Fox Appeal and Cloudy Dream among Friday tips for Ascot and Haydock
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Fox makes plenty of Appeal at Ascot
Fox Appeal has become dangerously well-treated and can take advantage of a drop in class to score an overdue success in the 2m 5f handicap chase at Ascot (14.45).
The Emma Lavelle trained nine-year-old is on a long losing run having not scored since dead-heating in a class 2 contest at Kempton back in November 2014 off an official rating of 151.
However, Fox Appeal has run some really solid races to make the frame in hot handicaps including when third of 15 to Pendra in a class 1 affair at this venue 11 months ago off a mark of 152.
That is very strong form in relation to this lower grade class 3 contest and Fox Appeal is able to race in it off a reduced rating of just 140.
It gives the gelding outstanding claims at the weights, especially as he is 2-2 in the grade.
Fox Appeal also has the services in the saddle of champion jockey Richard Johnson and this is by far the easiest task he has faced for some time and represents a great opportunity for him to get back on the scoresheet.
Thomas Campbell to be the toast of punters
Thomas Campbell scored in impressive fashion last time out and rates a solid bet to follow-up in the 2m Olympus Introductory Hurdle (14.10).
The Nicky Henderson trained four-year-old looked a smart prospect when landing a bumper by 14 lengths at Kelso back in May and confirmed that view when making a winning debut over the obstacles at Cheltenham last month.
After racing prominently throughout, Thomas Campbell overcame a mistake at the last to forge clear and beat stable companion Khezerabad by 2 3/4 lengths.
It was a most taking performance which suggested Thomas Campbell needed keeping firmly onside and the runner-up has come out and won since to give the form a solid look.
With the prospect of plenty of improvement to come after just three starts under rules Thomas Campbell can get the better of Criq Rock to take this en route to better things.
Ascot tips for Friday, November 18
13.00: Secret Investor
13.35: Different Gravey
14.10: Thomas Campbell (NB)
14.45: Fox Appeal (NAP)
15.20: Alternatif
15.55: Draytonian
Cloudy Dream looks heavenly at Haydock
Trainer Malcolm Jefferson is in red-hot form at present and Cloudy Dream can provide him with another winner in the 2m Graduation Chase at Haydock (13.25).
The six-year-old has always been held in high-regard and showed progressive form over hurdles last season when winning two of his four starts and rounding off the campaign with a fast finishing second in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr when given far too much to do.
Cloudy Dream could have won plenty of decent pots over hurdles judged on that effort, but connections always maintained that his future lay over fences.
They wasted no time in switching him to the larger obstacles and he could not have been more impressive when landing a beginners’ chase at Carlisle last month.
After tracking the leaders and jumping with aplomb throughout, Cloudy Dream took up the running two from home to saunter clear and win easily by three lengths.
The manner of the victory suggested he was a most exciting recruit to the chasing ranks and Cloudy Dreaming can take this before stepping up into Graded company.
Capitaine the answer to opener
Captaine looks a smart prospect and can take the step up into Listed company in his stride to land the 2m novices’ hurdle that gets proceedings underway (12.50).
Trained by Paul Nicholls, the four-year-old opened his account at the second time of asking when running out the wide margin winner of a bumper at Wincanton back in April.
Capitaine then faced just one rival when making a winning debut over hurdles at the same venue last month and won unextended by 20 lengths.
Although he faced a simple task there was lots to like about the way he went about getting the job done and it was a performance which suggested the gelding was destined for much better things.
Haydock tips for Friday, November 18
12.50: Capitaine (NB)
13.25: Cloudy Dream (NAP)
14.00: Ami Desbois
14.35: Welsh Shadow
15.10: Constantine Bay
15.45: Another Stowaway
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