Steve Ryder has given us his five best bets for Saturday's horse racing action.
12:23 Longchamp
The Joseph O’Brien trained TENNESSEE STUD (best priced at 11/8) ended last season with a Group 1 victory in France on heavy ground and he looks to hold strong claims of recording his first victory since that race. The Wootton Bassett colt has run with credit on all four of his starts this season including when 3rd in the Epsom Derby and 4th in the Irish Derby behind Lambourn.
Tennessee Stud was only beaten 1 ¾ lengths by Cualificar in the Group 2 Prix Niel on his previous start shaping like this step up in trip to 1m7f would suit. He is an uncomplicated ride and looks the one to beat in this contest.
1:50 Ascot
Last year’s runner-up BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND (best priced at 5/2) is the one to beat on weight adjusted figures with a rating of 105 and she can follow up her recent success. The Karl Burke trained filly looks well drawn in Stall 11 near the stands side rail and she has proved that she will relish soft ground based on her run in this race and her Ayr success last time.
Beautiful Diamond won comfortably last time at Ayr to win by 2 ½ lengths and she should prove hard to beat once again at listed level.
3:00 Ascot
APOLLO ONE (best priced at 4/1) won this race last season having finished runner-up in the Portland Handicap last time and he bids to do the same again this year. The seven-year-old won this race off a mark of 104 last season on soft ground and runs in it off the same mark this year.
Betfred
- Huge range of regular promotions
- 24/7 live chat service
- PickYourPunt builder for custom bets
Beaten only ½ length when runner-up at Doncaster last time, he will appreciate this step back up in trip to 6f back at a track that he has a solid record at. Stall 5 is a slight negative but he can make his own running if necessary and he looks sure to be involved in the finish with extra places available.
3:35 Ascot
The Jamie Osbourne trained HICKORY (best priced at 11/2) is a standing dish in these 7f handicaps at Ascot and he can record a third course and distance success this season. The seven-year-old has form figures of 23037131 at Ascot in his career with his victories coming off marks of 86 and 90 this season.
Hickory was a comfortable winner on soft ground here last time and although he now steps up in class he should relish these conditions. With Saffie Osbourne injured, Eddie Greatrex takes over on board but he should run well with extra places available.
5:45 Newcastle
This looks a competitive 0-65 handicap but a chance is taken on BINTAZZO (best priced at 2/1) on her handicap debut. The Roger Varian trained filly has caught the eye in her three qualifying runs over a mile and now steps up in trip to 1m4½f on her handicap debut which should suit based on her breeding.
Bintazzo cost E300,000 as a yearling and is a half sister to seven winners including Group 1 winner Sudirman. Being a daughter of Sottsass and based on her running style in her races she should relish this step up in trip and could make a mockery of her opening mark of 64.
