Nick Luck’s William Hill Blog: Ticker can catch Fire at Redcar

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck casts his expert eye over the pick of Saturday’s racing from Newmarket, Ascot and Redcar.

Newmarket, Saturday

LA PASIONARIA is an each way pick in the TV opener at Newmarket Saturday (1:30pm). She ripped her handicap mark to shreds in a weak Musidora, but I actually found her more recent run more compelling evidence that she was worth it, when she did best of those ridden off the pace in a big field. This is easier company, and a bit of give in the ground won’t go amiss.

AUBERGINE is of most interest in the Tattersalls Auction race (2:05pm). She reportedly worked very well in the spring before injury intervened, but looked quite a smart prospect on her belated debut, making taking headway through the field before sticking on. She’ll be better for that experience, and race conditions give her a nice chunk of weight from the principals.

SEE THE FIRE could be the answer to the Sun Chariot (2:40pm). My instinct is to prefer Nashwa of the Gosden pair, but I’m more inclined towards the three year olds. The selection has arguably achieved more than Tamfana the last twice, is improving fast, and won’t mind easing back in distance.

CHORUS is definitely ready to win now (3:15pm). That was much more like it last time, when never nearer than at the finish. The ground was a little quick for her that day, but 12 furlongs with cut should be spot-on, and she has more to offer from this mark.

Saturday, Ascot

BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND can win the Rous at Ascot (1:50pm). She ran another fine race in the Flying Five considering she was marooned on the worst part of the track, and takes a dip in class here. Democracy Dilemma will give this a big go from the front, but he may struggle to concede 5lbs to the selection up this stiff finish.

GOD’S WINDOW could outrun big odds in the Cumberland Lodge (2:25pm). You’d like the yard to be winning more races, but this is a bit of a work in progress, and looked to be back in the right groove behind the smart Kalpana at Kempton, where he was poorly positioned in a steady affair. They’re likely to go a right gallop in this, and that will suit much better.

WILTSHIRE has been similarly underestimated in the Bengough (3:00pm). That was a storming effort at Haydock last weekend, when poorly positioned and trapped with no cover, over a furlong too short a trip. He ran to a big number there – big enough to take a hand here if the sixth furlong and easy ground helps, which it should.

VOLTERRA makes a good bit of appeal in the valuable seven-furlong event (3:35pm). He ran terrifically well on the wrong side here at the Royal Meeting and only narrowly failed to stretch his rivals out at York. A drop to seven furlongs won’t be an issue, and there aren’t many progeny of this sire who don’t improve for some juice in the ground.

Saturday, Redcar

NORTHERN TICKER is quite a strong fancy for the William Hill Two Year Old Trophy at Redcar (3:20pm). Although his Carlisle win hasn’t worked out, he was really quite impressive on easy ground, and still looked very green. In truth, there wasn’t anything good enough to give him a decent tow into the race. That won’t be an issue here, and normal improvement will see him on the premises.