UK Horse Racing Tips

The Veolia Handicap (2.20) at Ascot on Friday is run over the same straight 7 furlongs as the Totescoop6 Challenge Cup on Saturday and should provide some clues with regard to draw bias at the Berkshire track. Of course, an 18-runner handicap also provides us with a rare opportunity for a weekday ‘tilt’, so we’ve highlighted a couple that we think could belie generous starting prices by running well.

Cincuenta Pasos has never won over a mile, or on Polytrack, so his latest effort, when only twelfth of 16, beaten 8¾ lengths, behind Georgian Bay at Kempton last month, is best forgotten and his earlier form bears close inspection. The form of his previous win, over 7 furlongs on the July Course at Newmarket, has worked out well enough to suggest that a 6lb rise in the weights may not be beyond him. Talented apprentice Edward Greatrex, who won on him at Newmarket, replaces John Egan and must have a decent chance of improving his 5-14 (36%) strike rate for trainer Joseph Tuite this season.

Ogbourne Downs has yet to win over 7 furlongs, but is only 1lb higher in the weights than when edging out Starlit Cantata in a 0-90 contest, over a mile, at Bath in June, so merits consideration from a handicapping perspective alone. He ran well over course and distance, when sixth of 15, beaten 3½ lengths, behind Peril in a ladies’ race in July and, with rising star Tom Marquand taking off 3lb, another good run looks on the cards.

Selections: Ascot 2.20 Cincuenta Pasos, Ogbourne Downs

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