Hoops Tips for Ascot 23rd November

Greg Hooper | Metropolitan Racing | Wed 23 November, 2011

RACE 1 -WESTSPEED 3YO HANDICAP 1500m

No. 4 VOICES OF SPRING. The scratching of ARETE has changed the complexion of the opening event. I'll go for VOICES OF SPRING but not with a great deal of confidence. I think on talent alone she will go very close. Her last start was a bit disappointing but that was in the W.A. Champion Fillies Stakes so you can forgive her for that. Previous to that she had run excellent on debut and a placing in the Burgess Queen. The draw is a concern as she'll likely settle last on she gets the tip on class alone. BLACK UMA ran second beaten a long way behind Keepers Court at his recent outing. That race was a joke though. Still, if he can settle forward and walk them he's some chance. ELLAVAMOMENT has been a bit disappointing this preparation but he has strong place claims again. GLENESK is in the mix. I'll be dodging this race.
Numbers 4, 3, 6, 1

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 2 - WESTSPEED 3YO HANDICAP 1200m

No. 1 BORN TO EXCEL. This is an intriguing race with a number of chances. I've settled on the well bred colt BORN TO EXCEL. He won well at Northam on debut and was very game last start, working forward from a wide gate and giving a big kick but just being unable to hold off Classic Emblem. From barrier 6 he should be able to work over in front of SETTLE STRADA and either lead or box seat, for that reason he gets the nod. SETTLE STRADA has big claims, he was good on cup day, it was a very similar effort to BORN TO EXCEL'S last start. Paul Harvey goes on, huge chance. BLACK MAGIC MISS could be the value runner, she was something licked on debut, missing the kick and getting into all sorts of trouble in the straight. If she can jump and settle closer she just might get the last crack at the leaders. BUSTABILL is a nice type who has done nothing wrong in his two starts, he beat a subsequent winner at his most recent outing. He'll get a lovely run from barrier 2. BEAR RIO can improve on her last start effort when she took on the older horses over 1400m.
Numbers 1, 2, 11, 3

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 3 - WESTSPEED 3YO HANDICAP 1200m

No. 13 LA ANNAIS. There are plenty of different form lines clashing in this race. I'm going for the Stan Bates trained filly, LA ANNAIS. She disappointed on debut when ridden for speed but last time out she finished off nicely when she settled back in the field. The winner of that race ran well on Saturday. From barrier 2 she should get a very soft run on the fence and if she gets the breaks in the straight she should be hard to hold out. I do have an opinion of RIOBRESA. His two efforts in September were much better than they read on paper. He ran on nicely against Modello and the tempo was against him second up. He's been freshened and Paul Harvey takes the mount. IRMA LA DANE has raced flat at her last couple of starts maybe the drop back to 1200m might help her find some sharpness. HURRICANE HOUND was solid first up and he'll appreciate not having to bump into Night War. The same applies to LITTLE LARRIKIN, I suspect he'll be ridden positively this time out. JAVELIN JACK was too bad to be true last start, he's a place again.
Numbers 13, 5, 2, 8

Suggested Bet - La Annais each way

RACE 4 - playeronline.com.au HANDICAP 1600m

No. 9 LADYSEA. This is a pretty decent midweek mile race. I've always had a fair opinion of LADYSEA and she finally broke through for her maiden win at Pinjarra, settling at the tail and blowing her rivals away. That was off the back of a super trial win so it was expected. This is clearly a better quality of race but with Paul Harvey jumping aboard I think she will be very hard to hold out. No knock at all DON'T SAY BOO he did the right thing by us a fortnight back when he settled in the box seat in running and was just too strong late. From barrier 4 he parks over the speed and is the one LADYSEA will have to catch in the straight. MONACO PRINCE never got into race last start but his previous form was excellent, he's a definite chance but obviously hasn't won for a very long time. CATDANCER rocketed home last start after being ridden cold. A repeat effort sees him around the mark. LIKE WILDFIRE has had a month between runs but is some chance. DANTE ZONTE needs everything to go right, when it does he'll pinch another race.
Numbers 9, 1, 3, 4

Suggested Bet- Ladysea win and Ladysea and Don't Say Boo upfront in multiples

RACE 5 - IMAGESOURCE HANDICAP 1100m

No. 1 FELINED. This is probably the toughest race of the day and it's pretty hard to tip one of these mares with any confidence. I've ended up with FELINED on the basis she should get a sweet run from her gate and she is in at least some type of form. CROSSELLE comes from the same race as FELINED and with William Pike steering she has claims. She just finds it hard to win. MOONLIGHT MISS has been freshened, she likely lead and give them something to rundown. MOVIES BY BURSWOOD is not hopeless nor is IT'S A GIRL THING. A very tricky race.
Numbers 1, 4, 9, 7

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 6 - CONSTRUCTIVE MEDIA HANDICAP 1100m

No. 7 KIMBERLEY COWBOY. The more I look at this race, the more I think that KIMBERLEY COWBOY should win. He showed plenty of ability last preparation including a very impressive maiden win when he beat Ladysea by 2 lengths. There is no doubt he is suited over more ground where he can control the tempo upfront but he does find himself in a very weak race to kick off his campaign. His recent barrier trial win was outstanding and I think he should be able to park in the first four in running and dominate this race. SWEET ACHIEVER was much better last start after disappointing at Northam first up. William Pike sticks and he looks one of the better chances. RED MERCEDES resumes from a spell, drawn barrier 1 he should get all the favours in running and be around the mark. The rest of these are fairly average and I think the winner comes from one of the three.
Numbers 7, 2, 1, 6

Suggested Bet - Kimberley Cowboy each way if odds permit

RACE 7 - PERTH GLORY TICKETS @ TICKETMASTER HANDICAP 2200m

No. 3 FRIAARDAY. This is very interesting staying race and is much better than the usual midweek plodders we see. FRIAARDAY is a promising horse. His two wins at Bunbury over 1400m and 1690m have been easy work. On both occasions he has settled back in the field after being tardily away but has finished all over his rivals late. He steps up to a staying trip for the first time but from what we have seen he should eat it. The only concern is if he settles last and has to cart himself into the race around some tired horses. The clear second pick for me is BIG JOSH . As we know he lacks that killer blow in his races but he should park right over the speed and keep going, I think he'll be in the race for a long time. PIPPALINE is racing very consistently and should get a sweet run from barrier 5. JACKSON ROCKS gets out to a staying trip for the first time this preparation, he's another who will get a nice run from the draw. DOUTABLE and BOBBY BENZINE look the other chances for the multiples.
Numbers 3, 2, 7, 4

Suggested Bet - Friaarday win and multiples with Friaarday and Big Josh upfront

RACE 8 - ALL FOR PERTH GLORY HANDICAP 1400m

No. 14 VARIETY FAIR. This looks a very tricky race with a host of winning chances. If they run it at least an even clip then the Alan Mathews trained mare, VARIETY FAIR, should be pretty tough to beat. She was excellent first up, sitting three wide with cover and looking to have the race won a long way from home. She looks a promising type. MAVROMATA has been able to find the front and stack them up at her last two starts, unlikely she'll be able to do that today but she still has big claims. SUPERNOVA will appreciate the drop in grade, he finds it hard to win but should be around the top four again. VOLUMINOUS was able to break his maiden tag in a tough effort at Northam, I think he'll roll forward and try and go for home early as he doesn't have a turn of foot. RUBY'S A FLIRT is shooting for three straight, she was well ridden at Bunbury and William Pike will have to repeat the dosage.
Numbers 14, 2, 1, 12

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 9 - Imagesource.com.au HANDICAP 1200m

No. 5 THE UNDERWORLD. A cracking race to finish the day with plenty of Saturday quality horses engaged. THE UNDERWORLD oozes class and despite the fact he is first up and will have to give the field a head start I think he should be able to zoom over these in the straight and win. His barrier trial win was outstanding and William Pike has a 100% strike rate on the talented gelding. Hopefully that record stays intact. I think the danger, and potentially the forgotten horse, is GO JORJ. His first up effort last campaign off a similar break and with no trial was excellent. He flashed home behind Fridays Girl in a Saturday class event. He then ran an unlucky third to Barakey, he should have finished a clear second. From barrier 5 he should get a lovely run and I think he could be the value runner in the race. YSMAEL finally broke through at his recent outing and although he was far from super impressive he always had the covered in running. He'll need some luck from his wide gate. ZIP CODE is tough and has a 100% second up strike rate, I just think he lacks the class of some of his rivals. LADY LAVENHAM is a classy mare but has just never been able to bring that Albany form to town. LOVABRUCHILL is a more than capable mare and with the right run can play a part. A wonderful finish to the day.
Numbers 5, 12, 9, 3

Suggested Bet - The Underworld win and Go Jorj save