The going for Ascot’s 2-day meeting
this weekend is going to provide a real test for the competitors, with more
than half an inch of rain falling in the last couple of days. Finding horses
who handle hock-deep ground is no guarantee of success, but it’s a starting
point. One such horse is Jumps Road
who contests the novices’ handicap chase at 13:20. Colin Tizzard’s son of
Clerkenwell has a patchy overall record, but he handles heavy ground well, and
has never been out of the frame in races on ground described as soft or heavy
by Timeform. He shaped better than result behind Howard’s Legacy on chase debut
at Ffos Las in November, travelling well and just let down by his jumping in
the straight. He should have learnt plenty from that, and looks on a very fair mark
now handicapping in this sphere. Tizzard has been fairly quiet of late, but
most of his horses have been running well enough, and Shaking Hands was a
winner at Towcester yesterday, which helps to bolster confidence in the
selection.
The Ascot card should be lit up by the
talents of Simonsig and Puffin Billy, but both will be odds on, and a better
opportunity for betting comes in the Barclays Handicap Hurdle at 15:05. Most of
the field make little appeal, with the trio at the bottom of the weights likely
to dominate the betting. Of those, Duaiseoir was impressive in first-time blinkers
at Taunton last time, but has a patchy overall record, and the headgear isn’t
certain to have a lasting effect. The longer trip is another concern. Farmer
Matt is respected having improved with each of his starts in handicaps, and
still appeals as fairly treated, but slight preference is for Spanish Arch, who is also sharply on
the up and won with plenty to spare on his handicap bow at Warwick (21f, soft).
A penalty underplays his superiority, and he looks certain to make a bold bid
if handling the ground. He was a tad disappointing on the only occasion he’s
raced on heavy, but seemed to handle the ground on that occasion, and probably
just needed the run after a break, and his half-sister Bryansford Belle was at
her best when the mud was flying.
Recommended
Bets:
Back Jumps Road in the 13:20 Ascot @ [3.6] (NAP)
Back Spanish Arch in the 15:05 Ascot
@ [3.5] (NB)
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