Royal Ascot is the most famous Flat meeting in the world. The racing on today (21 December) at the track could not be more different than Group races for expensively bred horses. It's all about chases and hurdle races over two miles and more rather than races on the level from five furlongs up to two miles and six furlongs.
However, a winner is a winner and we have identified two good bets. The double pays +2100 at the best odds and that is a bet worth placing.
Riders Onthe Storm is on a retrieval mission after an unfortunate incident in the office at his stable. The horse should be backed for the Graduation Chase at Ascot ( 1.15pm ) at +175 with Bovada.
The Class 1 handicap chase at 3.00pm is a good opportunity for Give Me A Copper
Bovada offer the best price at +700 with each way bets settled at one fifth the odds for 3 places. The horse is partly owned by Sir Alex Ferguson and the jockey's silks are red with a touch of white in the sleeves.
Yesterday's meeting (20 December) at Ascot went ahead on heavy ground after a wet spell. However, Saturday's fixture will have to pass a precautionary inspection at 8am (GMT). The ground was safe on Friday but any significant rain could put the card under threat. The highlight is the Grade 1 Marsh Hurdle, registered as the Long Walk Hurdle, for which Paisley Park is the -400 favourite. On form and ratings this is a penalty kick and open goal for the winner of the 2019 stayers' hurdle.
Money buyers and professionals may be interested in a 25% return on investment. However, Paisley Park has not run on the anticipated testing going, but the horse cannot be opposed.
Riders Onthe Storm will be on offer at a much bigger price for a race that has attracted just five runners. Even so bookmakers will accept each way bets which will be settled at one quarter the odds for 2 places. An each way double with Give Me A Copper looks a bet to nothing and will cover the win element if both horses make the payout places.
Riders Onthe Storm was the ante post favourite for the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham last Saturday. However, the horse did not run because he was declared a non-runner. The trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies, asked one of his office staff to withdraw another horse but the instruction was misunderstood so Riders Onthe Storm could not run. Under the rules of racing once a horse is withdrawn it cannot be reinstated. Saturday's race at Ascot could help to ease the disappointment.
The horse won a decent handicap chase at Aintree in November, carrying 11-05 and producing a Racing Post Rating (RPR) of 154. The runner-up, Cepage, then finished fourth in the Cheltenham race that the Riders Onthe Storm missed and ran to an RPR of 161. The second favourite at Ascot this weekend is Paloma Blue who has only run to a mark of 150. That means on ratings, Riders Onthe Storm has a few pounds in hand so can win this race over two miles and five furlongs.
Give Me A Copper runs over two furlongs further in his intended target at Ascot. The horse is currently a best price of +4000 with Bovada for the Grand National at Aintree. Give Me A Copper was an impressive winner of a handicap chase over three miles and one furlong at Wincanton last month. The horse carried 11-01 in that race and has been allocated two pounds less for Saturday's test. The double is on with the insurance of the place money.