Ascot best bet: Bluelight Bay primed to challenge market leaders
Royal Ascot
From the seven runners lining up for this straight one-mile handicap, Steve Jones, who runs CD Systems Daily Bargain on Tipstrr, has seen something he likes beyond the four principal contenders.
16:45 Ascot: Palmer & Co Champagne Handicap (1 mile)
The four market leaders are all priced between around 11/4 and 9/2, which does not represent good value given the question marks against the majority of them.
One capable of giving them a run for their money is one of the youngsters, Bluelight Bay, who arrives in top form following his second of 11 over a mile at Sandown last month,where he very much conceded first run to an all-the-way winner when trying to come from the back of the field.
Two runs earlier, in late June, Bluelight Bay produced a performance more in line with the requirements of today’s race when he won a Class 2 over the straight, testing mile at Salisbury.
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It was a 7-runner contest (as also is today’s) and, under his regular rider Charles Bishop, he quickened very smartly in the closing stages to account for Top Secret with the front pair well clear.
That is strong form because Top Secret is a very useful performer over a straight mile, as he demonstrated by finishing the runner-up of 12 in the Class 2 BetVictor handicap at Newbury earlier in the season, and also when he went even closer to winning a Class 2 over the same venue the previous season.
The way in which Bluelight Bay quickened past that high-class straight-mile handicapper bodes well for his chances in a race like this, in which his main rivals are mainly older and more exposed than he is.
Suggested bet: Bluelight Bay in the 16:45 at Ascot
- Tip advised by Steve Jones who runs CD Systems Daily Bargain on Tipstrr
Pick of the market leaders, Godolphin’s Major Partnership, looks a big player following his near-miss behind stablemate Ghaly over this course and distance on his most recent outing.
Oisin Murphy, who rode the winner that day, now partners Major Partnership, who won a Class 2 under Murphy just the previous month (over a mile on good-to-firm atNottingham).
Next best bet: Major Partnership in the 16:45 at Ascot
He might be an eight-year-old, but Major Partnership is showing some very high-class handicap form under these conditions since he returned from Meydan and another good run is very likely.
READ MORE: Ascot afternoon racing tips: Best bets for Friday September 8
