After last weekend’s winner with Baron Noir, let’s hope we can keep the momentum going on a quality day of racing. Haydock hosts the Grade 2 Rossington Main, a key Supreme Trial, followed by the Grade 3 Peter Marsh Handicap Chase. Ascot stages the first British Grade 1 of the year, the Clarence House Chase, alongside a strong supporting card including a Grade 2 mares’ hurdle.
12:25 Ascot – WINSTON JUNIOR (6/4 generally)
Juvenile hurdles can be some of the trickiest races to assess, with flat horses trying their hand over jumps. A perfect example was Poniros landing last year’s Triumph Hurdle at 100/1 despite having never jumped a hurdle in public. Even so, while there are a few interesting challengers here, I find it hard to look past the Faye Bramley-trained favourite WINSTON JUNIOR.
He achieved a solid level of form on the Flat, finishing just three-quarters of a length behind Cesarewitch winner Beylerbeyi at Chepstow. That looks strong handicap form, and he has also finished half a length behind the 104-rated Light As Air, as well as three lengths clear of the 103-rated Acapulco Bay.
He’s taken well to hurdling too. On debut at Fontwell he finished second, three and a quarter lengths ahead of Lunar Orbit, who has won since. Then at Cheltenham he again ran a very good race in second behind the smart Minella Study, and was well clear of One Horse Town — a four-time hurdles winner who has also landed a Grade 2, beating a subsequent winner.
Overall, he brings the standout form and, while Novelista and Down To Business look credible rivals, Winston Junior should be hard to beat under Harry Cobden with further improvement very possible.
16:05 Ascot – LAGUNA BEACH (2/1 generally)
This looks a fair contest with some promising prospects, notably Harry Derham’s five-year-old The Burren Man, who bolted up at Carlisle. That form may not be the strongest, however, so the one to focus on is LAGUNA BEACH.
He ran well to finish fifth in a valuable Punchestown bumper and was far from disgraced next time at Sandown, finishing third against some smart rivals despite losing his left-fore shoe. He then made a winning hurdles debut at Hereford, staying on strongly to score by a length and a quarter over a subsequent winner. Well back in third, eleven and a quarter lengths behind, was Loaded And Locked — the well-fancied 5/6 favourite who had won a Worcester bumper and has since gone on to win again by two and a half lengths.
With the strongest form on offer and the step up in trip likely to unlock further improvement, Laguna Beach can land this for James Bowen and Nicky Henderson.
SATURDAY SELECTIONS
12:25 Ascot – WINSTON JUNIOR (6/4 generally)
16:05 Ascot – LAGUNA BEACH (2/1 generally)
*Odds correct at time of posting – 2:25pm Friday 16th January
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Please note that although Matt has uploaded the tips, he is not our Racing Club Insider – the insider will remain anonymous!
