Friday's best bets, by Greg Wood
Just one non-runner on the Ascot card so far, but that happens to be Wychwoods Brook in the opener, tipped up on Thursday as the best bet of the day. In his absence, there is no obvious replacement on what is a six-race card with two odds-on chances and an even-money favourite for the concluding bumper, although Jumps Road (1.20) is the likeliest winner of the novice handicap chase.
The one possible exception is Dare Me (2.30), who has drifted out to 10-1 in places for the novice chase in which Simonsig will make his much-anticipated debut over fences at odds of around 1-4. With two complete rags in the field, Venetia Williams's runner need only finish second to guarantee a return on each-way bets, and stranger things have happened on desperate ground at Ascot than a 1-4 chance getting beaten on its fencing debut.
Puffin Billy (1.55) will be difficult to beat in the Kennel Gate Novice Hurdle, while at Lingfield, Ovett (2.10) looks to have plenty in hand and Gabrial's Hope (3.20) will also go well.
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