Ascot Preview & Best Bets – Wednesday 31 January

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

Ascot Tips 31/01/2024

BEST BET 🏆   

Race 1 No. 3 SIMPLY ROSSO – ($6)

The early market seems to have left out SIMPLY ROSSO as operators look to the strong starting price profile of Bayezid. That horse has the blinkers going on after leading most of the way before succumbing late to Final Authority. Thought Michael Lane has found a good midweek race in town to test the lightly raced Simply Rosso who has won two on the trot. Chris Parnham gave him a treat behind the speed at Bunbury last start. Simply Rosso let down strongly into the straight to put the early leader Magnalee away. Parnham can find a similar position in running at Ascot Racecourse on Wednesday. Most pundits would have Bisector pressuring Bayezid on the speed while carting Simply Rosso into the race.

NEXT BEST 🥈   

Race 2 No. 7 SAFEKEEPER ($4.60)

The market opened very short about SAFEKEEPER for her debut up the straight at Pinjarra a fortnight ago. Simon Miller has opted to race his filly at home without nominating anywhere else at this time. Safekeeper did drift from in the red to just over even money before jumping away and finding a spot with cover behind the speed. William Pike pulled out and let her rip up the middle inside the furlong only to find Sunbronzed a little too strong over on the fence. Thought she trialled every bit as well as Bondi Plunge leading into her debut. Safekeeper will be better for the experience and may also appreciate finding a bend to kick off.

BEST VALUE 💰   

Race 6 No. 3 OCEAN AURA ($9.60)

Recent winner OCEAN AURA has drawn to find her preferred midfield positioning in running with relative ease. Lucy Fiore had the mare travelling back of midfield before working into the CL3 over 2019 metres at Bunbury. The pair worked their way clear on turning to come up the middle of the track as Beats Of War was also building momentum. Ocean Aura comfortably held that horse to the line as the pair successfully chased down the leader. Beats Of War has since gone on to win two in a row while Ocean Aura contested harder races over 2200 metres. Paul Roberts has given the mare a slight break between runs and Ocean Aura can figure again as she comes back to 1800 metres on Wednesday.