The Voice of Value: Optimus is primed to be our superhero

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A fabulous day of racing awaits us with Derby and Oaks trials at Lingfield, some good quality jumps action at Haydock and a strong card at Ascot.

There are are also a number of other good cards across Britain and Ireland but it’s virtually impossible to look into them all in any detail or you risk spreading yourself too thin. I have concentrated mainly on the big handicaps where there is the potential to identify one or two at a nice price.

2.00pm Haydock

First stop is the opening race at Haydock which is a long distance hurdles race and has a cracking field for this time of year. The one that I think is too big a price is ENNISCOFFEY OSCAR for Emma Lavelle and ridden by Adam Wedge. This horse went into my notebook back in November when he finished a close third in a good race. He was then stepped up to 3 miles and won his next two novice races.

He then earned himself a place in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham which was probably a bit too hot for him and his next race dropped back in trip wasn’t what he needed in terms of distance but he still ran respectably enough. This is much more like the thing today and he should go close at a lovely price.

2.15 Ascot

I have had a really good look at this race and there are quite a few that I like including Humble Hero (7/1), Speedo Boy (9/1) and Fearsome (25/1).

It’s always dangerous when you fancy quite a few in one race and perhaps with the exception of Fearsome I don’t think they are the most attractive of prices so I will stop short of making a recommended bet in the race.

Should be a cracker to watch though and if prices change nearer the off I may have a small wager for interest.

3.10 Haydock

I have a strong fancy in this race despite the large competitive field. Children of the 80s will like the name OPTIMUS PRIME who runs for the Skelton yard. They are in lovely form at the moment with jockey Harry Skelton particularly hot  (42% of his rides have been winners in the last fortnight).

Optimus Prime was second in this race last year and comes back to the race on the same hurdles handicap mark. That doesn’t tell the full story though because the horse (or is he a robot in disguise?) is in cracking form over fences at the moment and has a 5lb higher handicap mark over those bigger obstacles.

He is in much better form than when he came into the race last year. I am really keen on him and think he can go very close.

3.25pm Ascot

Back to the flat at Ascot where this fillies handicap isn’t quite as competitive as other races today with just the 9 runners. The top rated horse is URBAN FOX who makes her debut for the William Haggas yard and is ridden for the first time by Daniel Tudhope.

Both of those points are massive pluses for me at the best of times but when you add in the fact that this is her handicap debut and that her form last season in group and listed races was rock solid you begin to think that she will be too good for this field today and certainly should be shorter than her current price.

4.00pm Ascot

A huge field of 27 runners will assemble for this 7 furlong charge down the straight at Ascot. If you have never been to Ascot to see the spectacle up close you should get it on your bucket list.

They are a sight to behold as they thunder down towards the grandstand and although I am a hardened jumps racing man races like this on the flat are brilliant. It’s hard to tell before racing starts whether there will be a draw bias so we need to ignore that for the time being and hope that it is reasonably fair.

With 27 runners it’s hard to see the attraction of an 11/2 favourite (Keyser Soze) or indeed an 8/1 shot (Louie De Palma) who has been off the track for no less than 4 years but somebody clearly fancies them.

Firmament is a consistent sort who has dropped to a competitive handicap mark and should be in the mix but he hasn’t won for nearly two years so that is a concern.

The one that I like at a nice price is GET KNOTTED. He is perfect for this sort of race where he comes with a late charge and is often in the frame. He has dropped down to a handicap mark of 94 which is his last winning mark and I think he could be ready to capitalise. Should be much shorter than he is.

Recommended Bets:

• 2.00 Haydock – Enniscoffey Oscar – 1pt e/w at 20/1 with Bet365, BetVictor
• 2.15 Ascot – No Bet
• 3.10 Haydock – Optimus Prime – 2pt e/w at Betfred, Coral, Bet365, PaddyPower
• 3.25 Ascot – Urban Fox – 3pt win at 9/2 with Ladbrokes, Bet365, PaddyPower
• 4.00 Ascot – Get Knotted – 1pt e/w at 33/1 with PaddyPower (paying 6 places) and Betfair (paying 5 places)

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