Another week, another great Saturday program to look forward to at Ascot! The rail is out 4m the entirety after being out 2m last week with no major pattern evident. The feature race is in the last where we’ll see Damien Oliver run his last race. Our selections are for a GOOD track – watch and monitor if possible. The first race will jump at 3:29pm AEDT and the last at 8:32pm AEDT.
Find our best bets for Ascot below and make sure to head over to our Racing Tips page for more best bets from around the country this Saturday!
Ascot Racing Tips: Saturday, December 16th 2023
Race 1: Tabtouch Have You Got The Touch Plate 1400m at 3:29pm AEDT
(1) BLUE LAGOON ($3.30) – looks a nice way to kick off the program. He’s going a lot better than the race book reads over his last three runs. Three-back he settled last on an even tempo before hooking widest to hit the line hard and run fourth to ZIPAWAY (ran to within half a length of INVESTMENTSTRATEGY). Two-back he’s been beaten 2.6L in the Fairetha Stakes behind INVESTMENTSTRATEGY when he was held-up at a key stage / raced tight down the straight (should’ve finished much closer). LS he went up to the mile and was near last turning for home before letting down nicely to run fourth beaten 2L behind ZIPAWAY (he went straight past INVESTMENTSTRATEGY). STORMCHASER and BRAVE STRIKE were beaten by 1.5L behind INVESTMENTSTRATEGY two weeks ago which ties in nicely. He’s had a three week freshen leading into this, drops back to 1400m, and draws gate 2 for CJP which are all positives. He’ll likely be midfield the fence in running, so he’ll need some luck at the right time, but he can win.
(4) STORMCHASER ($2.70) – 3YO gelding who has started his career well. Only finished 1.5L behind INVESTMENTSTRATEGY last start. Third up now and will be fitter for the runs. Frosty Lane to steer builds confidence. Goes well.
(1) BLUE LAGOON
$3.30 (2.5 Units)
Race 3: Lexus Of Perth BM72 1600m at 4:48pm AEDT
(2) BILLY RAY ($3.10) – on the quick back up today after a three week freshen before his last start. His last three runs have all been very good and he looks well placed here. Three-back he came from near last on the corner as a $41 chance to win easily at this track/trip sitting off a hot tempo. He then went G3 level and ran well behind MOJO RHYTHM, ALSEPHINA (since ran second in a G1 Railway), and BLACK FANTASY (won the Listed G A TOWTON last week) after behind held up at a crucial stage (finished seventh but only beaten 2.3L). LS he SP’d a $6 chance over this track/trip before running second to STARRY HEIGHTS who was very well backed. I think he has the strongest form lines leading into this, draws gate 4 for Poy, can settle midfield, and only goes up 1kg at the weights. Great chance.
(2) BILLY RAY
$3.10 (2.5 Units)
Race 6: Schweppes BM66+ 1400m at 6:39pm AEDT
(10) COUNT THE SESSIONS ($3.90) – one of the bets of the day! Two-back he went super after sitting 3WWC the entirety and taking off before the corner to get nutted late by YONGA LASS (beat home DEMOLISH who since won last week). He went to 1500m LS and it took an amazing last 200m by YONGA LASS to beat him (good gap to fourth / YONGA LASS is a live hope in the Starstruck Classic earlier today). Arrives here fourth-up and ready to peak fitness wise with a good gate for Parnham who can settle behind the speed / midfield in transit. He goes back to 1400m and he doesn’t get penalised at the weights. Should give us a sight.
(10) COUNT THE SESSIONS
$3.90 (2 Units)
Race 9: Damien Oliver Gold Rush 1400m at 8:32pm AEDT
(16) RIPCORD ($6.50) – he’s a 3YO on the rise who still has some upside. Two-back he produced a sensational finale over 1200m in the Placid Ark to pick them all up and win. He then stayed at 1200m in the G1 Winterbottom LS when he found himself toward the rear of the field before getting out down the straight to hit the line well and finish third within 2.5L to OVERPASS. He looks like he’ll run out the 1400m, he draws a nice middle gate to find a spot midfield, and he has a good enough TOF to get over the top of them late. He can measure up with 54kgs on his back.
(12) LAVERROD ($31 / $8) – he’s another who comes through the G1 Winterbottom Stakes LS where he was a sneaky good run. He was forced back to last from a wide gate but really warmed up nicely late over the 1200m. I think the 1400m fourth up looks an ideal set up for him. He gets the booking of C. Williams (assuming SUPER SMINK misses a start), he has a good record at the track, and he goes best on top of the ground. Good roughie / blow out hope.
ALSO BACKING: (12) LAVERROD E/W - $31/$8 (0.5u/1u)
(16) RIPCORD
$6.50 (1.5 Units)
