2m3½f (2m3f58y) Howden Ascot Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Ascot Hurdle) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)
I’d be pretty sweet on LUCKY PLACE being overpriced here. He’s significantly wrong at the weights with Thunder Rock but that horse hasn’t been seen over hurdles since 2022 and his highest hurdles rating was marginally below Lucky Place’s. Blueking d’Oroux is rated 10lb higher but has to concede 6lb, which is going to be really tough, and the favourite Golden Ace is 10lb worse off at the weights with Lucky Place than when they clashed last year – Golden Ace won that by under a length. On that line of form Lucky Place has a clear form advantage over the favourite and you can mark up his Coral Cup fourth when he raced wide the whole way round and finished his race off really strongly to finish under 5l behind a disgustingly well handicapped winner who saddled only 4lb more and is now rated 160 over hurdles. He didn’t seem to be suffering from the bug that plagued the yard last March, but there’s a chance that run didn’t reflect his true form and he could be even better. This is a very live 7/1 chance and I suggest you back it.
1pt win Lucky Place @7/1, 14:45 Ascot, Saturday
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