Looking for Ascot and Newmarket racing tips for Saturday, October 3? Racing expert Dave Massey shares his best bets and selections from both meetings, including the Rous Stakes and Challenge Cup at Ascot.
Heavenly Heather gets another chance in the Rous Stakes, while Dave has two selections for the Challenge Cup and a couple of bigger-priced contenders to consider at Newmarket.
Dave Massey’s Ascot and Newmarket racing tips for Saturday
13:50 Ascot – Heavenly Heather
My patience is starting to wear a little thin with Heavenly Heather but back on a faster surface she’s getting one more try before she gets chucked out the tracker for the season.
In simple terms, a repeat of her fast-finishing sixth, beaten just a length and a half by Mission Control, in the King Charles III Stakes here earlier in the year is one of the best pieces of form on show here, and would give her every chance of going close. Her tenth to Bacio in the Nunthorpe wasn’t dreadful, but I was a bit disappointed; in retrospect, she maybe found the ground a bit on the slow side and in any case, she still put up good figures.
Ayr last time was not of the same standard, but 5½ furlongs on soft ground was very much not her thing, and I’m going to put the red pen straight through that effort. She has the likely pacesetter in Baker Blue drawn next door to drag her into the race, and I’m pleased to see Barry McHugh on board, who gets on well with her. Last go…
15:35 Ascot – Two Tribes and Great Acclaim
I’ll take a couple in here, as the angle is the same with the pair of them – essentially horses the handicapper has a grip of, but maybe throwing a claimer on board to reduce some of the burden might do the trick.
Two Tribes went off favourite for the Stewards’ Cup but ran a stinker, and he was below par again when midfield in the Ayr Gold Cup last week. I know there must have been something wrong at Goodwood, the run was too bad to be true, but he should have done a bit better at Ayr, and I’m happy to see him back at 7f today.
On good ground or quicker over 7f at Ascot his record reads 1-2-3, and that includes a second in the ever-competitive Moët & Chandon here earlier in the year, so he has recent course form to call upon. Toby Moore steals seven pounds off his back, and another good effort looks on the cards.
Great Acclaim pays for his consistency despite not winning – he’s actually a pound higher than when the season started but again, look at his big-field handicap form; second in the Victoria Cup, third in the Buckingham Palace, midfield in the Moët & Chandon, running on after being given a lot to do.
It was a lesser effort at Newbury last time but the visor goes back on, and Oliver Carmichael is able to take a useful 7lb off his back. Fourth in this last year, I’m hopeful he can get a bit closer this time around.
13:00 Newmarket – Artemis Stone
Normally you get an extra place or two from the online bookmakers in these big-field auction races but don’t go expecting any great generosity with the odds-on Night In Vegas in the field. He has another half-furlong to go today after winning the Weatherby’s version of this at Doncaster last month, and whilst it would be fair to say we know where we are with him form-wise now, having run to a very similar level on his last four starts, it’s a high bar he sets and he is the one to beat.
kwiff are offering four places, and with that I’ll give Artemis Stone a go. His overall body of form unsurprisingly falls short of what’s required but on the plus side, he’s improved a little with each of his three runs and his pedigree suggests he’ll keep improving for some while yet, well into his 3yo career and he’s one you want onside as he keeps going up in trip.
There isn’t that much pace on here, with the stalls in the centre, and I wonder if Marco Ghiani might pop him out in front again and bring him over to the stands rail, which is often the place to be on the Rowley. 33-1 and bigger is worth consideration.
14:10 Newmarket – Blue Hercules
With Evanesco, Topteam and Ernst Blofeld all in attendance there should be some pace on, and I’m hoping that means Kieran O’Neill can get Blue Hercules settled better than Danny Tudhope managed at Carlisle last time. He was far too keen there, pulling himself into a clear lead but ran out of petrol up the Carlisle hill, and was beaten ten lengths in the end.
His previous efforts looked mildly progressive, in the frame at Ascot and Ffos Las, and he basically looks a slow learner that’s only just starting to get the hang of things. As such, there ought to be more to come from him as he learns to race properly, and it’s simply too soon to be giving up on him.
Dave Massey’s Ascot and Newmarket tips at a glance
- 13:00 Newmarket: Artemis Stone
- 13:50 Ascot: Heavenly Heather
- 14:10 Newmarket: Blue Hercules
- 15:35 Ascot: Two Tribes and Great Acclaim
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