Ascot each-way racing tip: Blueking D’oroux primed to produce goods under Harry Cobden
Tritonic was a winner at Ascot last Saturday
Only five runners go to post for this edition of the Ascot Hurdle, but what the field lacks in quantity is more than made up for by the high quality of the accomplished hurdlers.
14:05 Ascot: Coral Hurdle (Ascot Hurdle (2 miles 3 furlongs 58 yards)
That quality is reflected by the fact that less than five betting points cover the five starters, with either Goshen and Theatre Glory likely to be sent off as a narrow favourite.
Goshen can sometimes disappoint, but he won this race 12 months ago and should be all the better for being given a pipe opener on the Flat six weeks ago.
Theatre Glory blew hot and cold last season, winning just one of his five outings ( a Listed hurdle at Warwick in February), but Nicky Henderson will have targeted this race for the mare’s seasonal bow and she is sure to go well under Nico de Boinville.
Sceau Royal won on his season debut a year ago, but that was far from the case when finishing fourth of five when reappearing at Kempton last month. The younger company here might prove too strong for this game 11-year-old, which might explain why he is the outsider of the five and is easy to back at around 7/1.
WATCH: Harry Cobden assesses the chances of Blueking Doroux
Strong Leader caught the eye with a tidy hat-trick of wins last winter that was rounded off with a Grade 1 runner-up spot at Aintree. Those performances set the bar high, but he fell far below it on season debut at Ffos Las six weeks ago, finishing last of ten and seemingly with plenty to find here.
Last but far from least, we conclude with our pick for this race in the shape of the Paul Nicholls-trained Blueking D’oroux.
This useful four-year-old progressed nicely after having wind surgery last season, returning to win a two-mile event here in April before finishing runner-up in a 20-runner handicap at the Grand National meeting just ten days later.
He enjoyed a successful introduction with Harry Cobden on season debut four weeks ago, teaming up to land a tidy win over two miles at Cheltenham, and Cobden has high hopes for him here.
This is a tougher assignment, of course, but the Nicholls yard is in hot form just now (two wins and three places from their last seven runners), and Blueking Doroux is likely to be produced in similar shape.
- Suggested bet: Blueking Doroux in the 14:05 at Ascot
READ MORE: Saturday ITV racing tips: Best bets for Haydock, Ascot and Punchestown
