Horse Racing Tips: Nap of the Day, best bets around the tracks and daily Request-A-Bet
By Sporting Life
Horse Racing
Fri November 22, 2024 · 11 min ago
Andrew Asquith has the best bets from around the tracks on Saturday with the Nap running at Ascot.
Friday selections
HUMBLE SPARK – 3.39 Newcastle
HUMBLE SPARK appears ready for this return to 1m4f in the Stay In Control With BetUK Handicap at Newcastle. He found trouble in running on his return from two months off over 10 furlongs here last time but stayed on well once in the clear for third. That run should’ve teed him up for a race that his trainer Jim Goldie won last year with Bobby Shaftoe.
Saturday selections
BLUEKING D’OROUX – 2.45 Ascot (NAP)
BLUEKING D’OROUX progressed well last season, making a winning return in a quite valuable event at Cheltenham before following up in this race from subsequent Grade 1 winner Strong Leader.
Given how much he found at the finish that day it was no surprise connections ran him in the Long Walk over three miles next time, but that trip appeared to stretch him – he was still only a four-year-old – and he was far from disgraced when beaten nine lengths by Impaire Et Passe in a Grade 2 at Sandown on his final start.
Blueking d’Oroux is a good-topped gelding, who has reportedly strengthened further in the off-season, and he is just the sort who will develop into a bona-fide Grade 1 performer this season. He has to concede weight all round, and a lump to unexposed mare Golden Ace, but this race has been on his agenda for a while and he still looks the form pick, too.
GOOD FOR ALEC – 2.38 Huntingdon
GOOD FOR ALEC has shown promise in bumpers and over hurdles in his short career so far, and he showed improved form returned to a sounder surface when finishing runner-up at Wincanton on his return last month.
That was his handicap debut, and he looked the likeliest winner jumping two from home having loomed up early in the straight. He didn’t find as much as expected when coming off the bridle and was picked up by the surprise winner, but Good For Alec is still an inexperienced horse, and that was also his first start for eight months.
He’s entitled to come on for that outing both physically and mentally and there’s no doubt he’s on a fair mark, while that form is also working out well, with the winner and third both winning next time. The likely ground will be in his favour and he’s worth the chance to build on that promise.
HITITI – 3.40 Haydock
HITITI is a likeable sort who has progressed well over hurdles since his first short stint in this sphere in 2022/23, completing a hat-trick over timber at Taunton in April last year.
He largely ran well in defeat last season, too, finishing runner-up three times, and he made a most encouraging return to chasing when runner-up over two and a half miles at Chepstow last month.
That trip is probably a bare minimum for him nowadays, but he matched the pick of his hurdles form in first-time cheekpieces, and still having every chance jumping two out, but was unable to go with the eventual winner – who was on a going day – in the closing stages.
Hititi’s chase mark is quite a bit lower than his hurdles one and, following a 3lb rise, now moving up to a more suitable trip, he’s well treated enough to go one place better.
GOLDEN STRIKE – 4.10 Newcastle
GOLDEN STRIKE beat a now-useful rival when opening his account at the second attempt in a minor event at Ayr last year and he was well supported on his return to action at Ripon in June.
He improved further to follow up under a penalty and that effort is worth marking up, too, given he didn’t appear to handle the track at all. Golden Strike looked beaten around halfway, having plenty of ground to make up and pushed along under three furlongs out.
However, he found his stride when switched out for a run entering the final furlong, and picked up in taking fashion to lead close home. This step up to seven furlongs is sure to unlock more improvement, while a more galloping track like Newcastle will also be in his favour.
He’s likely to be rated quite a bit higher than his opening mark of 80 this time next year and he clearly can go well when fresh, so he makes quite a bit of appeal on his return from a short break.
Safer Gambling Week 2024
FLAINE – 6.25 Wolverhampton
FLAINE didn’t show much in four relatively quick starts for Tom Dascombe earlier this year, but she proved a different proposition on debut for David Loughnane when opening her account over seven furlongs at Southwell in earlier this month.
That was her first start for 10 weeks and she was clearly all the better for a change of scenery, soon settled in behind the leader and always looking the likeliest winner.
Flaine progressed again in defeat at Chelmsford last time, doing little wrong, but very unlucky to bump into a very well treated handicap blot, who went on to follow up by five lengths under a penalty next time.
The addition of a tongue tie has clearly done Flaine the world of good and she remains a horse to be positive about from just a 1lb higher mark from a good berth in stall 2.
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2024 winners
- Fresh Speculation 4/1
- Lunar Contact 6/4
- Chattamento 7/1
- Kado De Joie 5/2
- Night Raider 6/5
- Hamsiyann 2/1 (NAP)
- Hyland 2/1 (NAP)
- Ilikedwayurthinkin 9/4
- Hurlerontheditch 16/5 (NAP)
- Horsesomeharry 8/1
- Califet En Voi 8/11
- Certainly Red 15/8f
- Deploy To Spy 4/1
- Gold De Bois 9/4
- Asian Spice 3/1 (NAP)
- Wendigo 8/15
- Silent Move 15/8 (NAP)
- Umbria 10/11
- Get Shirty 7/4
- Ballytechno 7/1
- Modern Utopia 4/1
- Williethebuilder 13/8 (NAP)
- Rogue Encore 7/2
- Come On John 13/8
- Catch Him Derry 9/4 (NAP)
- Al Hussar 15/2
- Kamsinas 8/1 (NAP)
- Walk On Quest 3/1
- Fine Interview 6/5 (NAP)
- Rubaud 9/4 (NAP)
- Three Dons 11/2
- Gesundheit 11/10 (NAP)
- My Bobby's Lass 6/1
- Rousing Encore 11/1
- La Renomee 9/4
- Copshill Lad 2/1
- Wiltshire Lad 5/2 (NAP)
- In The Air 10/11
- Unique Spirit 13/8
- Noble Anthem 11/4
- Unassuming 4/9
- Olympus Point 6/4 (NAP)
- Sycamore Gap 1/3
- Charlotte's Web 13/8
- Shielas Well Evens
- Desert Flower Evens
- Master Dandy 7/4
- Emerald City 6/4
- Secret Of Love 85/40
- Evening Story 7/1
- OJ Lifestyle 13/8 (NAP)
- Good Earth 7/1 (NAP)
- Magico 3/1
- Solar Bircz 9/2 (NAP)
- Soldier's Heart 15/8
- Tommy Beau 7/4
- Mission Command 7/4
- Ice Max 5/1
- La Yakel 7/2 (NAP)
- Crystal Flyer 9/4
- Fine By Me 5/1
- Don Occhetti 11/4
- Chesneys Charm 7/2
- Sanat 11/10 (NAP)
- The Feminine Urge 15/2 (NAP)
- Brave Nation 100/30
- Standbackandlook 100/30
- New Century 15/8
- Almudena 6/4 (NAP)
- Bonaventure 7/2
- Lesley's Boy 13/8 (NAP)
- Myal 12/1 (NAP)
- Mount Teide 10/11
- City Of Delight 1/2 (NAP)
- Heathcliff 5/4 (NAP)
- Arkhalia Flynn 5/2 (NAP)
- Small Fry 5/2
- Arrange 6/1 (NAP)
- Waleefy 11/8 (NAP)
- Profit Street 10/3
- Assailant 16/5 (NAP)
- See That Storm 11/4
- Biplane 11/4
- Theme Park 9/2
- Etoile d'Alexandre 4/1
- Niloufar 5/2
- Maritime Lady 11/4 (NAP)
- Achnamara 5/2 (NAP)
- Royal Pretender 11/2
- Coppull Hall Lane 2/1 (NAP)
- Territorial Knight 2/1
- Miss Information 6/5
- Gutsy Girl 5/1
- Giselles Izzy 5/1
- Porta Fortuna 10/11
- Dreamrocker 5/2
- Allonsy 5/6
- Escape Act 9/2 (NAP)
- Kynsa 4/5
- Regheeb 11/2 (NAP)
- Greek Gift 10/3
- El Burhan 8/13
- Walter Hartright 8/11
- French Master 11/4
- Jehangeer 13/2 (NAP)
- Magnum Opus 18/1
- Allonsy 6/5
- Bergerac 5/1
- Lou Lou's Gift 10/11
- Samoon Star 4/1
- Red Pixie 11/8
- Crown Estate evens
- Miss Attitude 9/2
- Treasure Time 17/2
- Global Asset 13/8
- Twoforthegutter 11/10
- Local Bay 16/5
- Miller Spirit 2/1
- Rebaatt 100/30
- Matterhorn 3/1
- Indemnity 1/2
- John L Sullivan 10/3
- King Of Conquest 11/10 (NAP)
- Fancy Stuff 11/8
- Kings Merchant 9/2 (NAP)
- Boy Douglas 11/2 (NAP)
- Eminent Jewel 8/1
- Trefor 7/2
- Oh So Audacious 85/40
- War Chant 7/2
- Appier 16/5
- Larchill Lass 6/4
- Kilta 13/8
- Doctor Foley 2/1
- Primo Lara 2/1
- Behind The Curtain 5/1
- Seasmoke 3/1
- Ron O 13/2
- Dusky Days 13/2
- King's Gambit 7/2
- Hiatus 7/2
- Katey Kontent 7/2 (NAP)
- Paddy De Pole 11/8
- Chaturanga 5/1 (NAP)
- Silent Move 28/1
- Esmeray 2/1
- Cammarate 2/1
- Tour Ovalie 3/1
- Chatty Chinch 7/4
- Ionity 7/2 (NAP)
- Tiriac 4/1 (NAP)
- Irish Lullaby 8/11
- Hartur D'oudairies 4/1
- Maghlaak 6/1
- Nocte Volatus 16/5
- Rathgar 10/3 (NAP)
- Circus Lion 8/11
- Thelma's Angel 9/2
- Mr Irrelevant 6/5
- White Umbrella 5/1
- Prydwen 3/1
- Arthur's Realm 2/1 (NAP)
- Torosay 5/1
- Garista Bay 9/1
- Uncle Dick 6/4
- Hidalgo Des Bordes 9/2
- Adaay In Devon 3/1
- Solar System 3/1
- Outrun The Storm 18/1
- Horn Cape 2/1
- Sans Bruit 5/1 (NAP)
- Soir De Gala 11/8
- Ernie's Valentine 5/1
- Donnacha 9/4
- Sattwaa 9/1
- Clear White Light 7/4
- Rocking Tree 10/3
- Sea Invasion 7/2 (NAP)
- Ziggy's Missile 11/8
- Mount Athos 6/5 (NAP)
- Chloe's Court 12/1
- Royal Way 5/1 (NAP)
- Leissieres Express 13/8
- Woodie Flash 7/2
- Intinso 8/15
- Notre Dame 5/2
- Outlaw Peter 13/8 (NAP)
- Ballyrashane 4/6
- Politacus 4/1
- Nells Son 8/11
- Nine Tenths 15/8
- Inisherin 4/6
- Big R 2/1 (NAP)
- Haston Clermont 5/4
- Pickanumber 5/6
- Eleutheromania 12/1
- Photosynthesis 9/2 (NAP)
- Hara Kiri 13/8 (NAP)
- Yellow Jacket 10/3
- Prairie Wolf 6/5 (NAP)
- Forward Plan 15/2 (NAP)
- Betterforeveryone 4/1
- Desert Master 17/2
- Coolkill 7/2
- Regal Blue 11/4
- Invincible Nao 7/5
- Alnilam 3/1 (NAP)
- Victoria Milano 6/4 (NAP)
- Ask Me Early 15/2 (NAP)
- Mereside Madness 6/4
- Lilith 6/4 (NAP)
- Masqool 3/1
- Diligent Harry 7/4 (NAP)
- Gingerbred 5/2
- Brewing 85/40 (NAP)
- Royale Dance 3/1
- Morfee 5/4 (NAP)
- Guy 4/1
- Largo Bay 10/3
- Tune In A Box 5/4 (NAP)
- Night On Earth 2/1
- Issar D'Airy 11/10 (NAP)
- Larry 11/4
- Nurse Susan 6/4 (NAP)
- English Spirit 6/4
- Comedian Leader 6/1 (NAP)
- Beneficiary 5/1
- Rare Edition 11/8
- Shantou Moon 15/2
- Townhill 5/2 (NAP)
- Fire Demon 11/8
- Inspiritus 6/1
- Saint Davy 6/5 (NAP)
- Goblet Of Fire 10/11
- Reigning Profit 6/1
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