International Handicap

Peintre Celebre

I'm quite sweet on Pastoral Player for this on Saturday and have backed him at 33s. Horse is down to a nice mark of 99 and has a good record at Ascot, he won a really strong course and distance handicap back at the back end of 2011 off a mark of 101 before winning a Gr.3 over this trip at Haydock the next season, earning him a peak rating of 113. Ran a blinder two years ago when just beaten in the Gr.2 Summer Mile and showed he still retained plenty of ability last year when just beaten in a gr.3 at Haydock on g/f over this trip and backed that up with a solid two lengths second to Producer.

He had a couple of excuses thereafter with the trips and ground- think he wants seven furlongs and quick ground. He's had two starts this year over C&D in hot handicaps, being entitled to come on for the run first time out in May having been off since October but still ran well, finishing 6th of 25 off a mark of 100 behind Gabrial's Lad on ground softer than ideal (finished close to Ayaar and Belgian Bill who are shorter in the betting), but then really caught the eye last time at Royal Ascot. Despite finishing tenth it was a good run after being drawn in 3. There was a distinct draw advantage that day all of the first nine were drawn high with him leading his group to finish 10th- the next single digit drawn horse was back in 17th

I'm hoping for a kind draw for the weekend but if he gets it he should be no bigger than a 14/1 shot especially if the ground is good to firm as forecasted. Thought he was worth chancing.

rossom

Agree 100% with the above. Caught my eye at Royal Ascot too and there was a huge, huge disadvantage to those drawn far side. Sir Reginald (3rd of 6) and Blaine (4th of 6) in that group have franked that form by finishing 3rd and 1st in the Scottish Stewards Cup subsequently so it was clearly a big effort by Pastoral Player.

Additionally, Table Rock (4th of 10 in far side group in the Britannia) has since come out and won off the same mark easily before taking a Listed contest and that clearly backs up those drawn the far side ran big races but were just badly inconvenienced by the draw.

Nulty

Belgian Bill wins this. Cruising with no run in the Royal Hunt. Easily has the pace for 7f at Ascot and clearly stays. Pity it was so obvious after the gamble and the run at the Royal Meeting now he's no bigger than 14s. Great price though in reality.

Peintre Celebre

Disaster, drawn in one. At least plenty of fancied horses drawn low. Ayaar in 7, Gabriel's Lad in 8, Field of Dream in 4 and Don't Bother Me in 3

BumperD

Probably one of the most difficult handicaps of the season. Upsidedown handicaps are not one to go overboard on.

longshotvalue

Don’t Call Me ticks almost every box for this race. He has really top notch Ascot Handicap Form and has run a good race on almost every occasion, 2 wins a 2nd 3rd 4th and other good performances over this course and distance all in big handicaps. Every one of those was of a higher mark than his current mark and his one decent run this year was a decent 8th here in the Victoria Cup, when running on at the end. If that wasn’t enough there is the sudden booking of Jockey of the moment Oisin Murphy. All this adds up to 33/1 looking unreal value and worthy of a decent bet.

2 Points EW 33/1 Bet365 5 Places NRNB

rossom

aidankkk wrote: »

Don’t Call Me ticks almost every box for this race. He has really top notch Ascot Handicap Form and has run a good race on almost every occasion, 2 wins a 2nd 3rd 4th and other good performances over this course and distance all in big handicaps. Every one of those was of a higher mark than his current mark and his one decent run this year was a decent 8th here in the Victoria Cup, when running on at the end. If that wasn’t enough there is the sudden booking of Jockey of the moment Oisin Murphy. All this adds up to 33/1 looking unreal value and worthy of a decent bet.

2 Points EW 33/1 Bet365 5 Places NRNB

Agree with this too.

Peintre Celebre

Don't Call Me price wise

longshotvalue

aidankkk wrote: »

Don’t Call Me ticks almost every box for this race. He has really top notch Ascot Handicap Form and has run a good race on almost every occasion, 2 wins a 2nd 3rd 4th and other good performances over this course and distance all in big handicaps. Every one of those was of a higher mark than his current mark and his one decent run this year was a decent 8th here in the Victoria Cup, when running on at the end. If that wasn’t enough there is the sudden booking of Jockey of the moment Oisin Murphy. All this adds up to 33/1 looking unreal value and worthy of a decent bet.

2 Points EW 33/1 Bet365 5 Places NRNB

Happy enough with that, it was a decent bet for me..:rolleyes:

dilinja1

aidankkk wrote: »

Happy enough with that, it was a decent bet for me..:rolleyes:

good call aidan