions

Rail – True
Track – Good 4
Forecast – Max 33, sunny

Race 1 – Reliable Asset Maintenance Handicap – 1600m – 12:22pm

3 – Awesome Chatter
6 – Uni Queen
1 – Bandalera Beau
2 – Elite Fighter

Comment: Awesome Chatter is knocking on the door for a win. He does like to lead but stepping up to 1600m could help him go one better. Uni Queen comes out of the same race as Awesome Chatter where she finished fourth. She’s a little bit hit and miss but has previously shown that she has some ability. Bandalera Beau is coming off a narrow margin win first up. His form last preparation was good. He’s also unbeaten second up (1:1-0-0) and only has to carry 57kg due to Taj’s claim. He’s not without his chances. Elite Fighter did have a few excuses last start and probably got a touch too far back, though he does have a turn of foot. He’s a bit like a yoyo when it comes to his results, but conditions look to suit here.

Suggested bet: Awesome Chatter, Uni Queen, Bandalera Beau and Elite Fighter – each way

Race 2 – Heineken 3 Maiden – 1400m – 1:02pm

3 – Rommel’s Jeuney
6 – Rulelee
7 – Al Tina
10 – La Galexia

Comment: Rommel’s Jeuney looks to be a better horse this preparation after placing second first up. He narrowly missed out on the win there and he can go one better here. Rulelee is pretty consistent without getting a win and the form surrounding her races is good. The step up in distance looks to suit her, especially as she does like to get back in her runs. Al Tina has been the bridesmaid twice in two starts this preparation. She’s racing well though and despite being up in class, she can make her mark here. La Galexia is yet to place in four starts but hasn’t finished that far off the winners. She has gotten back in her races too, so it will be interesting to see where she settles from barrier 3.

Suggested bet: Rommel’s Jeuney, Rulelee and Al Tina – each way

Race 3 – Crown Perth Plate – 1100m – 1:42pm

1 – Spin The Knife
6 – Via Monte
3 – Cold Shizzle
4 – Pixie Chix

Comment: Spin The Knife comes into the race without a trial but he is unbeaten first up (2:2-0-0) and at this track/distance (1:1-0-0). The only concern is that he has to carry 60.5kg. Via Monte is coming off a good win. He looks to be in for a good preparation and even though he’s yet to race over 1100m, he’s comfortable over 1000m and 1200m. he should go well. Cold Shizzle has been performing below par at his past two runs, but he has been facing classy horses. He doesn’t get an easier field here, but he has placed at this track/distance (1:0-1-0). He can improve here. Pixie Chix has been a touch disappointing at her past two starts, though at a tonne of excuses two starts ago. The form surrounding her races is good and she has placed at this track/distance (2:0-0-1), but I am surprised to see her open so short.

Suggested bet: Spin The Knife, Via Monte, Cold Shizzle and Pixie Chix – each way

Race 4 – Magic Millions Plate – 1100m – 2:22pm

3 – Sheeza Belter
2 – Street Parade
8 – Red Hot Goods
13 – No Peer

Comment: Sheeza Belter is unbeaten in every aspect here, but she has only had the one run. She looks to have a fair share of ability and the barrier draw swayed me towards her instead of Street Parade. Street Parade is also unbeaten at this track/distance (1:1-0-0), having raced over it at his only start. He’s had a quick freshen up between runs but trialled nicely and the form surrounding his run is good. He can win without surprising. Red Hot Goods has won all of his trials. He’s drawn a bit sticky in barrier 11 but looks to have ability. He’s one to watch out for. No Peer improved out of sight between her two trials. As long as she jumps well, she should run a good race. She’ll improve off this run though.

Suggested bet: Sheeza Belter, Street Parade, Red Hot Goods and No Peer – each way

Race 5 – TABtouch – Westspeed Platinum Handicap – 1600m – 3:02pm

1 – Speedbird
3 – Snippy Miss
5 – All In Red
2 – Speedy Miss

Comment: Speedbird showed a good turn of foot last start where she won. She’s up in class here and while she’s yet to place at this track/distance (1:0-0-0), last start’s win was over 1650m. I’m just hoping she doesn’t get too far back from barrier 11. Snippy Miss finally got a win on the board last start. The form surrounding her races is good and while she steps up to 1600m for the first time, her runs do suggest that she could be asking for it. She can win without surprising. All In Red finished third behind Snippy Miss last start. Her distance is really good (5:1-3-0) and while her form could be better, she should get a lovely run from barrier 3. Speedy Miss got too far back last start, so just put a line through that run. From barrier 4, she shouldn’t get as far back and she can bounce back here, having placed over this distance (1:0-1-0).

Suggested bet: Speedbird, Snippy Miss, All In Red and Speedy Miss – each way

Race 6 – Belhus Racing Stables Handicap – 2200m – 3:35pm

3 – Black Chips
1 – Come Right Back
7 – Conquered Zone
9 – Free Solo

Comment: Black Chips didn’t have an ideal run after getting back and racing wide. He’s finally drawn a better barrier and he has a great track/distance record (2:1-1-0). He should continue his consistent form here. Come Right Back beat Black Chips last start and also showed a good turn of foot. He’s no stranger to this track/distance (9:3-1-0) and at least he only has to carry 58.5kg due to Holly’s claim. He can win this. Conquered Zone missed the jump last start and finished fifth to Come Right Back. I question whether he’s more a 1600-1800m horse, but he has placed at this track/distance (3:0-1-0). Hopefully, he jumps better here. Free Solo is up in class here after placing third at Pinjarra over 2000m. The distance doesn’t look to be an issue and he only has to carry 52kg with Keshaw’s claim. He might just find one better.

Suggested bet: Black Chips and Come Right Back – each way

Race 7 – Vale Dr Joe Mcdermott Handicap – 1100m – 4:10pm

6 – Comes A Time
7 – Mantelli
8 – Nobel Laurence
4 – This’ll Testya

Comment: Comes A Time looks to be in for another good preparation. He’s actually yet to place at this track/distance (1:0-0-0), but 1000-1200m is definitely right up his alley. He sometimes takes one run to get up to fitness, but he has won first up before (4:2-0-0). Mantelli finished second to Platinum Bullet who was considered to be a good chance in this race before he got scratched. This horse will have to use a bit of energy to get a forward position from barrier 9, but he has placed at this track/distance (2:0-1-0). He’s not without his chances. Nobel Laurence comes into this race without a trial, but he has a good first up record without winning (3:0-2-1). He’s always consistent and that doesn’t look to change here. This’ll Testya raced well last start and maybe could have won if she had settled better. Surprisingly, she’s unbeaten at this track/distance (1:1-0-0) and with Holly’s claim, she only has to carry 55.5kg. She could surprise.

Suggested bet: Comes A Time, Mantelli, Nobel Laurence and This’ll Testya – each way

Race 8 – Western Racepix Handicap – 1200m – 4:45pm

7 – Ambergate Rose
4 – Miss Vasari
1 – Vane Tempest
12 – Wednesday

Comment: Ambergate Rose had a few excuses last start and looks to have gotten too far back. She’s up in class here but is proven over 1200m (2:1-1-0). She’s a good each way value bet. Miss Vasari just has found a few better lately, with nothing written in the stewards’ report. She drops down in distance which looks to suit, especially as she has a good track/distance record (3:1-1-0). With the freshen up she can bounce back here. Vane Tempest has just been mowed down late at her last two starts, though over racing probably didn’t help her last start. She only has to carry 59.5kg with Keshaw’s claim, but her track/distance record doesn’t fill me with a lot of confidence (5:0-0-1). She could surprise. Wednesday rarely runs a bad race and always has excuses when she does. Her track/distance record could be better (4:0-0-1), but she should go close once again.

Suggested bet: Ambergate Rose, Miss Vasari, Vane Tempest and Wednesday – each way

Race 9 – Happy Birthday Callie Burton Handicap – 1800m – 5:20pm

3 – Fairy Fast
5 – Benji’s
7 – Prized Miss
4 – Classic Rogue

Comment: Fairy Fast has been very versatile on where she’s been in the race at her past two starts but she’s performed well in both. She steps up in distance and will probably get back from barrier 12, but she should be able to run on. Benji’s has also been getting back in his runs but finishing home strongly. He steps up to 1800m for the first time and it actually could see him get a win on the board for this preparation. Prized Miss is coming off a good win at Pinjarra. She’s drawn a bit wide here and is slightly up in class, but you should never rule out a cerise and white horse. Classic Rogue couldn’t quite bring his Albany form to Ascot last start. He had a tonne of excuses though and despite not placing at this track/distance (1:0-0-0), that statistic can easily change here.

Suggested bet: Fairy Fast, Benji’s, Prized Miss and Classic Rogue – each way

Race 10 – Celebration Of Life Day Trophy – 1500m – 5:55pm

8 – Proconsent
4 – The Spruiker
9 – Solaia
6 – Lorentinio

Comment: Proconsent has been racing really well, especially in those races where he had to carry 60kg. The form surrounding his races is probably stronger than my top tip and he’s placed at this track/distance (1:0-1-0). Consistency is the only thing splitting them. The Spruiker seems to be back to his old self that we saw last preparation. He’s probably a wet track specialist, but he has won on a good track and at this distance (2:1-0-1). He can win this without surprising. Solaia just hasn’t quite been at her best this preparation. She finished fifth to Beret last start and gets 3.5kg on her here, plus she’s unbeaten at this track/distance (1:1-0-0). She can bounce back here. Lorentinio actually beat The Spruiker and Proconsent last start. He does have to given them weight here and he’s not as consistent as them. He’ll give them something to run down though.

Suggested bet: Proconsent and The Spruiker – each way

Race 11 – Amelia Park Handicap – 1400m – 6:33pm

7 – Burnya To Survive
4 – Reign Of Fire
10 – She’s A Sweet Deel
2 – Creator

Comment: Burnya To Survive has been making his way through the grades nicely, showing a good turn of foot in the process. He faces his toughest race yet and he’s up in distance, but his career statistics are hard to ignore (4:3-0-1). Reign Of Fire is just ultra-consistent and has also been showing a good turn of foot. He hasn’t placed at this distance (1:0-0-0), but I think he might be looking for it at this point in his career, especially considering how he’s been racing. Don’t rule him out. She’s A Sweet Deel is up in class but coming off a good win. When all of her wins have been at this distance (3:3-0-0), it’s not a surprise to see her open up as the favourite. She has drawn wide and races at Ascot for the first time, but she’ll run a good race. Creator seems to have appreciated the drop down in class at his past two starts. He returns to the city here to a track/distance he performs well over (3:2-0-0). He could surprise.

Suggested bet: Burnya To Survive, Reign Of Fire and She’s A Sweet Deel– each way

Best Bet

Race 6 – Black Chips

Quaddie

R8: 1, 2, 4, 7, 12
R9: 3, 4, 5, 7
R10: 4, 8
R11: 4, 7, 10

Confidence rating

I think the heat got to me this week, as I really struggled with the motivation to do my tips and I think this is reflected in my confidence. Races 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10 are the ones I’m least confident about.

Last Week’s Results

R2:boxed first 4
R3:boxed trifecta
R5:boxed trifecta
R7:exacta
R8:boxed trifecta
Winners in top 4: 9/10
Top picks: 3rd, 1st, 3rd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 1st, –
Best bet: 1st
Quaddie: Yes
Profit: +16.3 ($1ew on top tips & $2ew on bb)