Sport

Weekend Betting Tips: American Hope worth a punt in Ascot

Our tipster Karl Hedley provides the weekend's betting odds

SATURDAY

ASCOT

2-40 WEATHERBY’S PRIVATE BANKING HANDICAP – 1 MILE

American Hope can defy top weight in this competitive handicap. This is his first race since his fantastic effort in the Britannia at the Royal Meeting over this course and distance last month. He defied his huge price to finish a gallant sixth on that occasion having led his group on the unfavoured far side for much of the contest. The form of the race is working out fine as both Table Rock and Almargo have come out to win subsequently.

Billingsgate ought to relish these conditions and has won well on his two latest starts. He showed real guts to outpoint Georg Cinq at Sandown most recently and it is doubtful that he has stopped improving. William Buick maintains the ride and he looks the biggest threat to the selection.

Mooharib has not looked back since dropping to this one mile trip. Marco Botti has his runners in rude health and he too is respected. American Hope gets on well with Shane Kelly and will have no problem with the conditions. A reproduction of his latest effort would see him go very close here.

NEWMARKET

2-45 ADNAMS DRY HOPPED LAGER HANDICAP – 1 M 2 F

Tryster makes his handicap debut this afternoon having won as he liked at Brighton when shedding his maiden status. He was not asked any real questions by Adam Kirby on that occasion and still won by five lengths. This race represents a marginal rise in grade for the three year old but as this is his local track and a place where his yard has an exceptionally high strike rate, he has to be high on any shortlist.

Proud Chieftain is a three time course and distance winner and ground conditions look ideal for him today. He seemed to be coming back to form last time and this track does bring out the best in him, so he looks an obvious danger.

Bureau and San Cassiano both like to make all and they may set it up for a finisher if they tussle for the lead. Tryster is far from exposed and is capable of further improvement now that Silvestre De Sousa takes over in the plate. The combination ought to go very close for an in form yard.

ASCOT

3-15 LONGINES INTERNATIONAL STAKES (HANDICAP) – 7 FURLONGS

Majestic Moon seems to come to himself at this time of year and he has become somewhat of a seven furlong specialist. All grounds come alike to this Richard Fahey sprinter and with a decent looking draw in stall twenty, he looks likely to go well with Paul Hanagan booked to ride. He receives weight from the vast majority of this field and he can enhance the excellent record that four year olds have in this particular event.

Belgian Bill was all the rage at Royal Ascot and was subject of a hefty gamble. He was blocked several times in his run and should have finished a lot closer that what his finishing position suggests. Ryan Moore replaces Pat Cosgrave and they look the main threat.

Bronze Angel returned to form with a vengeance at Newmarket last time but is best over further, whilst Horsted Keynes may now be in the firm grip of the handicapper. Paul Hanagan has partnered Majestic Moon to victory in previous handicaps at Newmarket and Goodwood and the duo look excellent value to make the frame here.

ASCOT

3-50 KING GEORGE VI & QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES (GROUP 1) – 1 M 4 F

Mukhadram is one of the very few runners in this race that are actually proven at this level. His win in the Coral Eclipse was a tremendous effort where he saw off another of today’s rivals in Trading Leather. William Haggas is confident that this five year old son of Shamardal can see out the extra distance and with the yard in such good form it would be foolish to write off his chances.

Telescope has to be considered as the main threat to the selection. He is undefeated at this trip and seems to have a liking for this track. He won a Group Two race here by no fewer than seven lengths last timeand this is a race specifically targeted by his connections. They have won this race previously with the likes of Conduit and Harbinger.

Paul Hanagan has jumped ship to ride the Classic winning Taghrooda. No filly has won this race since Pawneese almost forty years ago and it is hard to see that statistic changing despite her fluent success in the Epsom Oaks. She comes here unbeaten but this is the toughest race of her career and she may have to settle for minor honours.

Trading Leather cannot be completely ruled out having hinted that he was coming back to something like his best last time. Dane O’ Neill rides Mukhadram for the first time and he can profit from what may be a regretful decision by Paul Hanagan.