We have a huge day in store at Ascot as the record-breaking unbeaten chaser, Altior, steps up in trip for the Christy 1965 Chase and takes on the highest rated chaser of them all in the shape of Cyrname in what promises to be one of the matches of the season.
Even in taking slight preference for Cyrname however against his odds-on rival, this cannot at all be described as a decent betting race and so it’s one we have to just enjoy for what it is – a great sporting event.
Punting is the name of the game for us though and we do have four bets this week with hopes high that they can all do the business. We do the rounds of Ascot and Haydock over the jumps as well as Lingfield on the flat, beginning with one who looks well clear of his field.
12.05 Haydock (Newton Novices’ Hurdle – Listed Race) – THEBANNERKINGREBEL
When rating this race, the final result looked almost too good to be true so, it probably is! That said, even if the ratings are slightly askew Thebannerkingrebel was so far ahead that he’d have to take a backward step and the others, such as Calva D’Auge and Torn And Frayed will need to improve immeasurably for him to be caught.
Our boy was a winner twice over the summer, in fact it would have been three times but for a last flight fall, and he seems well placed to get his winter campaign off to the ideal start even if the odds are potentially compiled on the basis that summer jumpers are still seen as inferior to winter ones.
We’ll have none of that here as we only rely on the evidence, and the evidence here suggests that Thebannerkingrebel is of a higher standard than any of his rivals.
12.10 Lingfield (Fillies’ Handicap) – ITIZZIT
The opener at Lingfield is a competitive, if only mid-range all-weather fillies’ handicap on the face of it but it’s one in which the three-year-olds may well dominate and among them there is one who stands out at the weights in the shape of Hughie Morrison’s Itizzit.
Owned by Hot To Trot, who know their way around of course, this daughter of Mukhadram was definitely better on quicker ground when racing on the turf and so it’s felt that she will improve again from her encouraging run at Kempton last month now that she goes on this particular surface.
The booking of Jason Watson is rather eye-catching, in fact he was booked for just the one ride by Hughie Morrison last week when scoring on a well-backed favourite.
Furthermore, one of Itizzit’s better performances was in a nursery handicap this time last year over this course and distance so we know for sure she acts well around here, making her look thoroughly decent value at around the 7/2 mark to take care of the likes of Saikung and I’lletyouknow.
2.40 Ascot (Ascot Hurdle – Grade 2) – CALL ME LORD
Assuming he comes back fit enough to do himself justice, which I have few doubts about at all, this race represents a huge opportunity for Nicky Henderson’s Call Me Lord to get back to winning ways and take a second race at Grade 2 level.
While one or two others in the field are solid enough at the weights, namely Roksana at the bottom and If The Cap Fits up at the top, Henderson’s six-year-old gelding is just a level above for me, especially if he recovers the form that saw him demolish Lil Rockerfeller and others at Sandown in April when landing his first Grade 2 event.
Although he was poor here in the Long Walk Hurdle (Grade 1), he did go off favourite for that and is very highly thought of, while he was also market leader when finishing third in the Imperial Cup but he had a slight problem and was put away after that run rather than being risked at Cheltenham or Aintree.
He’s back now and should be at his very best this season, something that would mean it’s game over for the others in this particular contest.
3.00 Haydock (Betfair Chase – Grade 1) – LOSTINTRANSLATION
True, on reputation the big chase of the day is undoubtedly the Christy 1965 over at Ascot given that Altior and Cyrname are clashing in a gargantuan match-up, but that is a Grade 2 and this is the big Grade 1 and it could have a huge bearing on the rest of the season with the winner of this race certain to be aimed at the King George on Boxing Day as well as the Gold Cup at Cheltenham in March.
So far, course favourite Bristol De Mai has 4 wins from 4 runs at Haydock Park, including having won this race three times over, and we’re certainly not out to get him beaten just for the sake of it.
If he wins it’ll be some story of that there is no doubt, but his overall level of form including in this race last year when winning, shouldn’t make him such a short-priced favourite and at a slightly bigger price, especially when there is at least one very live danger and so the huge talent that is Lostintranslation can be backed to improve past him.
Colin Tizzard’s seven-year-old was very good indeed when he won the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase during the Grand National meeting at Aintree in April by six lengths from Topofthegame, and that horse it musn’t be forgotten is rated 164.
Given the circumstances, i.e. a small field, lack of race fitness and very soft ground, he was equally impressive when winning on his seasonal reappearance at Carlisle when making all to easily beat Count Meribel and he really should take all the beating now.
Frodon remains a great prospect and a fan favourite of course, though whether he will be seen at his best over this sort of distance is open to question and he is passed over this time.
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