Three bets for our man at Ascot on Saturday with Jerrysback fancied to return to winning ways after an encouraging reappearance.
Racing betting tips: Friday February 19
1pt win Demachine in 1.50 Ascot at 5/1 (Bet365 & BetVictor)
2pts win Jerrysback in 2.25 Ascot at 9/2 (General)
1pt win Stolen Silver in 3.00 Ascot at 11/1 (General)
CYRNAME is the standout star in Saturday's eagerly-awaited Betfair Ascot Chase but the highly-rated chaser, successful in this race in 2019, has questions to answer after a lacklustre performance in the King George.
Cheek-pieces may help keep the nine-year-old's eyes on the ball, and he will surely benefit from being ridden much closer to the pace if possible after missing the break at Kempton. In addition, he clearly loves Ascot and seeks a fourth course and distance victory.
The race should be run at a true gallop with the ultra-game Dashel Drasher, successful in his last two starts here over this trip, almost certain to force matters while Cyrname's stable-companion Master Tommytucker, who overcame a bad mistake to win impressively at Kempton last month, is unlikely to be too far away either.
But, overall, so much will depend on the favourite's mood and, given that degree of uncertainty, there may be better punting opportunities on the card, firstly with JERRYSBACK in the "My Oddsboost" On Betfair Swinley Handicap Chase.
This lightly-raced, Philip Hobbs-trained nine-year-old has run his best races at Ascot, and returned from a long absence to chase home Dashel Drasher and Benny's King (who also runs in the Ascot Chase) over two-miles-and-five-furlongs at the last meeting.
Jerrysback kept on encouragingly all the way to the line that day against two in-form course specialists and, providing he doesn't 'bounce', this step up in distance to three miles ought to suit him well.
Reasonably handicapped down 6lb from his career-high mark, Richard Johnson's mount is 9lb better off for the three lengths he was beaten into third by the re-opposing Regal Encore over this course and distance in December, 2019 and was far from disgraced here the season before when beaten a length-and-a-half by the smart Vinndication.
If he can reproduce that sort of form, Jerrysback must have a solid chance.
Earlier, DEMACHINE is fancied to show the benefit of a recent wind operation in the Bateaux London Reynoldstown Novices' Chase.
The seven-year-old looked a fine chasing prospect for the Kerry Lee team when winning his first two starts this season at Uttoxeter and over this course and distance, but he wasn't quite so fluent at his fences and didn't finish so well when third at Newbury (Severano fourth) subsequently.
Clearly, there may have been excuses that day and, on his course win, Demachine could be slightly under-rated (taking third-place Hold That Taught as a guide) and could have a bit more potential than his rivals here.
Later on, STOLEN SILVER has definite chances in the Betfair Cheltenham Free Bet Pot Builder Handicap Hurdle on a return to the smaller obstacles.
The six-year-old has filled the frame in his three novice chase starts this season but hasn't looked a natural whereas his hurdling form bears close scrutiny here over what should be an ideal trip.
Successful at Ffos-Las and Haydock (from the useful Edwardstone) last season, Stolen Silver probably found conditions quick enough when staying on strongly behind the leaders in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury (2m good) last February off a mark of 145 and, dropped 5lb here in a weaker race, he is handicapped to go very close.
- Preview posted 1545 GMT on 19/02/2021
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