An extremely busy day of top class racing with the best cards at York, Ascot & Newmarket. Having taken a good look at both the John Smith’s Cup (York) & the Bunbury Cup (Newmarket), the race with the best value betting opportunities is the Heritage Handicap at Ascot run earlier at 13:55.
We will have two onside with first up Racy who finished runner up in this same race last season when a tad unlucky behind Masamah. Racy ran a cracker recently just failing to see out the trip at Royal Ascot in the Wokingham stakes. He was drawn well that day and raced just behind the pace before getting to the front as the final furlong approached. However, as Baccarat sprinted clear Racy ran out of puff and just plodded home to finish 10th.
The handicapper has been kind dropping Racy 4 lbs to a rating of 96 just 1lb higher than when finishing second here last season. He is drawn high (18) which seemed to be an advantage during Royal Ascot in the handicaps and will be there or thereabouts at the finish today. His price of 25/1 is way too tempting to ignore with Demora drawn alongside to provide the early pace.
The second horse is a very quirky character and one I’d usually avoid but his last two runs were very good considering race conditions conspired against him. Barnet Fair does not like to be hit very often or at all but seems genuine enough and runs to the line well. On Derby day at Epsom he finished 6th but was the first low draw horse to cross the line with all five ahead drawn in double figures. He travelled very well that day until flattening out close home beaten just over 2 lengths. His last run can be ignored despite finishing 6th again as he got blocked badly at the furlong pole before keeping on again. Those two runs were encouraging along with the fact the handicapper has dropped him a couple of pounds and top claiming jockey Cam Hardie takes another 5lbs off!
Last Season Barnet Fair ran at Ascot on fast ground off a rating of 90 with Conor Beasley claiming a similar 5lbs and the duly won beating Steps who is currently running off a rating of 110! That is top class form and with an Ascot record of 2 wins from 5 starts, Barnet Fair can do the business today from another good draw in stall 16.
Selection: 1 Point *EW Racy Ascot 13:55 at 20/1 generally use *B.O.G
Selection: 1 Point *EW Barnet Fair Ascot 13:55 at 10/1generally use *B.O.G
Best of luck,
Nicky
