Friday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
The feature event at Ascot this afternoon offers up a classic racing puzzle: proven form versus exciting potential. Platitude, the five-length winner of the March Stakes at Goodwood in August, is the favourite for the Listed Noel Murless Stakes at 11-8, and the six opponents lined up against him include Dermot Weld’s three-year-old Aydoun, whose sole race to date was a maiden at Listowel 15 days ago, which he won by nearly five lengths.
Aydoun is a fascinating contender, and both his dam and his half-brother Alaivan were winners at one-and-a-half miles, which suggests that he should cope with the step up to 14 furlongs this afternoon.
Platitude (3.45) was a very convincing winner of his last race too, however, and his overall profile is progressive with the exception of a below-par run in the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. Aydoun’s debut does not put him within a stone of Platitude’s latest performance, and Sir Michael Stoute’s runner looks a fair price to follow up.
There are two or three runners in the three-year-old sprint handicap that could prove to be Group-class performers next year, with Symposium (3.10) narrowly preferred at the prices to continue his recent winning streak. Mazzini, who looked very unlucky at Newcastle last time out, is the obvious danger.
Run To The Hills (4.20) had no trouble defying his opening mark of 78 on his handicap debut at Thirsk last time out and could well find enough progress after just four previous starts to follow up, while Mijhaar (4.55) should go well in the Gordon Carter Handicap at the end of the card.
Zamadance (6.50) has been tried at a variety of trips already but the mile in today’s nursery at Newcastle could be ideal and he looks fairly-weighted on his recent run at seven furlongs. Desert Ace (8.20) is another to consider at the same meeting, while Cloud Monkey (2.25) and Hygrove Percy (3.25) will go well on the jumps cards at Hexham and Fontwell Park respectively.
We are no longer able to continue with competitions every week, but they will still run in the biggest weeks (Cheltenham, Aintree, Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood and maybe one or two others, as well as the Christmas quiz).
We’ll still have a Talking Horses each day for tips, analysis and news, so we very much hope you’ll join us to chew over whatever racing happens to be going on and post your tips or racing-related comments below.
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