Steve Ryder is back with three tips from today's action.
14:13 Newmarket
This looks an open nursery handicap and I am willing to take a chance on the Ed Walker trained MONOPOLISE (best priced at 13/2) on handicap debut. The gelding stepped forward from a disappointing debut effort to finish 6th on his 2nd start at Salisbury before finishing 5th last time at Windsor when given an eyecatching ride.
On his previous two starts Monopolise has stayed on well over the 6f shaping like this step up in trip to 7f is exactly what he needs now switched to handicaps. Connections have booked Saffie Osbourne to take off a handy 3lbs and I expect him to put in a career best on his handicap debut off an opening mark of 67.
14:40 Ascot
The Dan Skelton trained AMOOLA GOLD (best priced at 5/1) has finished first past the post in this race for the previous two seasons and I expect him to complete a hat-trick of wins. The nine-year-old showed a good attitude to win by a short head in this race in 2020 before finishing a head in front of Monsieur Lecoq in the race last year when staying on well on the soft ground. He was subsequently disqualified for a banned substance but it is still worth noting that he won this race off a 3lb higher mark last season.
Amoola Gold finished 2nd by a short head on his next start over this course and distance last season off a mark of 150 before disappointing on his final two starts last season. He has a good record fresh and I expect him to run well under Bridget Andrews once again.
17:08 Newmarket
The Pam Sly trained ASTRAL BEAU (best priced at 11/2) has won her previous two starts at Newmarket and she should hold strong claims back at this course. She has improved since the application of cheekpieces and now has form figures of 112 in headgear. She won at the July course off a mark of 75 in August before following up over this course and distance to win by a neck in September off a mark of 77.
Astral Beau then ran well to finish a close 2nd at Yarmouth last time off a mark of 79 and she should hold strong claims off only a 2lb higher mark. She will be well suited by this return to Newmarket and it is a bonus that she is proven on soft ground too.
