11/1 Shuil looks cracking value
David Arbuthnot’s Shuil Royale has always looked the type to do well in handicaps and makes plenty of each-way appeal at 11/1 in the 3.05 at Ascot today.
The gelding looked a useful prospect when winning both his starts in bumpers and got off the mark over hurdles at second time of asking at Kempton in March.
He stayed on really well that day to score readily by a length – despite pulling very hard and looking as if he would improve for the experience.
The six-year-old was allotted an opening mark of 120 on the back of that effort, and he shaped far better than his finishing position of fourth suggests on his seasonal reappearance in a novice event at Stratford.
Held up at the back of the field, he settled well and still looked to hold every chance when badly impeded two from home.
His rider then decided to let him come home in his own time, and given that he looked as if the run would bring him on it was a shrewd move not to knock him about unnecessarily.
He then ran a cracker when finishing 7th of 23 to Decoy in a competitive conditional jockeys contest at Cheltenham off a mark of 117, travelling well for much of the 2m 5f journey before being unable to find any extra in the closing stages.
The handicapper has subsequently dropped him another 2lb, and that combined with the step up in trip to 2m 6f today give him a terrific chance in a wide open contest.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts each-way Shuil Royale (11/1 Ladbrokes – BOG, Sky Bet)
Josh looks an each-way Dream at 13/2
Josh’s Dreamway shaped really well in a hot bumper contest last time out and looks an each-way steal at 13/2 in the finale at Ascot today (3.40pm).
Jeremy Scott’s mare created a good impression when landing bumpers at Stratford and Uttoxeter back in the spring and shaped really well after a lengthy lay-off when fourth in a hot listed contest at Cheltenham last month.
Held up that day she made good headway on the outside three from home to throw down a challenge before lack of fitness took it’s toll.
In the end she was beaten just over four lengths by One Term, and that one – along with the second and third Jimbill and Montbazon – are all useful prospects.
Indeed she finished just a neck behind the latter who is held in very high regard by Alan King and finished runner-up to the classy Steps Of Freedom in a bumper at Aintree in April.
That gives the Cheltenham form a really solid look, and given the fact the the selection is sure to strip much fitter this time a bold showing looks on the cards.
Make no mistake, this is a very good race of its type with some very promising individuals, but Josh’s Dreamway has proven form and experience in the book and seems to have been underestimated by the bookies.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts each-way Josh’s Dreamway (13/2 bet365 – BOG)
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