Racing Tips: Can Cyrname power to victory in competitive Ascot Chase?
Published:
Saturday’s racing odds, tips and preview
It’s a busy weekend of racing, including the Grand National Trial at Haydock and a host of other intriguing contests across UK and Irish courses.
As ever, the big renewals are on ITV today, with the Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot kicking things off at 1:35pm.
We preview the major races and deliver another round of top tips…
Harry Cobden is set to ride the seven-year-old once again, and will be hoping for another result like the pair’s last Ascot outing – on 19th January.
They united for a Handicap Chase victory, with Cyrname breezing to victory by a massive 21 lengths from Paul Henderson’s Doitforthevillage.
Cyrname’s obvious contender in this Ascot Chase is Waiting Patiently. But while Ruth Jefferson’s charge has had more prior wins, the eight-year-old’s only outing in the last 11 months ended in disaster – with rider Brian Hughes flung from the saddle.
There’s little question over which of the pair heads into this race on better form.
While victory in the Grand National Trial is a big ask of Nigel Twiston-Davies’ contender, Ballyarthur could make the step up after impressive displays.
The nine-year-old was narrowly edged into second in December’s Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase at Haydock, before a strong fourth-placed finish at the same course in the Grade 2 Peter Marsh Handicap Chase a few weeks ago.
Jamie Bargary is paired with Ballyarthur again here. While the jockey is inconsistent, he did ride 50/1 rank outsider Church Hall to glory in the Handicap Chase at Market Rasen last month. Will he upset the odds once again?
We’re going two for two on the Nicholls/Cobden pairing here, with Clan Des Obeaux looking too strong for the other three Denman Chase contenders.
He won the King George VI Chase in December, ahead of the cream of the crop – seeing off Thistlecrack and finishing a full 13 lengths ahead of Native River.
The ground at Ascot this weekend should be good-to-soft, conditions which have generally brought the very best out of the seven-year-old. This could well be the proverbial one-horse race.
ITV Racing Tips:
1:35 Ascot – Mister Malarky
1:45 Wincanton – Gino Trail
1:55 Haydock – Donna’s Diamond
2:10 Ascot – Smooth Stepper (E/W)
2:30 Gowran Park – Monalee
2:45 Ascot – Clan Des Obeaux
3:00 Wincanton – Grand Sancy
3:20 Ascot – Didtheyleaveuoutto
3:35 Haydock – Ballyarthur (E/W)
3:55 Ascot – Cyrname
Click here for the latest Horse Racing odds.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
