Steve Ryder is back with three selections for today's action at Fontwell and Ascot.
16:07 Fontwell
Despite this only being a four-runner field, it looks a competitive race with all of the horses in with a chance of victory. Preference though goes to Small Bad Bob (best priced at 15/8) on his stable debut for Chris Gordon having run consistently well earlier this year when trained by Paul Henderson. The eight-year-old has a good record at Fontwell with form figures of 1142 including a victory in this race in 2021 when he won by five lengths off a mark of 116.
Small Bad Bob was last seen when 2nd over 2m3f here by a neck off a mark of 102 and he runs here off the same mark. That makes him well handicapped on old form and he should prove hard to beat for his new yard.
17:05 Ascot
This looks a tricky 0-105 handicap but this drop in class should mean Rohaan (best priced at 3/1) can get back to winning ways. The David Evans trained five-year-old has shown his best form at Ascot in his career with form figures of 11011407 including handicap victories off marks of 112, 109 and 113. The gelding was only beaten three lengths when 7th over 5f in July off a mark of 110 and he was only beaten 1 ¾ lengths in a tight finish to the Ayr Gold Cup last time when 7th off a mark of 104.
Rohaan now looks extremely well handicapped off a mark of 102 on his return to Ascot over 6f and he should find this easier off top weight. Neil Callan is back on board and he should prove hard to beat from Stall 18.
17:15 Fontwell
Many of the fancied runners in this 0-105 handicap are returning from a break and that should make Beat The Heat (best priced at 10/3) hard to beat following his recent runs on the flat. The Jim Boyle trained six-year-old ended last season with two course wins over hurdles off marks of 93 and 99 with his latest victory coming by 2 ¼ lengths resulting in a 6lb rise from the handicapper.
Beat The Heat was last seen 36 days ago when winning on the flat at Bath and that should put him spot on for this return to hurdles. His form figures at the track are 43111 so we know this track suits him well and I expect him to prove hard to beat.
