Horseradish the one to beat in Ascot’s Victoria Cup

There are several cracking races to get stuck into this weekend, not least of which is the Victoria Cup at Ascot on Saturday, together with good cards at Haydock, Punchestown and of course there the Kentucky Derby in America.

Victoria Cup – Saturday 3.25 Ascot

This spectacular cavalry charge at Ascot will attract a big field on Saturday but the likely favourite and the one to beat would appear to be the Michael Bell trained, Horseradish, a very impressive winner last time out at Doncaster. In that race he had several who will be in the line up on Saturday well beaten and there is nothing to suggest that any of them should reverse the form.

Any entry trained by Dandy Nicholls has to be respected and he has two runners to consider. Firstly, Nasri, a new recruit to his stable, who won last time out in Musselburgh a run which confirmed that he has made a very quick improvement under Nicholls. The stable also runs Al Muheer, whose recent form should be ignored. He has gone down 3lb in the handicap and now looks like he is on a very competitive mark and could go close at a big price but it is Horseradish who looks the one to beat in this.

Swinton Handicap Hurdle – Saturday 3.40 Haydock

A top betting race, which is likely to have the Donald McCain trained Red Merlin at the head of the market. Winner of his last three starts all in novice hurdles, the 6 year old comes into the race in great form from a stable who continue to win big races. With Tonic Mellysse unlikely to take his place, next best in the betting is likely to be the Nicky Henderson trained, Remember Now. Winner at Ayr last month of a very competitive handicap hurdle, he is on a good mark and should have plenty of market support. Another to consider is Tatispout from the Charlie Longsdon stable, who has two wins in the last few week under his belt.

AES Champion 4YO Hurdle – Saturday 4.25 Punchestown

The feature race on the final day at the Punchestown Festival, this Grade One will see the Nicky Henderson trained Grandouet looking to gain some compensation after unluckily being brought down in the Grade One 4YO Hurdle at Aintree last month, when having every chance. That race was won by Zarkandar, who also beat Grandouet into third place in the Grade One Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Second in the Triumph was Unaccompanied from the stable of Dermot Weld who will look to confirm the Cheltenham form with Grandouet in this.

Kentucky Derby – Saturday Churchill Downs

There will not be too many punters backing anything other than the top two in the Kentucky Derby betting, despite the fact that the race has a wide open look to it. Bookmakers are reporting plenty of support for the unbeaten Florida Derby winner, Dialed In, who is trained by Nick Zito, and is now as short as 9/2 with most Bookmakers, while next best and also being backed is the Todd Pletcher trained Uncle Mo, who was the two year old champion in the USA. Pletcher trained his first winner of race last year with Super Saver, while Zito has not known success in the ‘Run for the Roses’ since 1994.