Hoops tips for Ascot 4th April

Greg Hooper | Metropolitan Racing | Wed 4 April, 2012

RACE 1 -WESTSPEED NURSERY HANDICAP 1100m

No. 9 ROMANY BEL - We start the start the day with a juvenile event and I'll go for (9) ROMANY BELL who I thought ran well on debut despite meeting very bad interference in running. I suspect she'll settle in the second half but be very hard to hold out in the straight. No doubt most of the attention will be focused on the first starter from the David Harrison team, (6) BLACK EYED KEYS. She led from go to whoa in her trial and came clear to win by over 5 lengths. With Renee Forrest engaged I think she'll go straight to the front and she looks the obvious one to rundown. (5) SHE'S QUALITY'S debut victory was full merit as she had to park wide throughout. William Pike goes on and she has obviously claims. (4) STEEL BUSINESS has had the benefit of four starts and although he appears to be looking for further his race experience brings him into the mix.
Numbers 9, 6, 5, 4

Suggested Bet - Romany Bel each way

RACE 2 - WESTSPEED 3YO HANDICAP 1000m

No. 2 MODELLO - There appears to be a bit of form to work with in this midweek sprint for the three-year-olds. I think (2) MODELLO is a pretty smart horse and is probably good enough to lump the 60kg first up and beat these. He last started on 10 September 2011 where he was a dominant Saturday class winner. He was then put out for a spell and gelded. The only query is he goes into the race with no trial under his belt but if he is near enough fitness wise he's clearly the horse to beat. (5) HALDEMAN is still a maiden but he won't be for too much longer. He was probably a moral beaten first up when he hopelessly held up and flooded home late. The Shane Edwards stable is on fire and he looms with good winning claims. (8) CAN'T HARTLEY WAIT drew the outside at her recent outing and as a result she settled at the rear and worked home fairly. Peter Knuckey goes on and she has drawn gate 1. She either leads or box seats and is obviously in the mix. (6) EL COSTA MAR has had couple of chances of late but has just fallen short of posting a win. She has each way claims again.
Numbers 2, 5, 8, 6

Suggested Bet - Modello win

RACE 3 - playeronline.com.au HANDICAP 1400m

No. 3 NEW TIME - There are plenty of tricky races on the card and this is clearly one of them. (3) NEW TIME backs up from a pretty unlucky run on Saturday where he didn't get much room to move in the straight. This is his level and provided he doesn't over race like he did a couple of starts back he should be around the mark. (7) TELLEM YA DREAMIN' has been up for a long time but he continues to race well. They elected to take a sit with him at his most recent outing and he didn't get the clearest passage in the straight. If he goes to the front and dictates he will be hard to beat. (4) COUTURE CHIK was a solid first up winner in mares' company over 1100m. The step up the 1400m is the query. (5) SOONEST is limited but his last couple of starts suggests he's nearing a win.
Numbers 3, 7, 4, 5

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 4 - WESTSPEED 3YO HANDICAP 1600m

No. 5 GALAXY PRINCE - There looks to be four main chances in this race and you can make a genuine case for them all. I've settled on (5) GALAXY PRINCE who is still a maiden but showed last start that he won't be for much longer. He drifted back after jumping, settled a mile off them but finished very powerfully to finish third, beaten a length by California Dude. If he can settle a bit closer I think he'll be very hard to hold out. (3) SO AUSPICOUS was a solid last start winner. He settled over the speed and found plenty in the straight. He should settle right over the speed again and give them something to catch. (2) CALIFORNIA DUDE defeated Galaxy prince at their last meeting and there is no reason why he won't be hard to beat again. He should settle handy to the speed. (6) LORD ELVSTROEM looks close to a win. He didn't get the best of luck last time out and was only beaten a half length. Paul Harvey retains the mount and he has drawn to get a nice run. They look the obvious four.
Numbers 5, 3, 2, 6

Suggested Bet- Galaxy Prince each way

RACE 5 - tabozbet.com.au HANDICAP 1000m

No. 5 YAMUNOTRI - I'll stick with my gut feel in this sprint and go for a couple of mares who resume from a spell but I suspect might have a class edge on this field. (5) YAMUNOTRI didn't fire a shot in her two efforts last preparation and was then turned out for a spell. She showed in her first campaign in the state she does have ability when on song. Her recent trial win was good and I think she can take a forward position in running and give a big sight. (7) FESTIVAL STAR is a very talented mare when on song but similar to Yamunotri she didn't appear to come back last preparation and was tipped out after just a couple of runs. She's first up no trial but watch for her scorching home late. (1) MACCAVAINEY resumes from a spell for his new trainer, Chris Gangemi. He's proven at this level and this distance. His recent trial effort was solid. (8) PAINTED is not easy horse to catch but he does appear to run his best races when tramping wide throughout so the draw might not be a bad thing.
Numbers 5, 7, 1, 8

Suggested Bet - Yamunotri win and Festival Star save

RACE 6 - TWITTER.COM/PERTHRACING HANDICAP 1200m

No. 8 WILD WEST WILLY - The two main chances in this race do appear to be (5) GREY JABIRU and (8) WILD WEST WILLY. I'll go for (8) WILD WEST WILLY to make it back to back wins. He was expertly ridden by Chad Davies when saluting at his first run back from a spell. He's a very one paced horse so his only chance for victory is to have him rolling along way from home. If he finds the front and is rated like last start he'll be hard to beat. (5) GREY JABIRU looks close to a win. His first up effort was good and he then got caught in an awkward spot on the fence at his most recent outing. He finished off soundly when in the clear. This does look an ideal assignment. (9) CHATELLE AND ICE ran a solid race when resuming from a spell and he is certainly in the mix. I think the big improver will be (13) ELITE COMMANDER who never got into the race when resuming from a spell over the 1000m straight at Pinjarra.
Numbers 8, 5, 9, 13

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 7 - FACEBOOK.COM/PERTHRACING HANDICAP 1200m

No. 3 HAVANA CITY - I found this mares' race close to impossible. I'll have a crack at putting them in some type of order. (3) HAVANA CITY has shown ability previously and she resumes from a spell with a benefit of a soft trial effort. She has a good fresh card and if she can get some luck from her wide gate it wouldn't be surprising to see her in the finish at good odds. (1) LONG TAN LADY has had a couple of trials to tune her up for her return. She's more effective over further ground but this field lacks depth and I think she'll be hard to hold out late. (5) BELL'S HONOUR didn't get the best of luck when she resumed from a spell. She had to tramp wide throughout and battled on well. The draw hurts but she certainly has claims. (6) CLASSICAL SNOW is a last start maiden winner and if she can repeat that performance she's in the mix.
Numbers 3, 1, 5, 6

Suggested Bet - None recommended

RACE 8 - perthracing.com.au HANDICAP 1600m

No. 4 MOMENT OF LOVE - A good competitive finish to the day, it should be close to each way odds the field. (4) MOMENT OF LOVE is bursting to win a race and despite the fact he has drawn an awkward alley he should go very close in this event. There doesn't appear to be a great deal of speed drawn inside him and I think he should be able to find the spot outside the leader without spending too many petrol tickets. From there he'll get his chance to post a deserved victory. (2) SOUND BARRIER was solid when resuming from a spell. He simply settled too far back in a race that backmarkers found very hard to get into. The drop back to midweek level suits and should be in the finish. (7) DISCOVERERS is close to breaking through for a win. Both his efforts this preparation have been good and from gate 4 he should lob a perfect spot in running. (5) ANCIENT SPELL is limited but this level suits and he looms with each way claims.
Numbers 4, 2, 7, 5

Suggested Bet - Moment Of Love each way