Nick Luck
Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Ascot, Haydock and Punchestown Best Bets
William Hill ambassador Nick Luck previews a stacked weekend of racing from Ascot, Haydock and Punchestown.
Bet on Horse Racing at William Hill
GIDLEIGH PARK gets the vote in the TV opener at Ascot on Saturday (1.30). There are no two more tactically dependent horses around than Il Est Francais and Pic d’Orhy, and a duel could easily let in one of the second season novices. The selection has a little more speed than Jango Baie, and has already beaten him. He did incredibly well given the paucity of opportunity last season.
WODHOOH looks mighty hard to overlook in the Ascot hurdle (2.40). Conditions of this race might have been written for her, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if she were challenging for championship honours by the end of the season.
JPR ONE can continue his trainer’s fine run in the Hurst Park (3.15). For a horse who sits only just below top class, he’s starting to look pretty well handicapped, and he has a nice set-up here, with plenty of pace to travel in behind combined with good ground.
KABRAL DU MATHAN looks a very solid favourite in the Haydock TV curtain raiser (1.15). He did very little wrong in more competitive races than this for Paul Nicholls, while looking open to a nice bit of improvement. He’s had a breathing operation since and, if that elicits a little more, he’ll be really hard to beat.
IROKO is probably a bet at the prices in the Graduation Chase (1.50). There’s a danger of being too clever and imagining he’s only working towards the Grand National, but he arguably has the best form in the race, while remaining fully open to improvement. His two most talented rivals both return from injury, and this looks a pretty good opportunity.
MA SHANTOU has more to offer, and can land the big hurdle (2.25). His stable could use a winner and, as such, he might drift a bit, but the way he travelled at Cheltenham suggested to me that he could be a very high calibre horse, and it seems significant that the yard took this with Paisley Park en route to bigger things.
HANDSTANDS is a far from confident selection in the Betfair Chase (3.00). Any result is feasible here, but I thought he might be very positively ridden and enjoy the run of the race. Any further ease in the ground would greatly enhance his chances.
TOP OF THE BILL makes a fair bit of appeal at a bit of a price in the finale (3.35). He enjoys a flat, left handed track, and is a good jumper with a naturally forcing style, which will serve him well. The rider looks increasingly good value for his claim, while the stable is holding its form well.
IRANCY is a sporting pick to turnover Lossiemouth in the Morgiana at Punchestown (2.10). I love the mare – how could you not – but she could just get done for a bit of toe over this trip in a potentially tactical affair by a horse who looked replete with pace and class when smashing up Salvator Mundi here in the spring.
