Horse Racing Betting Tips: Return to his beloved Ascot can see Sands Of Mali strike
CHOISIR made history in 2003 when becoming the first horse to win the King’s Stand-Diamond Jubilee double in the same year.
It was a remarkable achievement, but 16 years on Blue Point will attempt to repeat the feat in tomorrow’s Diamond Jubilee Stakes (4.20pm).
Charlie Appleby’s five-year-old outstayed Battaash to win the King’s Stand for a second year running on Tuesday.
He is the best horse in the race, but you’d have to be slightly worried about the four-day gap.
He also isn’t guaranteed to get home over such a stiff six furlongs.
At just 11/4, I’m going to oppose him, as well as 9/2 shot Invincible Army who is seeking a hat-trick.
Although a winner over course and distance at the start of last season, he disappointed in the Commonwealth Cup and then again in the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury later in the year.
He looks like he’s improved but I’m not prepared to back him at such a short price in a race like this.
SANDS OF MALI was narrowly denied in the aforementioned Commonwealth Cup, finishing just half a length behind Eqtidaar.
Things went downhill after that but he bounced back with a vengeance when comfortably landing the QIPCO British Champions Sprint in October at odds of 28/1.
He ran respectably to be sixth behind Blue Point in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on his reappearance and was then a little disappointing at Hamilton a couple of weeks ago.
I’m sure that was purely a trial for this, though, and he looks worthy of each-way support at 14/1 with Coral.
The Wokingham Handicap (5.00pm) is one of the biggest betting races of the whole week and always a fiendishly difficult puzzle to unravel.
There doesn’t look to be a standout contender this year and all of those at the head of the market have questions to answer.
For that reason I’m going to throw a few quid on a couple of big-priced outsiders.
First up is INTISAAB for David O’Meara who won the Queen Anne Stakes with Lord Glitters on Tuesday.
This eight-year-old has been well beaten in this race for the past two years but has now dropped to a mark of 103 which he can definitely win off.
He ran well behind Soldier’s Minute at York last time and O’Meara has booked Ascot straight course specialist Jamie Spencer. The 33/1 available looks too big.
My other selection is SPRING LOADED who always runs well at Ascot and wasn’t beaten far in ninth 12 months ago when not getting a clear run.
He is a bit higher in the weights now, but Paul D’Arcy is legging up promising 5lb apprentice Dylan Hogan and 22/1 with Coral is a decent each-way price.
The curtain comes down on the meeting as always with the Queen Alexandra Stakes (5.35pm) run over the marathon distance of 2m 5½f.
Ryan Moore has teamed up with Irish champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins twice in the last seven years to win this and the pair join forces again with favourite Max Dynamite.
However, it’s been nearly two years since he last tasted victory and at the age of nine, I am prepared to take him on with Andrew Balding’s CLEONTE at 6/1.
He got bogged down in the mud in the Chester Cup last time but has run well at Ascot in the past and looks like a stayer that’s improving with age.
POINTERS SATURDAY
Sands Of Mali e/w 4.20pm Royal Ascot
Intisaab e/w 5.00pm Royal Ascot
Spring Loaded e/w 5.00pm Royal Ascot
Cleonte e/w 5.35pm Royal Ascot