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Scott Embry provides his best bets for the Thoroughbred meeting at Ascot on Wednesday, 8th May 2024. Brought to you by the TABtouch Blog.
RACE 1 Best Bet
JUSTABITTAPRESS won a 950m trial by 3.7L leading into his debut when backed off the boards before attempting to buck and taking himself effectively out of play. Won a 950m trial by 1L leading into his second preparation when returning a winner over Roundabout Glory and Play Dice at Bunbury before being tipped out again. Same story – won a recent Lark Hill trial by 1.25L and looks to have found a winnable race to resume. Nice type. RUN PATTIE RUN has had a frustrating preparation and now comes back to the 1100. The market has always loved her. MORE SPECIAL flopped down the straight. Has again trialled nicely. MAGIC BELLE showed some versatility fresh when ridden off-speed.
Numbers: 3 – 5 – 1 – 7
Suggested Bet – JUSTABITTAPRESS WIN
RACE 2
QUICK AS SILVER has looked good at trials on all three occasions. Won a 400m jump out in February before finishing second to debut winner Want A Winner in a 1000m trial in March. Most recently wore blinkers in a 1000m trial when wanting to go a bit keenly and now at his first outing Fenella Martin has elected to leave the shades off. Looks a handy type. SCENIC GEORGE is the only runner in the race (excluding emergencies) who has race day experience and looks to have come back well judging by his all the way Lark Hill trial win. ROSIE CAN RUN chased hard behind a speedy leader and was working through her gears nicely late. GINGER AND TONIC looks your typical Paul Jordan jump-run type.
Numbers: 4 – 1 – 10 – 7
Suggested Bet – QUICK AS SILVER EACHWAY
RACE 3
MILITARY POWER won a pair of C3 1000m events when last in work and then on a Saturday in a 66+ he finished third behind Swim Through and Rumour Says before the wheels fell off later in the campaign. With KING'S HONOUR and RISEANFALL likely to clash in a battle for the front Luke Campbell can park on that pair and keep him within striking distance. Nice starting point for him but needs to step and stay in touch with the leading pair. KINGS HONOUR and RISEANFALL are both extremely quick and will both be looking to jump and run over the short course. DEMITO could have won by 6L at Albany last start. Flying.
Numbers: 2 – 6 – 5 – 7
Suggested Bet – MILITARY POWER WIN
RACE 4
STRYKER'S GAL finished second to Lombadina on debut and then finished sixth behind Hanoi Miss and subsequent winner Diamond Light before finishing second to Striking Fella at her most recent outing. She's lightly raced, she's got the tactical speed to hold a position in running and she kept coming last start over 1400m. Think she'll land in a prominent spot close handy and prove hard to hold out. LOOK HERE PUNK is a long time maiden and was beaten at Geraldton last start but he can ride the speed and the Meryl Hayley yard is on fire. LET SPARKS FLY was a big improver last start but will need a bit of luck here. CHEVAP trialled well for his return from almost a year's absence.
Numbers: 9 – 1 – 8 – 7
Suggested Bet – STRYKER'S GAL WIN
RACE 5
MASAMUNE has always had a big expectation on his shoulders. First-up last preparation he finished third behind Zipaway and Barney's World in a 3 year old 1200 on a Saturday at Belmont Park and then later in the campaign progressed to the Fairetha Stakes and the WA Guineas. Finally broke his maiden at Bunbury over 1200m at the end of his second campaign and hopefully he's now ready to make his way through the grades. 400m jump out was sharp and he's got barrier 1 to use to his advantage. Expect plenty of early support. ROMMING DANGER has only had four starts but has impressed at each of them for different reasons. She looms as a big danger with the cutaway in play. TEABISCUIT and ROCKING GEM are still maidens but have ability.
Numbers: 1 – 6 – 5 – 7
Suggested Bet – MASAMUNE WIN
RACE 6
ZANGIEF has come back to racing bigger and better this campaign. He didn't fire fresh at 1000m at Bunbury but considering he was 327 days between preparations it was probably a barrier trial for him. A month later he won a C1 1200 by 2L eased down and showed it was no fluke with a strong C3 1200 win at Ascot on Anzac Day. Same track, same grade, same map and only carries an extra 1.5kg. Hard to fault him. LEGACY OF TARA was backed into $3 in that same event but was gone on straightening. May have needed the hit out but needs to bounce back off a disappointing return. GOLD KEEPER ran well behind Dance Boss. THE BIG ONE gets jump and run conditions to suit.
Numbers: 2 – 1 – 5 – 7
Suggested Bet – ZANGIEF WIN
RACE 7
JANNY and VAMPI AT PLAY will both have their admirers and their knockers. JANNY is a jump and run type who will look to burn them off and take full advantage of the Easterly breeze and likely on speed pattern of the program while VAMPI AT PLAY has never been to a Class Race in her entire career. Across her 19 starts to date she has contested 4x 2yo SWP, 8x 60+ Graduations, 3x 66+, 3x Listed and 1x Group 3 and the only time Neville Parnham has raced her on a Wednesday she won. CAPO VELOCE was a wonderful return. DON'T TELL NAN has won back to back races.
Numbers: 6 – 1 – 3 – 10
Suggested Bet – JANNY WIN
RACE 8
HENRY HAS SPOKEN was the target of strong backing at his return to racing in a C1 1400 on a day where the rail was at 16m with a cutaway and the Easterly breeze was pushing the leaders along. She led and was beaten 3L but by subsequent winner Profit Pocket and you would expect he only improves for the run. Finds the front again and now drops 4kg after the claim. Don't mind this race for her. STATE OF FURY can park leader's back and use the cutaway to full advantage. CRIMMO has raced on speed and off speed since arriving in WA. Steve Parnham looks to have ridden him ahead of Cherry's A Star and that's a push in itself. KERMIT'S LUCK can march across to look for the breeze.
Numbers: 4 – 7 – 1 – 2
Suggested Bet – HENRY HAS SPOKEN EACHWAY
RACE 9
WEERAECHOUX is almost certainly the best horse in the race, however, on a day where it's likely to be difficult to make ground from a rearward position it's going to take a smart tactical ride from Bradley Parnham. Love the Richanco form and think he's more than capable of overcoming the pattern/bias. PROTÉGÉ is through the same race but was a fair way behind him. MORE THAN ENUFF will continue to improve into the campaign. Gives the impression he'll get ground. STRIKING FELLA broke his maiden well rolling from the top.
Numbers: 6 – 3 – 1 – 4
Suggested Bet – WEERAECHOUX WIN
RACE 10
HAPPY AS LARRY missed the kick first-up but still found the line behind Major Mario over 1400m. Second-up in a 3 year old Saturday he finished less than 2.5L off Fly With Caution / Cool Memory/ Bondi Plunge / New Music and now third-up he drops back to midweek company, gets out to 1800m and finds a race where he can sit closer. Looks ready and likely jumps from barrier 5 after emergencies come out. Would love anything near eachway. MISS AVA won first-up at 1400m and now steps straight out to 1800m. Gritty win fresh. STOP DREAMING was unsuited by the slow tempo last start. DASH OF BRANDY was a solid return.
Numbers: 7 – 1 – 4 – 10
Suggested Bet – HAPPY AS LARRY EACHWAY
Quaddie (Race 7 – 10)
1,3,6
1,4,7
1,3,6
1,4,5,7,10
Click here for Wednesday's TABtouch Ascot Markets.
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