Today's Tote Placepot Tips for Ascot

Leg 1 Selections: Crambo, Broughshane

CRAMBO won back-to-back Huntingdon bumpers last winter, showing a strong burst of speed late on to take the spoils. He was due to run in a bumper at Cheltenham’s November meeting but connections have decided to send him over hurdles instead. He should be suited to stepping up in trip and is the one to beat. I quite like the Jonjo O’Neill-trained BROUGHSHANE, who easily won his only point in February and changed hands for quite a large price. He could have been found an easier opportunity elsewhere, so he’s clearly held in high regard and could be a big player on hurdles debut. 

Leg 2 Selections: Thunder Rock, Garry Clermont

THUNDER ROCK is a bit of a winning machine, who won four of his six starts over hurdles last season and made a lovely impression on his chase debut. He jumped very well and won by four-plus lengths and while he’s been hit with a seven-pounds rise, Solo should give him a nice lead into proceedings. GARRY CLERMONT was quite unlucky in both his previous chase starts but signed off last season with a good fourth in a Grade 3 at Aintree and is seven pounds lower back over fences. He can handle most ground and made the frame in all three starts at this course last term. With more to come over fences, and a half decent record fresh, he’s got a good chance. 

Leg 3 Selections: Kandoo Kid, Persian Time 

KANDOO KID was a smart bumper horse and beat a good field when successful on his hurdles debut here a year ago. He suffered an accident afterwards and hasn’t been seen since but Paul Nicholls thinks a lot of him and he has a lot more to come this term. Nicky Henderson won this last year and his PERSIAN TIME, who is bred to be smart, could pose a threat. He was runner-up on his sole start in a point and his trainer has expressed how good he could be, so he’s worth including in this race. 
 

Leg 4 Selections: Do Your Job, Elixir De Nutz

DO YOUR JOB made giant strides over fences last season and his win in the Grade 2 Future Champions' at Ayr in April reads well. He had subsequent Paddy Power Gold Cup fourth Il Ridoto well-held in third and he shaped well when sixth in the Old Roan at Aintree on his return. He would have finished closer without walking through the fourth last fence but he’s undergone wind surgery since and the handicapper has dropped him a pound. I think he’s got an excellent chance provided he keeps the errors at bay here. 

ELIXIR DE NUTZ could never land a blow at the Cheltenham/Aintree Festivals but he might be able to get a prominent position here and this course should suit his style of running. He’s a former Grade 1 winner, who’s back down to an attractive mark, and his win at Plumpton last January is strong form. He has needed his return in the past but connections might have got him fit-enough to try and make a bold here now he tackles this trip for the first time, so he’s worth a chance at huge odds. 

Leg 5 Selections: Copperhead, El Presente

A lot of these have something to prove at the moment, including COPPERHEAD but he won a Grade Two over track and trip as a novice, so the course will be of no concern and he will find this a lot easier than the Ladbrokes Trophy he contested last time. He’s nine pounds lower in this much easier race, snd conditions will be perfect for him, so while he needs to prove he retains most of his ability, he could bounce back to something near his best returned to this venue. 

Kim Bailey runs two here and while David Bass seemingly prefers the top-weight, surely EL PRESENTE shouldn’t be overlooked here. He would prefer better ground but he’s four pounds lower than when winning the 2020 Badger Beers and I thought he ran a good race to finish fourth in it two weeks ago despite a pretty rubbish round of jumping. He can jump better than that and he’s only one of two who arrive here on the back of a run so far this term. If he can get into a nice rhythm under a positive ride, he could be tough to keep out of the frame here. 

Leg 6 Selections: Lively Citizen, Gipsy De Choisel

LIVELY CITIZEN looked in need of the run when down the field on his return at Cheltenham and is better judged on his second in the Imperial Cup in which he had today’s favourite Onemorefortheroad well-held back in fourth place. He’s a pound lower here and he should be well-suited to this venue. His latest effort was a first rare below-par effort in a long time, so with that run under his belt, and his mark within reach, he should be thereabouts. 

GIPSY DE CHOISEL ran a nice race when third at this meeting two years ago on his stable debut and having shaped well for a long way after a long absence at Aintree, he bolted up at Warwick when last spotted. He’s gone up six pounds since but he’s unexposed and trainer Nicky Henderson has won three of the last five editions of this race. With more to offer, this six-year-old is a massive danger to all in this field.