International Racing: Ascot – Wednesday 1 April 2020

The Team over at winning form take an in-depth look at Wednesday 1 April’s 10-race card taking place at Ascot. 

Other racing taking place on Wednesday 1 April

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Best Bet: BERET (Race 7)
Value Bet: I AM SPARTACUS (Race 10)

Cost: R125.00

Race 1
QUEEN BROWN won at the second time of asking. That was over 1100M and she steps up to seven furlongs here. If taking to the extra distance, she looks to be the one that they all have to beat. NO SURRENDER was making steady progress on debut over 1100M and could improve going over the seven furlongs. EM TEE AYE only narrowly failed to win in this last start over this trip. A repeat of that effort should see the gelding trouble the top two selections. MOMBASA was just two lengths behind the winner last time out and will enjoy the 3kgs to be taken off his back courtesy of his claiming apprentice.

Race 2
SAUVEGARDE has consistent formlines to her credit, having won three of her last eight starts. She finished a half-length off the winner in her last start over six furlongs and should be right up there when they hit the line. BABY BLUES won her last start over seven furlongs and drops back in trip. She gets blinkers fitted today and if these sharpen her up, she would be a strong challenger to the top selection. LEICA JAGUAR returns from a 23 break and won his last barrier trial. He is not without a chance in this line-up. PALAVER did finish just behind the winner in his last outing over this distance and should be considered here.

Race 3
STELLA DOOR returns from an 18-week break. He drops back to the minimum distance and should give a good account of himself here. JAKESTAR has finished second three-time and third twice in five starts to date and looks the obvious threat to the former. TOVARICH has had many chances but is a speedy sort who may just keep going to win at this thirteenth attempt.  SCOOLHOUSE ROCK finished third on debut over five furlongs after three encouraging barrier trials. He should be respected here.

Race 4
CHARLETON EDDIE finished third over 1100M on debut. He would have learnt from the experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, he may be the one to side with here. SMASHING drops back slightly in trip and did finish second on debut over five furlongs. She is sure to keep the former honest. CRYSTAL PIER will have 3kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice. This should assist his cause. SAMSURIAN has cracked pole position and could make that advantage count here.

Race 5
MISS MERIT has consistent form to her name and finished strongly when just beaten in her last start over five furlongs. The extra distance is sure to suit her. ROCK THE PLANET was a surprise winner of her last outing over five furlongs, but if she can confirm that improvement here, she should be involved in the finish. ARAGAIN returns from a 13-week rest and drops back in trip. She should be considered in this field. SCANDOLO returns from an even greater 26-week break. If not too in need of the run, he could make his presence felt here.

Race 6
KARIJINI AURORA won well last time out over this distance to break her maiden. The manner in which she won that day suggests that she can follow up here. PARIS GIRL surprised by winning her last start at long odds. If that victory was not just a flash in the pan, she could trouble the former. CORNFLOWER drops back to seven furlongs after being slightly disappointing over a mile last time out and may do better as a result. BOMBAY STYLE jumps from pole position. The gelding finished sixth last time out over the trip and deserves another chance today.

Race 7
BERET won her last start over this distance to record her maiden victory. The trainer/jockey partnership has enjoyed success in the past and they look hard to topple here. BRUCE ALMIGHTY gets the services of a 4kg claiming apprentice and if he is able to reproduce his penultimate effort when winning over six furlongs, he could threaten the top choice. ENSIGN PULVER needs to show some improvement if he is to trouble the top two but should be considered for trifecta/quartet bets. SHE WHO DARES has her first start but has placed once in five trials.

Race 8
ROSEBUSH finished a close up second last time out over this trip and can go one better here. WAKAN TANKA has three placings from six recent runs and finished fourth over the distance last time out. He should not be overlooked today. KORANIS returns from a 27-week break. He missed out on his hat-trick last time out when stepping up to a mile, but drops back in trip and will be looking to get back to winning ways here. KEEPER’S TALE starts from pole position and drops back to six furlongs. She should be considered here.

Race 9
HE’S A GUNSLINGER has posted two wins from nine recent starts and won his penultimate outing over the distance. He likes to race with the speed and looks to be one for all bets. FROSTY BEVERAGE has his first run after a 17-week break. A repeat of his penultimate effort when second over the trip would see him involved in the finish here. UNIBRO returns from a 19-week rest and is having his first run for his new trainer. If fully settled in to his new environment, he should be respected here. FRIAR’S FANCY just missed out on victory when starting at long odds in her last start over six furlongs and will jump from pole position. She can’t be lightly dismissed here.

Race 10
I AM SPARTACUS is consistent and has posted three placings from six recent outings. He tried hard in the closing stages of his last start over a mile to just fail to catch the winner and seems likely to enjoy going the extra ground here. He goes well in the soft going. KELLY’S GEM has three placings from five recent outings and will start from pole position. He finished second over this c&d three runs back. BARAMAGIC has steady form and finished second over the c&d in his penultimate start. He should be respected in this field. ZACKARIAH BEAU has consistent formlines to his name and on some of his better form, he could trouble the top three selections.