It’s a busy day of action today with plenty of good action to choose from. Again, it’s likely to be a day to watch rather than get too involved as it is still very early in the season. I’ve got a couple of fancies at Ascot and remarkably two in the opening contest. A conditional jockey novices handicap hurdle wouldn’t get the heart rate up too much on the face of it but there are two in the who I have had in my note book for a few weeks.
First up is PIANISSIMO for the Anthony Carson team. A former classy horse for John Gosden on the flat, he has taken well to the jumping game having shown up well in his qualifying runs to date. He really caught my eye last time at Uttoxeter when only finding the classy Cormier & Faivoir (both have won since) too good but he did finish infront of the well regarded Here Comes McCoy. The form looks pretty useful and an opening mark of 117 looks pretty lenient for this 90 rated flat horse. Graham Carson takes a further 7lb off and I think he has a belting each way chance at 14/1.
My other fancy in the race is NORTHERN POET who looks to have been handed a lenient opening mark. A useful bumper horse has shown enough in two qualifying runs to suggest a mark of 108 is well within his reach. A staying on third over 2m 2f at Exeter last time was a fine effort with the form having a solid look to it. Shinobi who finished in behind the selection has come out and won since and the two who finished in front look useful too. Top conditional Tabitha Worsley takes over the reigns today and I am anticipating a bold show.
Later on the card I am looking forward to seeing WHATMORE run in the Sodexo Gold Cup. Henry Daly has his team in fine order and has enjoyed success just last weekend with a horse returning off a break and I think he can work his magic again. This horse was a fine fourth in the Novices Handicap chase at the festival and that form has already been boosted. The step up to 3 miles should bring about further improvement however and at 5/1 I think he is a safe each way play.
Ascot 12.15 – Pianissimo & Northern Poet
Ascot 3.40 – Whatmore
