David Pipe has his team in terrific form and is fancied to land a hat-trick with his runners at Ascot today.
First on show is Piraya who looks cracking value at 13/2 to get the ball rolling in the handicap chase at 2.45.
The ex-french gelding has slipped down to a handy mark of 135 – 1lb lower than when last succesful at Warwick in February 2010.
Although it is a long time since he got his head in front he does run well fresh as he shbowed when chasing home the classy Woolcombe Folly last November.
He raced off a rating of 140 that day, and stuck on well to get within five lengths of the winner.
A reproduction of that effort would make him extremely hard to beat in this line-up, and with Conor o’Farrell taking another 3lb off his back he is definitely weighted to win this.
The second leg of the treble sees Swing Bill bid to defy top weight in the 2.45.
The gelding did us a favour when winning at 9/1 at Cheltenham last week where he was given a terrific ride by Tom Bellamy to beat stewarts Houe by seven lengths on the opening day of the Paddy Power meeting.
Altough now racing off a career-high mark of 140, the 10-year-old is a tough and reliable sort and is only 3lb higher than when finishing a highly creditable 5th fifth of 30 to Always Waining in the Topham at Aintree.
Another major plus is that his young rider – who gave him a peach of a ride to score at Prestbury Park – takes 7lb off his back in what doesn’t look a strong a race as last week.
Everything points to him running a huge race, and and a 7lb penalty is unlikly to stop him going in again if turning up in the same mood.
At 4/1 he makes plenty of appeal.
The final leg will then hopefully be completed by Decoy in the last at 3.20.
The five-year-old landed a monster gamble on his reappearance at last weekend and looks the banker on the card at 6/4.
He shrugged off a six month absence to win a 23 runner conditionals handicap at Cheltenham and it’s no surprise to see him turned out quickly before the asessor has his say.
The five-year-old gets into this contest without having to shoulder a penalty and is due to go up 8lb in the near future.
That makes him impossible to oppose from a handicapping persepctive despite the fact that he is dropping back down in trip from 2m5f to 2m.
His attacking running style means that he could soon have his rivals at full stretch, and given his proven stamina he is going to be very difficult to peg back.
Daily Sport recommended bets:
3pts each-way Piraya (13/2 generally available – use BOG firms)
3pts win swing Bill (4/1 bet365, Betfred, Victor Chandler – BOG)
5pts win Decoy (6/4 Betfred, Paddy Power, Victor chandler – BOG)
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