Nick’s Picks: Intent on a few winners

Ascot

RHYTHMIC INTENT is worth an each way investment in the TV curtain raiser at Ascot on Saturday (1.30pm) at 12/1. He’s an unpredictable character, and can suffer with various ailments, but he’s undoubtedly well treated on his best form. Last season, he took a big step forward from his first run of the campaign, and this time he is once again moving up to a much more suitable test of stamina. The booking of Danny Tudhope is an obvious plus.

BECCARA ROSE is another sliding slightly under the radar at 11/1 in a warm fillies’ handicap (2.05pm). She ran two nice races at two and was well fancied to break her maiden behind the exciting Gather Ye Rosebuds at Newbury. A combination of running freely and testing conditions for her seasonal debut, however, was her undoing, and she can make amends down in distance. Although she is by Sea The Stars, she’s from quite a quick family, and looks to make her handicap bow off a fair mark.

PEROTTO is the pick in the Victoria Cup (2.40pm) at 12/1. There are lots of old favourites here, and this one makes his debut for a new stable, which immediately elects to drop him in distance. On this surface at this stiffish track (which he likes), that might be an inspired move, and he’s drawn near a bit of pace. There’s no doubt that he has the ability to figure if the change of surroundings has done the trick.

Lingfield

MY MATE TED has a chance to bounce back at 14/1 in a thin looking telly opener at Lingfield (1.50pm). He’s starting to get very frustrating, but his overall record on a synthetic surface isn’t too bad at all, and he’s equipped with cheekpieces for the first time. Interestingly, headgear had a positive effect on both siblings, and that combined with the drop in distance could see him quite dangerous on the front end.

SANDRINE looks a bit big at 5/2, relative to favourite Sacred in the Chartwell (2.25pm). This filly was a smashing two-year-old, yet was underestimated last year despite a series of creditable efforts. Seven furlongs looks best for her, and she won her only start on this surface. Oisin Murphy takes over.

PERFECT PROPHET is a sporting alternative at 15/2 to the super-stables in the Oaks Trial (3.00pm). She did really well to break her maiden and finish third in an admittedly weak Group 2 at big odds last year. As a close relative of Nate The Great, she should be open to tons of improvement now she’s tackling a proper trip, and she already has all the smart entries for a highly capable outfit.

CIRCLE OF FIRE can step forward in the Derby Trial (3.35pm) at 4/1. The royal runner is a tremendously imposing horse with a touch of class, and it’s inconceivable that he won’t make a big move forward for this extra distance. Favourite Military Order – a brother to Adayar – looked useful on his Newbury comeback, but it looked a thin race on very soft ground. He has more on his plate here

Haydock

ONEMOREFORTHEROAD is the chosen one at 11/1 in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock (3.15pm). Neil King’s team has been in-and-out over the last year, as evidenced by this one’s patchy form. But he’s now six pounds lower than when he bolted up in the previous year’s Gerry Fielden, shaped better last time, has headgear applied and the stable seem to have turned the corner.