Nick Luck
Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Ascot and Haydock Tips
William Hill ambassador Nick Luck previews Saturday’s action from Ascot and Haydock.
Ascot
SUNSET MARQUESA is a sporting pick to land the TV opener at Ascot on Saturday (1.40). She’s a fine, big mare with a long stride who should enjoy this track and won’t mind a bit more ease in the ground. She probably engaged top gear a bit soon at Sandown last time, having travelled really well, and wasn’t beaten far by the strong stating Nurse Susan. I don’t see as much pace pressure here, and she has a shot at reversing the form.
NEON MOON is a conservative each way bet in a very competitive handicap chase (2.20). He is relatively exposed, but he’s perfectly capable off this sort of mark, and has looked very effective at this track on more than one occasion. He always travels like quite a talented horse, but just lacks a change of gear – as such, a strongly run race at this trip will suit well, with the Cobden booking hardly a negative.
FAIVOIR might have another big day in him in the Holloway’s (2.53). He’s run a couple of pretty solid races this season, while suggesting that he was warming gradually to his task after a year off. This slightly longer trip (which he stays) may just help him a bit nowadays, and this is nowhere near as competitive. Harry Skelton gets back aboard.
THISTLE ASK is being posed his biggest question yet in the Clarence House (3.30), but I have a feeling he might be up to answering it. His asset is pure pace: if Jonbon or Gidleigh Park try to serve it up to him over this trip, they might well be going too fast. In addition, Thistle Ask is a brilliant jumper who can apply pressure from the outset. This will be a very different race rhythm to the two races in which Il Etait Temps sauntered home at Sandown, and I can watch him happily enough at long odds-on.
Haydock
HURRICANE PAT is the pick in Haydock’s Supreme Trial (1.25). He’s fundamentally a quicker horse than Old Park Star, even though he has done his winning round Chepstow and Sandown, he has also achieved more on the form book than his market rival.
KONFUSION can take another step to bring a fringe Gold Cup player in the Peter Marsh (2.00). The handicapper put him up nine pounds for Wetherby, but that looks conservative given the way he thumped a pair of useful horses with a brilliant display of jumping from the front. You’d be a little concerned that there are two fellow trailblazers against him, but he’s improving so fast that he might be able to take a lead for a while and still win.
KYNTARA has found a nice opportunity in the Challenger Qualifier (2.35). He’s not won for a while, but he’s run a pair of solid races this season, repetition of which would see him right there. This track will suit his forward going style, and he appears to be building towards a peak effort.
