Saturday is one of those weird days in the racing calendar where the Flat and jumps mix, as we have Lingfield Derby Trial Day, the Swinton Handicap Hurdle, and the Victoria Cup at Ascot.
There’s only one listed race across the whole day, so it’s certainly one for those handicap fans out there. There’s no issue with a quieter Saturday before we dive head-first into next week’s York Dante Festival.
Having looked at the cards, many of the races have scrambled my head, so it’s just the two selections for me this weekend.
With the column in nice form over the last few days, hopefully this appreciated momentum can continue.
Lingfield Derby Trial Day
1:35 Ascot – Our Champ @ 13/2 with William Hill (5 places) – 1pt EW
There’s an argument to suggest that Our Champ runs too well for his own good, and therefore his handicap mark doesn’t really change much, but this is the type of race he can win.
He was dropped 1lb for his third at Plumpton in the Sussex Champion Hurdle, though being beaten by Absurde and Daddy Long Legs is no disgrace at all.
The form of his sixth in the County Hurdle has also received boosts as Kargese chased home State Man in the Grade 1 Boodles Champion Hurdle at Punchestown, and the seventh, Cracking Rhapsody, won the Scottish Champion Hurdle on his next start.
Cracking Rhapsody beat Ooh Betty at Ayr, and Ooh Betty is in here for Ben Clarke. I have her as the main danger to Our Champ.
This Swinton Handicap Hurdle should be an easier contest than both the County Hurdle and the Sussex Champion Hurdle, and his handicap mark of 134 is only 3lbs higher than his last winning mark.
That last success occurred at Ascot in November on good ground when beating Break My Soul, who has since improved 16lbs to a mark of 140, and Secret Squirrel, who has also improved by 7lbs to a mark of 133.
Two miles on good ground is his speciality, and he could just have too much class here.
2:05 Ascot – Arisaig @ 9/4 with William Hill – 1.5pt Win
The £50,000 fillies’ handicap over one mile at Ascot looks like a winnable race for Arisaig, who is on the up for Charlie Johnston.
In two starts this season, the Harry Angel filly finished a fine fifth in the Spring Cup at Newbury on her seasonal debut before finishing fifth again at Goodwood in the Listed Conqueror Fillies’ Stakes.
She had absolutely no run through at Goodwood earlier in the month, and Callum Shepherd wasn’t able to ask her a question in the final furlong.
She’s only four, and she was well-campaigned last season, notably when finishing eighth in the Sandringham Stakes at Royal Ascot before her win at Goodwood in July.
That run at Ascot can be upgraded as she made headway from the rear of the field and was on the wrong side of the track. She was actually third in her group, and the race was won by the subsequent Group 1-placed Soprano.
This is an easier assignment, and I think she is really the one to beat.
3:00 Lingfield – Puppet Master @ 11/8 (General) – 1.5pt Win
Without trying to fall into the ‘how did you pick that one?’ category, I do think Puppet Master will win the Lingfield Derby Trial, and odds-against isn’t a bad price.
He finished a staying-on fourth to Delacroix in the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes in March, and the form of the race was boosted this week thanks to Lambourn in the Group 3 Chester Vase Stakes.
The fifth, Wemightakedlongway, went on to win the Group 3 Salsabil Stakes at Navan on his next start, and even the third, Tiberius Thunder, wasn’t disgraced in the Listed Blue Riband Trial on his next start.
Wayne Lordan didn’t give Puppet Master a hard time in the Ballysax Stakes, yet he still travelled well and quickened away when asked. It was a pleasing run, especially on good to yielding ground.
As for other pieces of form, he finished second to Apples And Bananas on debut at Killarney in July. Apples And Bananas was third to Twain and Mount Kilimanjaro in the Group 1 Criterium International on his final start of last season, which looks like a strong piece of form.
Aidan O’Brien has the top two in the market, but Puppet Master looks like the clear best on paper and he should come on for his first run of the campaign.
This son of Camelot, out of the Group 3 winner Realtra, should win this.
