3.35 ASCOT: Ascot Chase
THIS always goes to a top-class chaser, with an official rating of 162 the bare minimum.
From this year’s small but select field, that spells bad news for Speredek on 154 and Traffic Fluide who has plenty to find from a mark of 151.
All eyes will be on old warrior Cue Card ahead of this comeback mission. There are pluses and minuses for him from a trends point of view. His official rating is certainly high enough at 166 and it’s perfectly possible to come back from three months off to win this.
And being 12 is no hindrance either, with Monets Garden proving that by scoring in 2010. He’s won this race twice before and it has produced multiple winners.
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Where Colin Tizzard’s ace falls down is his recent form. Only one horse has won this in the past 10 years without a recent victory to their name.
And unless there’s a late run in the betting ring, he’s not likely to be one of the first three in the market either. So he has to be overlooked from a trends point of view.
Frodon also falls down as he’d be much the longest-priced scorer.
That leaves us with Coney Island, Top Notch and Waiting Patiently to concentrate on.
Trends tip for the Betfair Ascot Chase
3.35 Ascot – Top Notch (add to your betslip)
All three have a similar profile but seven of the past 10 had a previous win at the track, which is a minus for Waiting Patiently.
Of the remaining pair, TOP NOTCH gets the nod thanks to Nicky Henderson’s solid record in the race.
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