Ascot afternoon racing tips: Best bets for Wednesday, May 1

Ascot serves up a eight-race card, featuring four trials for those looking ahead to the Royal meeting in June, with Wednesday's highlight being the Group 3 Longines Sagaro Stakes (1415).

We begin with some details on our five selected horses at Ascot, with a full set of tips from the whole card at the bottom of the page.

Don't forget to check out the full racecard, results and live odds in Planet Sport's racing live centre.

Good luck and please gamble responsibly.

(Please be aware selections could become non-runners after article's first publication)

 

13:10 (Ascot) Rock Hunter

Amy Murphy’s Rock Hunter makes his British debut in the Royal Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial EBF Conditions Stakes and looks to have a real chance.

The Expert Eye colt has run once at Chantilly, winning a five-furlong Chantilly maiden on heavy ground by a comfortable three lengths earlier this month – an outing that should stand him in good stead at Ascot.

 

13:40 (Ascot) Quddwah

In the Listed Bet With Ascot Donation Scheme Paradise Stakes, it is Simon and Ed Crisford’s Quaddwah who catches the eye, a four-year-old Kingman colt who made two starts last season.

Both were successes, and after taking a Salisbury novice and a Newmarket contest, a clutch of horses behind him on both occasions were subsequent winners to solidify the form.

 

14:15 (Ascot) Trueshan

Trueshan can shine at Ascot again as he begins his season in the Longines Sagaro Stakes.

The eight-year-old is a popular presence in the staying division with multiple Group titles under his belt, including three editions of the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup over the Sagaro course and distance.

Alan King’s gelding is seen to best effect on soft ground and is therefore at the peak of his powers at either end of the season when the rain has been falling.

He was fourth in this event on good to soft last term when beaten by Coltrane, but a wet winter has left conditions more to his liking this time and he is proven to go well fresh.

 

14:50 (Ascot) Purosangue

Andrew Balding’s Purosangue can come out on top in the Group Three Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes.

The Aclaim colt had a productive juvenile season, finishing the runner up in the Molecomb, the Roses Stakes and the Harry Rosebery before claiming a well-deserved Listed win in the Rockingham.

Since then the form from those prior runs has worked out very positively, with Molecomb winner Big Evs going on to land the Flying Childers and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, Roses winner Inquisitively landing the Cornwallis and Rockingham runner-up Esquire since winning the Greenham.

 

16:35 (Ascot) Diamond Rain

There is an interesting contender in the Darley British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes in Charlie Appleby’s Diamond Rain, a Shamardal filly out of the Oaks winner Dancing Rain, who makes her debut in the race.

 

Ascot tips in full:

ASCOT: 1.10 Rock Hunter, 1.40 Quddwah, 2.15 Trueshan, 2.50 Purosangue, 3.25 Woolhampton, 4.00 Fair Wind, 4.35 Diamond Rain, 5.10 Two Tempting.