Saturday 29th October 2022

Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)

Welcome aboard to this Saturday Blog where I’ll be sharing my punts for the day at Ascot and Wetherby. Kicking things off for me will be the 1:50 at Wetherby which is a Novices’ Hurdle over two miles and three and a half furlongs. I’ve sided with Joe Dadancer here at 5/2 for Kielan Woods and Ben Pauling. He’s not yet ran under rules, however, he made a very big impression on his pointing effort when he was last seen as on that occasion he was eleven lengths clear before falling. The form of that race has also received a significante boost and there’s every chance that this five-year-old could prove to be an exciting prospect, and if that’s the case they could be up against it trying to peg him back here.

Next up for me, it’s the 2:05 at Ascot which is the Bateaux London Handicap Hurdle at Ascot over a mile and seven and a half furlongs. I like the chances of Anyharminasking here at 7/2 who’s the mount of Jonjo O’Neil Jr and trained by Jonjo Sr. I’ve been eagerly awaiting this horse’s first run over hurdles having developed into an impressive bumper winner last term, last being seen bolting up at Sedgefield in January by five-lengths. He’s the only horse to have lined up against Supreme winner Constitution Hill and beaten him, having got the better of him in his pointing days. I think he’s a very exciting prospect and he could well prove to be considerably better than his opening mark of 137.

Moving over to Wetherby for their 2:25 which is a Listed Mares Hurdle contested over a distance of two miles. I think this is all about Molly Olly’s Wishes at 11/8 for the Harry and Dan Skelton team. She had a bit of an up-and-down campaign last term, but did manage to bag two nice pots having bolted up in this race twelve months ago, before going on to win a Grade 2 Mares Hurdle at Ascot in January. She was last seen when running no sort of race at Aintree in the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle, however, she’s proven that this is more of her kind of level and it’s likely that the target for her has been to come back here and attempt to successfully defend her crown. I think she’s got a great chance of doing just that. (NAP/Best Bet) 

Back to Ascot now for their 2:40 which is an extremely competitive Premier Handicap Chase over two miles and a furlong. This is a very difficult race from a punting perspective, however, with I’ve decided to chance my hand with Monsieur Lecoq who’s currently trading at a best price of 7/1 for Ciaran Gethings and Jane Williams. He seems to have been around for a long time, however, he’s still only an eight-year-old and signed off his campaign last term with a win in a decent handicap chase at Newbury. Earlier this month he made his seasonal reappearance, and posted an underwhelming effort in a handicap hurdle at Chepstow. That was likely just a fitness prep for this though, and with fitness on his side and what looks to still be a decent mark, I think he could run well at a decent price.

The 3:00 at Wetherby is the final race I’ll be having a punt in on Saturday and it’s the Grade 2 Bet365 Hurdle that’s contested over three miles. I’m taking a chance on Indefatigable here at 7/2 for the Rex Dingle and Paul Webber team. She’s a smart mare who’s rated 145 and arrives here on the back of an effort on the flat at Pontefract last month, which should have blown the cobwebs away and gives her somewhat of a fitness edge on her rivals in this. She had a busy enough campaign last season, which included victory in this race 12 months ago. This has likely been her prime target, and getting a bit of weight off her rivals she’s got every chance of going well here again.