3.55 Ascot Ducal 40/1 NAP Ducal's chances all hinge on his ability to transfer his all weather form to the turf but if he does I think he could be a really big player in this extremely competitive handicap. . Ducal is rapidly improving 4 year old who has made a very bright start to his career for trainer Mike Murphy after previously being with Sir Mark Prescott. He has been the model of consistency in his handicapping career, winning 3 of his 9 starts in this sphere. Moreover, he has never been beaten by more than 2.25L in these 9 starts so he always runs a good race and should definitely give you a very good run for your money. After winning once from 6 starts as 3 year old for Prescott, Ducal was very well backed on his debut for his current yard back in December over 7f to be sent off favourite. He had to travel very wide that day and the trainer said afterwards that as a result he ran out of gas. He was beaten by 2.25L and the form of that race has worked out nicely with the winner scoring off a 6lb higher mark and the 3rd Lastkingofscotland subsequently winning off a 7lb higher mark. Off a mark of 75, Ducal landed his 2nd career success at Kempton on the 1st of March to run out a 0.5L winner on the back of a 3 month break. Under the handling of todays jockey John Fahy, Ducal was dropped out the back before being given a very, very confident ride to get up close home after travelling into the race very well. To my eyes, Ducal had a lot left in the tank that day and he proved it on is next start. Up 5lb for that victory, Ducal put in an extremely game performance to win off his revised mark of 80. After hitting the front about 2f out, he showed gritty determination to hold off all challengers on both sides to score by 0.5L. In a race where he looked like he was always holding his rivals, the form has worked out very well. The 3rd Haamaat scored impressively on his next start off a 2lb higher mark before running a very decent race in a Listed contest and the 5th won off a 1lb lower after this. 3 starts ago Ducal was a rather unlucky loser in my eyes. Off a mark of 83 he was a step slow leaving the stalls and as a result had to settle for a position in the rear of the field. After being angled out wide, Ducal took a while to get fully motoring (which is normal) and he was never closer than at the finish when he was beaten by only half a length. 2 starts back Ducal was again a rather unlucky loser as he got beaten by a short head. From a wide berth in stall 13, Ducal broke quickly under Pat Dobbs who tacked over to sit just behind the leaders in 4th. Turning into the straight, Dobbs was sat there with a double handful and Ducal still travelled powerfully with about 2f to go. When asked to quicken, Ducal did so very nicely as he hit the front with just over 1f to go. However, he definitely got lonely out in front and it wasn't before eventual winner My Son Max got up alongside before Ducal rallied as he went down in a photograph. Upped 3lb for this to a mark of 86, Ducal made amends to win in good fashion at Lingfield last month in a Class 2 handicap. That day he travelled wide and once again travelled extremely powerfully as Fahy kicked him to the front with just over 1f to go and he soon scampered about 3L clear and put the contest to bed. Although he only ended up winning by a neck, I think the combination of Fahy easing off him and idling out in front made the winning distance a little bit closer than it could have been but it was a very impressive performance. The form of that race looks strong with the 4th Sacrosantus winning off a 1lb lower mark on his next start whilst most of the horses in behind have been holding their form well enough without winning. The handicapper has risen him to a mark of 90 and I certainly think he is more than capable of scoring off his current mark given his upwardly mobile nature. This represents by far his toughest test to date of yet and this 29 runner handicap is about as competitive as you can get. Ducal has gotten into the race towards the bottom of the handicap and has a lovely racing weight of 8-1. As stated, Ducals chances all hinge on whether or not he can translate his excellent all weather for to the turf but that is clearly factored into the price. After the first race, I'm not as happy with his draw in stall 8 as I was last night as it seemed as though the higher numbers would benefit but if a group converge down the middle I don't foresee it being a massive problem. Once again John Fahy takes the ride and he and Ducal get on very well and have forged a very good partnership so far. With a strong pace guaranteed, this will definitely suit Ducal given how he travels and I think that he will be played late if still in contention at the finish. Trainer Mike Murphy is having a very good season with his small string and Ducal has certainly thrived under his tutelage. A horse that is clearly still progressing, I think Ducal could run a massive race if taking to the turf and I think he could definitely play a leading role at the finish at a price that could be made to look silly in an hours time.
pastoral player missed it by 5 and got beat a head. when i advised Tullius as e/w banditry in that 8 runner race I didn't think he'd achieve it AHEAD of Carlton House. No complaints from me, Carlton House overrated and a 10f horse.
I guess "brown as a berry" is not a PC expression? I'm actually just slightly paler than her Dex, must be the San Miguel
7.00 Haydock Livias Dream 5/1 Rather like the look of Ed Walker's 3 year old who I put up when making a successful handicap debut in impressive style after a 9 month break. Her two year old debut came over 7f at Doncaster last July when she put in an eye catching 2L beaten 3rd. After breaking tardily, she looked outpaced for a lot of the journey before the penny dropped late on as she finished to very good effect and it was a very promising debut. The form of that race looks very strong with the winner Dance The Rain subsequently finishing a head beaten 2nd off a mark of 81 whilst the 2nd Ghost Protocol is now an 88 rated animal. Her 2nd start came one month later at Folkestone again over 7f as she finished a not knocked about 6L beaten 5th. Once again she seemed outpaced as she had to be pushed along from about half way before making some decent enough headway under largely hands and heels riding. That race significantly suited those who raced on the pace with the first 4 home occupying those positions for the entire race. I really don't think the track suited her at all and I think she did very well to finish as close as she did. The form of that race isn't up to much but considering she wasn't hardly knocked about over a trip that is clearly on the sharp side it was still an encouraging effort. Her final 2 year old start came when upped to 1m at Nottingham but Ed Walker has stated on his site that she picked up an injury so I am going to ignore that effort. She landed a bit of a gamble on her handicap debut off a mark of 68 when upped to 10f for the first time under a tremendous ride by William Buick at Windsor. After being settled 2nd last, she had to be scrubbed along for the final 4 furlongs of the race and after running around a bit and still looking a bit green she got the hang of things as Buick delivered her down the wide outside and she got up inside the final furlong to win by a comfortable enough neck with the front two coming 3L clear of the field. The form of that race took a big boost with the 2nd Bernisdale winning on his next start off the same mark. She's been upped 6lb to a mark of 74 but I don't think this mark is beyond her. With only 4 starts to date, she's unexposed and she definitely relished the step up in trip which she gets again today. With Buick riding at Ascot, Chris Catlin takes the ride and he'll have to be at his best today as she looked a tricky enough ride on her last start. I definitely think she'll have come on an awful lot for that run and I foresee another big showing tonight. Although soft ground is a bit of an unknown, I don't think she'll have a problem handling it and with her trainer still in good form I think she could prove very difficult to beat at a rather generous 5/1
Having an EW double here on ASSIZES 4.20 Ripon and Cecils first timer AL WAAB in the 4.25 Newmarket just to keep my interest since i'm getting panned!!
I might as well give up. My 6 yo grandson has taken to watching the horse racing (about the time I did) He's picked 2 in each race and so far he has picked: 2.00 Newmarket - Ultrasonic W 15/2 2.35 Newmarket - Noverre To Go 2nd 7/1 2.45 Ascot - Blank (I had Chil The Kite W 5/2) 3.10 Newmarket - Dorcas Lane 2nd 9/2 3.20 Ascot - Fanunalter W 33/1 3.45 Newmarket - No selections -outside and missed the race 3.55 Ascot - Field Of Dream W 25/1 He has sea Moon and Nathaniel in the KG
Teach him how to fill out a betting slip Ron Can anyone tell me why the Arc winner is a bigger price than the Melbourne Cup winner?
