Ascot Preview & Best Bets – Saturday 18 November
Our form expert provides Ascot tips for today’s horse racing at Ascot Racecourse and gives his best bets.
Ascot Tips 18/11/2023
BEST BET 🏆
Race 1 No. 7 MOUNTAIN ASH – ($3.10)
Up in grade and while down in weight may prove the catalyst to get MOUNTAIN ASH over the line at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday. His last two runs have been very good when running second in lower grade races. Luke Campbell has won three races on Mountain Ash, and he won’t mind ensuring that this field does roll along at a solid tempo. Campbell did exactly that as trainer Daniel Morton sent Mountain Ash out over 1800m here. Mountain Ash defied the challenge of Fine Touch all the way up the straight, only to have Strike Now claim him on the line. Played follow the leader at an even tempo before putting paid to Big Screen into the straight. Mountain Ash forced Desennea to work for the win and is well suited by staying to track and trip on Saturday.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 9 No. 7 SALOON BAR – ($5)
There was a lot to like about the way SALOON BAR bucked the trend to score a come from behind win at Ascot. Most of the winners came from on the speed yet Jarrad Noske found himself coming back on Saloon Bar to get in from their outside alley. Their cause wasn’t helped by a lack of pace or pressure up front, and Saloon Bar was ultra-impressive in the way he let down up the middle of the track. Saloon Bar raced past his opposition inside the 100m to score, and now finds a race with lots of pace and pressure involved.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 6 No. 2 FLYING MISSILE – ($10)
The speed in the Jungle Mist Classic over 1200m for the fillies and mares will be interesting. Barriers may make for some pressure from riders to come over from out wider; however, we won’t be surprised to see those runners come back through the early part. The race lends itself for horses such as FLYING MISSILE and Duchess Of Gossip to gain comfortable runs either on or just off the pace. Brad Parnham found an easy time of it as he allowed Flying Missile to range up outside the leader when the mare was racing first-up last time. Flying Missile put paid to them into the straight before peaking off a short sharp sprint. She had the race shot to bits by that time and carries a similar weight into this race on Saturday.