The first day of Ascot’s two-day Coral-sponsored November meeting takes place on Friday afternoon with a seven-race card featuring plenty of competitive national hunt action. We will provide Horse Racing tips, previews and predictions for three on the races taking place at the Berkshire track.
The first handicap of the day comes at 2.05pm with the 2m 5f Coral Handicap Chase, for which we will supply a Horse Racing tip, together with the following Coral “Fail To Finish” Free Bet Handicap Hurdle at 2.40pm and the Watch Racing Free Online At Coral Handicap Chase at 3.15pm.
Our Tip for the 2.05pm at Ascot:
The Venetia Williams-trained Espoir De Guye was an impressive winner on the course last December, a performance that didn’t go unnoticed by the handicapper, who raised the ex French gelding a full stone for that 10 length victory.
Pulled-up on his most recent start in the novices’ handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival, the mount of Charlie Deutsch is best watched on his first start of the season. The handicapper also left nothing to chance with the Paul Nicholls-trained Red Risk following his win at Ludlow back in February, putting the five-year-old up 9lb.
One horse who does not look badly treated is Count Meribel, from the Nigel Twiston-Davies stable. Second off a mark of 146 on his first effort of last season at Carlisle, going down by just over two lengths to none other than Lostintranslation, in receipt of only 6lb.
Dropped 4lb by the handicapper following below-par runs in two ultra-competitive handicaps at Cheltenham, Mark Grant’s mount seems best fresh (form first time out reads 2-1-1-2) and should go well once again, as is stablemate Earlofthecotswolds, who can prove the main danger.
Our Tip for the 2.40pm at Ascot:
From an original entry of three, Seven Barrows trainer Nicky Henderson has chosen to rely on Buzz, who should take plenty of beating following his excellent reappearance when third in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las last month.
The 96-rated Flat performer is two from four over hurdles since joining Henderson from Hughie Morrison. And was raised just 1lb by the handicapper for finishing third behind Sceau Royal and Ballyandy in that Welsh showpiece.
With the winner going on to take the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle and the runner-up putting up a huge performance to take second place under a big weight in Cheltenham’s Greatwood Hurdle at the weekend, the form could hardly have worked out much better. Buzz looks the ideal type for Newbury’s Betfair Hurdle in February. And can win this before landing a major handicap hurdle at some point.
Course and distance winner Eddiemaurice, and top claimer Jack Tudor, can chase the selection home.
Our Tip for the 3.15pm at Ascot:
The winner of five of his 19 runs over fences, the ex Willie Mullins-trained Townshend joined present handler Nigel Twiston-Davies two years ago, since when the nine-year-old has won two of his five starts over the bigger obstacles.
The second of those victories came over course and distance back in January, off a mark just 1lb higher than the mount of 7lb claimer Jamie Neild will race off on this occasion.
Given a spin over hurdles on his reappearance at Perth in September, the gelding ran in Ascot’s valuable Sodexo gold Cup on his most recent start, finishing a well-beaten ninth of the 14 runners.
That position tells only part of the story however, as the son of Lord Of England, after making a serious blunder at the very first fence, nearly lost his rider following another mistake at the 10th obstacle when travelling well.
Dropped 2lb by the handicapper, Townshend can prove the each-way value of the race in what looks a much easier contest. Mr Muldoon made a winning debut over fences at Sedgefield last month and is respected, along with the Harry Fry-trained Onefortheroadtom.
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