Paul Ferguson has two selections; Lyric Street in the 13.30 at Ascot & Rosslyn Castle in the 14.20 at Haydock. Compare odds & bet.
After a couple of encouraging runs at York this season Lyric Street (1:30) is fancied to score at the third time of asking for the Ed Dunlop stable in Ascot’s Redstone Shergar Cup Stayers this afternoon.
The four-year-old hasn’t won since landing a maiden at Newmarket for Luca Cumani last May, when he beat last week’s Group 3 Lillie Langtry winner Wild Coco at Newmarket, but he’s run well in defeat on several occasions and certainly has a decent race in him off his current mark.
The Shergar Cup isn’t usually my cup of tea from a punting point of view, but the Hurricane Run gelding has been crying out for faster ground and a step up in trip, so he is worth supporting at 9/2 with Paddy Power.
Up at Haydock there is a cracking three-year-old handicap over an extended 1m3f in which Sir Graham Wade goes for a third win in quick succession for Mark Johnston.
Stencive, Gospel Choir and Gabrial The Great were also successful last time and capable of further improvement, but Rosslyn Castle (2:20) looked a horse of some potential when winning at Chester in May and his return has been eagerly anticipated.
The Selkirk gelding came clear of the aforementioned Gabrial The Great on soft ground, having earlier won a Windsor maiden from Ace Of Valhalla, who won earlier this week at Ripon.
The quicker ground is an unknown, but Haydock have been watering so it is hoped that won’t be an issue and the 94-day lay-off is more of a concern. Roger Charlton isn’t one to rush a good horse, however, so it is worth chancing he has the selection in the same sort of form as when we last saw him.
Up 9lbs for his latest success and burdened with top-weight here, he needs to be going very close if connections are still considering the Group 2 Great Voltigeur at York later in the month (still entered in that event).
BetVictor offered 5/1 about Rosslyn Castle early on Saturday morning and that is worth taking in the hope that class will prevail.
Saturday’s selections:
13:30 Ascot Lyric Street (9/2, Paddy Power)
14:20 Haydock Rosslyn Castle (5/1, BetVictor)
Compare all today’s horse racing odds and bet at the best prices
Order Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow 2011-12
Available hot of the press on Oct 1 2011 – Only £9.95!
Send your name and address with a cheque payable to The Racing Insider for £9.95
The Racing Insider,
PO Box 98,
Liverpool L9 1WY
Last Year’s Tips Included 40 Leading Prospects: £499.80 profit to a level £10!
- AL FEROF won Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 10-1
- BENSALEM won Stewart Family Handicap 5-1
- BOBS WORTH won A Bartlett 15-8, 4/4 for year
- CAPTAIN CHRIS won Arkle Trophy 6-1
- FIRST LIEUTENANT won Neptune Investment 7-1
- (plus Grade 1 in Ireland 16-1)
- JAMES DE VASSY won Lanzarote Hurdle 8-1
- LONG RUN won King George 9-2, Gold Cup 7-2
- OSCAR WHISKY won Aintree Hurdle 6-1
- Peddlers Cross (Fighting Fifth Hurdle)
- Medermit (Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase)
- FINIAN’S RAINBOW (Maghull Novices’ Chase)
- WISHFULL THINKING (Manifesto Novices’ Chase)
