The Daily Star’s top tipster expects a 10-year-old to score a third win in the 2.00 at Ascot and he also fancies a Grade Two-winning novice hurdler to score on his handicap debut in the 2.35
YOUR DARLING (2.00, nb) can make punters swoon with his third win in the Join Ladbrokes Bet £5 Get £30 Handicap Chase at Ascot.
Successful in this 2m 5f contest in both 2022 and 2023, the 10-year-old was last seen scoring at Uttoxeter in May of last year.
While he shoulders an extra 5lb and has not been on the racecourse for 541 days, he goes well when fresh and Ben Pauling will undoubtedly have him ready to run a big race.
FORTUNE DE MER (2.35) can follow up in the Ascot Partners Handicap Hurdle over two miles.
The five-year-old was a decent bumper winner last term and, following a fair hurdle debut, was transformed wearing a hood at Cheltenham last month, getting up on the line to win a Grade Two by a short head.
That bodes well for his first handicap outing.
In the closing bumper, SAINT JEANNAIS (3.45, trb) is the stand-out. The five-year-old has had just the one run at Worcester last month, and he couldn’t have been more impressive, drawing clear to win by seven and a half lengths.
He has been given the inevitable penalty, but could turn out to be a leading light in the discipline for Nigel and Willie Twiston-Davies this season.
At Chepstow LUNDI NOIR (2.09, nap) looks the best bet on the card in the BetWright Bangers N’Cash Handicap Hurdle over an extended 2m3f.
Tom Lacey’s five-year-old made a winning start over hurdles at Market Rasen in February and improved on that run over course and distance 42 days ago.
Third on his debut in a competitive handicap, the form has turned out well, with the winner scoring again. Improvement beckons.
On the nine-race card on the all-weather at Southwell, James Tate and jockey Rossa Ryan can strike a double.
BIN AJWAD (4.30) is primed to score a hat-trick following two course and distance wins, while three-time course and distance winner KING OF ITHACA (5.30) will fair better back at his favourite track.
Jason Heavey’s tips ASCOT 12.15 Reckless Spending 12.50 Doctor Blue 1.25 Lucky Place 2.00 Your Darling (nb) 2.35 Fortune De Mer 3.10 All Authorized 3.45 Saint Jeannais (trb)
CATTERICK 12.07 Wasthatok 12.40 Explode 1.15 You Some Girl 1.50 Silver Hill 2.25 Neigh Botha 3.00 Almazhar Garde 3.35 Tea Boy
CHEPSTOW 12.24 Le Frimeur 12.59 Doctors Hill 1.34 Petty Cash 2.09 Lundi Noir (Nap) 2.44 The Big Reveal 3.19 Reinado 3.54 Bande Organisee
SOUTHWELL 4.30 Bin Ajwad 5.00 Bowood 5.30 King Of Ithaca 6.00 Angel Gabriel 6.30 Wichahpi 7.00 Kingsclere 7.30 Caliban 8.00 West Acre 8.30 Popular Dream