Horse racing betting tips: A Good Skin can land good win at Ascot
NATIONAL Hunt action returns to Ascot on Saturday – just two weeks after the likes of Almanzor and Minding brought the Flat season curtain down in spectacular fashion on British Champions Day.
Final declarations aren’t made until Friday morning, but Paul Nicholls’ Saphir Du Rheu is expected to return to action in the Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase (3.35pm).
The seven-year-old lost his way during a stop-start campaign last season and this looks an ideal place to relaunch his career for a stable in great form.
However, having been available at 16/1 a few days ago, I can’t recommend supporting him at nearly a third of that price even though he looks the most likely winner on paper.
Instead, I’m prepared to take a chance on A GOOD SKIN who made an encouraging seasonal reappearance earlier this month.
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Tom George’s charge finished third at Chepstow, beaten less than three lengths by Potters Cross and Buckhorn Timothy which will have blown the cobwebs away.
He lines up tomorrow from just a 1lb higher mark than when a good second to Cause Of Causes in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival last season.
With his yard in good form and no concerns over the sound surface, he looks decent each-way material at 10/1 with Betway.
Elsewhere on the card there has been a lot of money this week for Yorkist who makes his debut for Dan Skelton in the Byrne Group Handicap Chase (2.25pm).
He’s potentially thrown in on his old form when trained by Brian Ellison, but he’s since lost his way under Micky Hammond.
There is every chance that the switch to Skelton’s in-form yard will rejuvenate Yorkist, but the ground will be plenty sharp enough and I’d rather take a chance with PEARLS LEGEND at 10/1.
John Spearing’s runner finished second in this race off a 5lb lower mark last year but is just 1lb lower than when a good fourth at Aintree when last seen in April.
That run followed a decent showing in the ultra-competitive Grand Annual at Cheltenham, with a mistake at the last costing him his chance.
Again, there’s no concerns over the ground and he goes well fresh so could prove hard to peg back with a front running positive ride likely.
Impulsive American is another interesting runner for David Pipe having proved his versatility over obstacles and on the flat and he’ll certainly be race fit.
Another race with a big Skelton gamble is the Listed Handicap Hurdle (3.00pm), with Ch’Tibello halving in price since earlier in the week.
He was an impressive winner of the Scottish Champion Hurdle last season before rounding off with a decent third in the Swinton Hurdle.
There is every chance he is still well ahead of the handicapper, but at just 5/2 he makes limited appeal.
I’d rather put my faith in CLOONACOOL at 7/1 with Betway, who finished a good fifth in this race last year.
A bad blunder three out cost him his chance of finishing in the places, but this looks a far weaker renewal and he’s the one likely to give Ch’Tibello the most to think about.
POINTERS SATURDAY
Pearls Legend e/w 2.25pm Ascot
Cloonacool e/w 3.00 pm Ascot
A Good Skin e/w 3.35pm Ascot