ASCOT stages a top quality and competitive card with the feature the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle in which Paisley Park is remarkably looking for his fourth career success, having first won the race in 2018. He is an eleven-year-old like Champ, who was victorious in 2021 for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson, whilst ten-year-old Dashel Drasher beat Paisley Park at Newbury last month.
I fancy the older brigade to hold off the new kids on the block with West Balboa and Crambo heading the market, yet this is a big step up against these proven rivals.
The Handicap Hurdle at 3.35 sees Nicky Henderson field three runners with Unibet Greatwood Hurdle winner Iberico Lord heading the market, whilst Impose Toi and Luccia have definite chances too.
Enjoy whether at Ascot or watching #athome on ITV Racing
Cheers!
The Wine Tipster
1.30 Haydock – Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase (3m ½f)
Bill Baxter faced a hard task on reappearance in retrospect, when giving 4lb to Thunder Rock and Mahler Mission at Carlisle and ran well in the circumstances. He again ran with credit from out of the weights when eighth in the big handicap at Newbury, weakening from two out, and in effect is 3lb lower here. Bill Baxter won’t mind the soft/heavy ground and should be spot-on fitness wise with the slightly shorter trip in his favour.
Unibet are paying MONEY BACK AS CASH if your pick finishes 2nd or 3rd in this race!
2.05 Haydock – Handicap Hurdle (1m 7½f)
Goobinator was last marked up each way in my Unibet blog when fourth in the 2021 Cesarewitch at Newmarket. He then had three hurdle races and a run on the flat in May 2022 ahead of being off the course for 528 days until his winning reappearance at Catterick on the flat at the end of October. The success was over 1m 4f and there was plenty to like about his performance under a considerate ride by Jason Hart. Goobinator is a genuine individual who has been given time to get over that run and he can take his fourth career victory over hurdles
2.25 Ascot – Howden Long Walk Hurdle Grade 1 (3m ½f)
Paisley Park (nap) can still fly the flag for the veterans and hold off arch-rival Champ, who is another eleven-year-old. Paisley Park may have dropped down the ratings but he still showed at Newbury last month that the fire is still burning when just failing to peg back the race-fit ten-year-old Dashel Drasher when trying to give 6lbs. There are no younger superstars coming through in the staying division and with a strong place assured this tactically works for Paisley Park, which gives him a good chance of winning his fourth Long Walk Hurdle.
Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE in this race
3.00 Ascot – Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase (3m)
Git Maker has won six of his nine career starts and finished runner-up on two of the others, which are strong credentials in a very competitive handicap chase. Last time out he notched up a three-timer beating stablemate Super Survivor, who is strongly fancied for the Welsh National, when winning more comfortably than the margin of two lengths to give inform trainer Jamie Snowden the 1-2. Git Maker is keeping good company here, yet he looks progressive and he has shown how effective he is on this ground.
Hascoeur Clermont is much improved this autumn and has really come to himself with an easy winner at Galway on his penultimate start. He ran at Cheltenham last time, when leading a long way out and despite getting a bit tired late, never looked in danger of defeat after jumping really well including at the last with ears pricked. He has been upped 9lb for that victory but the second home Chambard (marked up in my Unibet blog and for the Becher) won the Becher Chase by 19l on his next start and the form looks very solid. Hascoeur Clermont can continue his upward trajectory and the drying ground will not be an issue as he won on good to soft and good ground.
3.35 Ascot – Handicap Hurdle (1m 7½f)
Luccia finished third in the Unibet Greatwood Hurdle when marked up in my Unibet blog and although her stablemates Iberico Lord and Impose Toi are more fancied she has the class to run a big race here. This is her first start at Ascot, which could really suit Luccia and remember she has won on soft and good ground so the drying conditions can work in her favour.
The Wine Tipster’s Fivefold
Christmas really could come early if this one lands!
Roll these picks from our red-hot tipster into an acca and that currently pays 26238/1 – £5 each way potentially returns over £131,000 if they come in!
Click the image below to add directly to your betslip!
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