Selections for Saturday 2nd of November 2024
2.05 Ascot
1 point each way Saint Segal (5/1 Generally, 3 places)
Saint Segal is aiming to go two places better than when third in this race last year. He was behind Boothill and First Flow last season, both rated in the 150s. He was ready to better that third on his second attempt over course and distance only to fall at the last. That was off a rating of 136 and he is 1 lb better off in the handicap here. He has had a prep run at Chepstow after a wind operation and that should leave him right for today. Ground and track suit and he should go well .
3.15 Ascot
1 point each way Rightsotom (8/1 Generally, 4 places)
A chance is taken on Rightsotom who hasn’t run since May 2023 and has since joined Joe Tizzard from the Tom Mullins yard. This will be only his fifth career start but he was second on debut at Fairyhouse in a maiden hurdle and then pitched into the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham when finishing sixth, he backed that up by finishing fourth at Aintree in their Grade 1 Juvenile hurdle. He subsequently won a maiden hurdle at Cork by 8 ½ lengths and could be well ahead of his opening mark of 126. He will surely come on for the run but he will like the ground and if ready enough could be competitive.
3.45 Ascot
1 point each way Highstakesplayer (13/2 Betfred, 4 places or else 7/1 Generally, 3 places)
Chianti Classico could be hard to beat off top weight if near the form when winning the Ultima at Cheltenham. However top weights have a poor record in this race and there is usually an unexposed horse down the handicap that comes out on top. In this field Highstakesplayer is the horse that fits the bill. He is trained by Tom Lacey and has won four of his five starts over fences with his only defeat coming on heavy ground at Newbury. He has won over 3 miles, loves right handed tracks and has a good record fresh. His jumping is fast and accurate and he carries a lovely low weight of just 10-11.
2.58 Wetherby
2 points Win Bravemansgame (1/1 William Hill/ coral/ Ladbrokes)
Bravemansgame should take all the beating in this race with conditions very much in his favour. He will love this good ground and hasn’t been seen at his best last season when running on ground softer than ideal. He has had a breathing operation since last season and all leads to the likelihood of him going one place better than last year. Gentlemansgame got the better of him near the line on that occasion but that was on soft ground and ground conditions are faster today. Bravemansgame is an electric jumper of a fence on good ground and he should be to classy for these.
Breeders Cup
9.01 Del Mar
1 point each way Wingspan (11/1 Generally, 4 places)
Wingspan nearly won from the front on her last run at Ascot in the Group 1 Fillies and Mares Stakes. That was on soft ground but she showed a nice turn of foot before being headed by the winner Kalpana. That performance was her best registered rating and she is a typical Aidan O’ Brien trained improver. She is more unexposed than the rest of the field and it wouldn’t take much of a step forward for her to be competitive here. She is beautifully bred and my main concern is her draw in stall 10 which is not ideal. At 11/1 she is worth an each way bet.
10.25 Del Mar
1 point each way Content (9/2 888 Sports/ Ladbrokes/ Coral, 4 places)
This has been the long term target for this mare all season and after running well in Santa Anita last season finishing fourth in the Juvenile Fillies Turf when staying on strongly over 1 mile. She finished second at the Curragh on good ground when stepping up to 1m 4f for the first time in the Group 1 Irish Oaks. She reversed places with You Got To Me when winning the Yorkshire Oaks on her next start again over 1m 4f on good ground. She was disappointing on her last two starts but that was on ground softer than ideal and she should be better suited by conditions here.
11.45 Del Mar
2 points win Notable Speech (5/2 Generally)
I was hoping Porta Fortuna was going to be an each way price here but she is not and instead we go for the Charlie Appleby trained Notable Speech. He has won the 2000 Guineas and the Sussex Stakes both on good ground and he clearly prefers a faster surface. You can ignore his last run at Longchamp as the ground was far too soft for him. Charlie Appleby has won the last three renewals of this race and believes this horse is the classiest of them all. Porta Fortuna will be his biggest threat.
**Date & Time of next Selections Monday 4th of November at 9pm..