Ascot Betting Tips: Can you Count on Meribel at Ascot on Friday?
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The Coral Handicap Chase and the Coral ‘Fail to Finish’ Free Bet Handicap Hurdle are the two feature races on day one of Ascot’s two-day meeting which begins on Friday.
There are seven races in total across the afternoon, and we’ve previewed the best of the action in our Ascot Betting Tips.
Unbeaten threesome Gipsy De Choisel, Nimix De Juilley and Metier head the market alongside Amarillo Sky for this interesting novice race, and it’s the foremost of the quartet who could end up coming out on top.
The four-year-old showed great grit and determination to win on debut in France in a race which has worked out well, with the second and the fourth both having come out and tasted success since.
He’s since been switched to a trainer in Nicky Henderson who has won this race three times since 2011, so we’re expecting a big run in the double green colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.
14:05 Ascot – Coral Handicap Chase
The feature race of the afternoon could go the way of Count Meribel, who has an enviable record of 2112 when making his seasonal reappearance for Nigel Twiston-Davies.
Those numbers are made to look all the more impressive when you consider the latter of those 2s represents a runner-up finish behind subsequent Gold Cup-third Lostintranslation.
Count Meribel’s season didn’t quite kick-on in the same way as the winner at Carlisle that day, although he did plug on to finish sixth despite losing a shoe in the BetVictor Gold Cup 12 months ago.
His sights have been lowered considerably here, and he should go close off a rating 3lb lower than when he was last seen at Cheltenham in January. Previous Ascot scorer and general mud lover Espoir Du Guye appears to be the main challenger, while Deauville Dancer is lurking on a dangerous mark.
14:40 Ascot – Coral ‘Fail To Finish’ Free Bet Handicap Hurdle
Buzz is light years ahead of his rivals at the top of the market, and it’s not hard to see why with the form of his Welsh Champion Hurdle third last month working out very well indeed.
The winner that afternoon Sceau Royal came out and won the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle by over 7l a fortnight ago, while runner-up Ballyandy was only narrowly touched off in the Greatwood at Cheltenham.
No other horse in this race can hold a candle to that form line, and with the Seven Barrows yard having won this contest three times since 2010, Buzz would appear to be a very worthy favourite.
Of those at larger prices, Kloud Gate is making his first appearance after a 676-day break and could be of interest if Gary Moore can get him back to the same level as his two Handicap wins in 2019.
Ascot Racing Schedule, 20th November
12:20 Ascot – Ascot Racecourse Supports Safer Gambling Week Novices’ Chase
12:55 Ascot – Lexicon Recruitment ‘National Hunt’ Maiden Hurdle
13:30 Ascot – Play The Coral ‘Racing Super Series’ ‘Introductory’ Hurdle
14:05 Ascot – Coral Handicap Chase
14:40 Ascot – Coral ‘Fail To Finish’ Free Bet Handicap Hurdle
15:15 Ascot – Watch Racing Free Online At Coral Handicap Chase
15:45 Ascot – Coral Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Novices’ Handicap Hurdle
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
