Thanks a lot to Cairnzy for covering in my absence over the last week. I've been too occupied to see how he got on, but he said he has had a few winners, which is always nice to see.
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Tuco Salamanca 11/2 (1pt) – Ascot 4.40
Before I signed off for a week, I tipped up Tuco Salamanca at the Curragh, where I was sweet on his chances. However, he didn't get the best of rides.
On that basis, I think he deserves another chance, as I did think he ran better than where he finished. It can happen a lot of the time in the big field handicaps at the Curragh, where there is an obvious bias on the track. They all gravitate towards that favoured side and make it a nightmare for horses who are towards the rear. Shane Foley struggled to weave the passage through the group of horses, but the horse was travelling like one of the best in the race. He got clear later on in the race, but was repeatedly blocked on his way through, so finishing 3L behind the winner was a fine effort.
Jamie Spencer is on board him today, so we know how this will pan out. He will be held up and will be played very late on in the race. Thankfully, Spencer is very good at Ascot on the straight track, so I do have more faith at this venue with him doing the steering.
The ground is fine for him, so hopefully, he can get back to winning ways.
Grizedale 11/2 (1pt) – Ascot 5.15
The man for the big days at the races is definitely Oisin Murphy. Though today's meeting isn't the best card Ascot has ever seen, he always brings his A-Game to the big tracks.
Grizedale has to prove he handles the soft ground and turf in general. He has done all three of his runs on the artificial surface, but has produced some good form, and it's enough for me to give him a try on this surface for the first time.
Luckily, Ascot is sand-based, and a lot of AW specialists tend to take to Ascot more than any other turf track. This means that Grizedale is worth a chance on taking to the grass and soft ground.
The form of his runs in novice races looks decent. He has won once and been a runner-up on two occasions. Unfortunately, he was beaten at a very short odds-on price last time out, but that was over 7f for the first time, which probably didn't suit. They return to a mile, and Oisin Murphy has stayed loyal. Having the Champion jockey on board is always a positive sign, as he could easily jump ship, with him being the best jockey in the country.
GambleAware