Hoops Tips for Ascot 7th Decmeber

Greg Hooper | Metropolitan Racing | Wed 7 December, 2011

RACE 1 -WESTSPEED 3YO HANDICAP 1600m

No. 1 ROMAN KNOWS. Intriguing three-year-old race to boot off proceedings with a few promising types clashing. Sticking with a horse who has been very good to me this preparation and that being, ROMAN KNOWS. He drops back from a Saturday class win where he did get all the favours in running but still won well, beating Final Cut. With the claim for Ryan Hill he carries 57kg and considering this is a compressed weight scale he looks very well win. I expect him to go forward early and prove very hard to beat. I do have a lot time for WICKED GAME. He ran into a couple of strong maiden fields at his first couple of starts and last week he settled back in the field but wound up really strongly over the final furlong to come clear for an emphatic win. From barrier 3 if he can settle a little closer he'll be hard to hold out. The other winning hope looks to ELLAVAMOMENT who improved sharply at his most recent outing to break his maiden tag in good fashion.
Numbers 1, 5, 3, 6

Suggested Bet - Roman Knows win

RACE 2 - WESTSPEED 3YO HANDICAP 1000m

No. 2 STACKS ON. I think this could be a trap race and I'll probably be dodging it from a punting perspective. Tipping wise I'll go for the speedy filly STACKS ON. She was able to win last campaign first up over 1000m with no trial. From barrier 4 she should be able to lead or box seat and be in the race for a long time. WINGED ANGEL impressed on debut back in May when she sat three wide with cover and showed a good turn of foot at the top of the straight to win well. She was asked for little in a recent trial and William Pike takes the mount. I think she will be the one finishing strongly. SETTLE STRADA disappointed at his most recent outing when he gave little in the straight but back to 1000m should suit. DUAL CITY resumes from a spell and has more than her fair share of ability. MOONLIGHT MISS drops back to three-year-old company after being beaten in a photo against the older mares. Tricky race with plenty of the main chances are resuming so monitor the betting closely.
Numbers 2, 5, 1, 4

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 3 - racingjobs.com.au 1100m

No. 5 ANDRACZKE. This is a good quality midweek sprint. We got the money first up with FLYING HERITAGE but I'm happy to jump ship here and put ANDRACZE on top. There looks to be good tempo with FLYING HERITAGE, this former Territorian KNICKER BOCKER, JAW DROPPER and DANTE'S LAST all likely to be hunting up early. Hopefully Michael Grantham can get ANDRACZE to jump nicely so he can make use of his good gate, tail the leaders and go bang in the straight. His first up effort over the Pinjarra straight trip was a real eye catcher and I think he's a promising horse who we can follow through the grades. FLYING HERITAGE got the job done in his first up in his debut run for the Daniel Morton yard. He'll be in the first couple in running and it will just be a question of whether he can get any midrace breathers. EARL OF VASSE is a very good fresh horse. He had little luck first up behind Ima Citnpretty when he was held up in the straight but finished powerfully when in the clear. He'll has a small but sharp turn of foot so he'll have to be held up until as late as possible. UNION CITY from barrier 1 has to be some chance as he'll no doubt get the softest of runs in transit. He has had plenty of chances though. KNICKER BOCKER is the interesting runner. He has won some races by huge margins in the top end. No trial makes it difficult to gauge where he's at so I suggest a market watch with him.
Numbers 5, 1, 6, 9

Suggested Bet - Andraczke each way

RACE 4 - playeronline.com.au HANDICAP 1200m

No. 7 RESETGOLD. With normal racing luck RESETGOLD should be winning this midweek mares' race. Her three runs to date have all been impressive including a big second to Precious Snippets two starts back and then her maiden victory at Northam where she rounded up her rivals whilst never getting out of second gear. Hopefully from barrier 2 she can take a closer position in transit and provided she doesn't get hemmed away on the fence she should be too good. Clear second pick for me is DIATORIO. She showed plenty of ability in her first preparation winning a couple of races in good fashion and her recent trial win was very good. If she comes over from her wide gate and settles over the speed she'll be the one that RESETGOLD will need to rundown. CROSSELLE surprisingly led at her most recent outing and she was able to cling on. However, it was the day that all leaders were winning. FELINED should be around the skinny end for the multiples.
Numbers 7, 4, 1, 2

Suggested Bet- Resetgold win

RACE 5 - CONSTRUCTIVE MEDIA HANDICAP 1000m

No. 4 GYPSY MYTH. This doesn't look a very strong sprint and I think GYPSY MYTH may have a class edge over most of her rivals. Her last campaign was very good, she won a couple of races and also ran an eye catching 6th to Metal Talk when she made up plenty of late ground. She was beaten a long way in a recent trial but was asked for nothing. Hopefully she can settle midfield and finish strongly at each way prices. IMPULSIVE FIGHTER resumes from a spell and has claims. He's a tough on speed runner who should either lead or box seat from barrier 1. Clearly he has claims. HECACITY might just be the best horse in this race but I expect him to get back in running and finishing powerfully late. His debut effort behind Noname City was excellent, he attacked the line with gusto over the concluding stages. REBEL WALTZ has been luckless at his last couple of starts. He blew the start a couple of runs back and last time out parked wide for the duration. He could be the big improver.
Numbers 4, 6, 5, 1

Suggested Bet - Gypsy Myth each way

RACE 6 - CALL TAB TO BET 132 369 HANDICAP 1600m

No. 1 GRAND APPROACH. This is a very good quality midweek event with plenty of Saturday form to work with. I'm going a little wide with my top pick and selecting GRAND APPROACH. I'm completely forgiving him for his last effort when he was ridden upside down and faded after using plenty of early petrol tickets on a day which was favouring horses who had cover. His form previous to that was solid and from barrier 1 he should get a pie run and provided he has pulled up OK from that performance I think he represents solid each way value. SUSHI WARRIOR is nice horse coming through the grades. I think drawing wide suits as he is big horse who likes to wind up. FOREVER SPECIAL has definite claims. She motored home at her most recent outing. Ridden cold she possesses a big late finish. VARIETY FAIR ran well at her most recent outing. She was always going to find it hard due to the leaders bias on the day. On the minimum she needs to be considered.
Numbers 2, 8, 10, 14

Suggested Bet - Grand Approach each way

RACE 7 - PERTH ICE WORKS 1600m

No. 1 KIM ABILITY. I think this is the toughest race of the day. With no confidence I'll put KIM ABILITY on top. He's horse that can race handy to the speed and wind up early. I think that will be advantageous with the rail out 15m and from barrier 3 he should get a nice run just behind the speed. LADYSEA is the best horse in this race but she was very plain at her most recent outing. She was ridden positively out of the gate but just whacked to the line. From her wide gate they might just drop her out and see whether she can find the form she showed in her first up win at Pinjarra. Paul Harvey goes onto Ontrust and he needs to be respected. He was finishing off nicely at Bunbury last week. However, the barrier makes it tough. STEALTH CAT is a mare with ability and she has drawn to get a perfect run. She could be the value runner. A very open race.
Numbers 1, 2, 7, 13

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 8 - tabtouch.mobi HANDICAP 1200m

No. 4 BOMBORA. I'm fairly confident we can finish the day backing a winner. BOMBORA was belted in early markets before his first run for the Simon Miller camp and if he had got some more luck in running he probably would have pulled off the plunge. He settled further back in running than was probably anticipated but that was mainly due to the fact he was inconvenienced when there was chain reaction from the buck jumper. He was then held up for some of the straight but finished off nicely when in the clear. He drops to midweek level and has drawn a perfect gate to get a sweet run. I think he should handle these. KIMBERLEY COWBOY has plenty of ability and I really liked his first up effort behind Catlantic when he settled midfield but finished strongly to get into second place. It was against the pattern on the day. However, the draw is a big setback, Peter Knuckey will need to pull out a gem of a ride. I think these two do have this field covered but of the rest FLEMING SON, PRIVATE CITY, CATTALINI, DISCO BLING and RED MERCEDES should fight out the minor placings.
Numbers 4, 8, 1, 6

Suggested Bet - Bombora win Kimberley Cowboy save