Ascot Preview & Best Bets – Saturday 03 February 

Our form expert provides Ascot Tips for today’s horse racing at Ascot Racecourse and gives his best bets.    

Ascot Tips 03/03/2024 

BEST BET 🏆   

Race 9 No. 8 FILTHY HABITS – ($6.20)

Brandon and Lucy Fiore landed the first leg of a training and riding double as FILTHY HABITS scored second-up over the mile at Ascot. Lucy settled just off the leader as the field hummed along at a good tempo. She sent her mount out after Nero King on straightening to open a winning break on the others. There wasn’t a lot in the margins all day with the race won by Filthy Habits being no exception. The field also got home with a quick last 600 metres to run one of the fastest relative times of the day. We rolled the dice and decided to have a bet at the price as Filthy Habits drew off the track last week. That run behind Here For Cheques was far better than it reads on paper and Filthy Habits has fared better with an outside middle gate this week.

NEXT BEST 🥈   

Race 12 No. 1 BRAVE VENTURE – ($6.50)

Don’t mind seeing BRAVE VENTURE draw a middle gate again as he did at Pinjarra in a good race recently. We were on Brave Venture as Brayden Gaerth  tagged the fav Esprit Garcon during the early stages. Both horses returned with a similar last 600m split on the same day at Ascot with their previous race starts. This was a good ride by the apprentice who seemed to make all the right moves over the sharp 1200 metre trip. The rider of Esprit Garcon just cuddled his mount shortly after straightening which nearly cost him the close photo result. Importantly for Gaerth however, the move cost him momentum with Brave Venture who was subsequently left flat-footed when the winner sprinted. Brave Venture finished strongly behind the placegetters in a run which suggests the seven-furlongs may suit. Doesn’t hurt having the senior rider come back on to ensure Brave Venture gets the trip this weekend either.

BEST VALUE 💰   

Race 4 No. 6 WOTUGOT – ($21)

David Harrison is close to a win with 2yo WOTUGOT. His filly won a recent trial in fast time at Lark Hill when she sat just behind the speed under Jason Whiting. Whiting edged her into the clear on straightening before allowing her to chase the leader under her own steam. Wotugot picked up the subsequent Saturday Pinjarra Metro winner Brazen Bid to score in fast time with ease. Backed it up on race day when again settling behind the speed over 1000 metres at Ascot. Madhi Girl led without pressure to open a winning break into the straight. Wotugot got into her stride by the 150m to come out and chase. She just missed the winner by a slender margin while leaving gaps in the rest of the field. Really disappointed to see the horse draw a ridiculous gate on Saturday as we are keen to follow. There should be some good pace and pressure up front to help Wotugot get over the top of them late.