Sunday’s UK racing tips come your way from meetings at Ascot and Doncaster on 24 March 2024.
DONCASTER
Race 2 – BUST A MOVE 5/2
BUST A MOVE absolutely powered through the mud at Newmarket when last seen and while his fitness has to be taken on trust, the Ribchester gelding will relish conditions in the Harrison College Your Future Your Choice Handicap.
He looks well set to continue where he left off and will be fresh after a four month break.
Race 3 – GHAIHABAN 15/4
Andrew Balding’s GHAIHABAN should take some stopping in the William Hill Epic Boost Novice Stakes at Doncaster.
He has already shown testing ground holds no fears for him which will be crucial at this early stage of the Flat season.
The last three winners of this contest have all been above standard, with William Haggas’ Maljoom the stand out, so it will take a decent sort to win it.
The selection was second in soft ground on his debut at Windsor in October over six furlongs and lost little in defeat when a beaten favourite next time at Newmarket as the previously unraced winner, Lunar Eclipse, could be anything.
Balding tends to have his string pretty fit early doors and he gets the nod ahead of Charlie Appleby’s Strong Opinion, a 1,000,000 guineas purchase who is a brother of Theoryofeverything, who won this race 12 months ago.
Race 4 – PARISIAC 20/1
The Alice Haynes-trained PARISIAC scrapes into the William Hill NRMB On The Grand National Handicap off bottom-weight which could be crucial.
A winner on heavy at Newmarket at the end of last season, he is back down to a mark just 1lb higher after two unplaced efforts on the all-weather.
That race fitness could prove crucial given only two other runners have a recent spin to their name.
Race 5 – BARYSHNIKOV 12/1
David and Nichola Barron’s BARYSHNIKOV went winless last season but as a result starts life this campaign well handicapped on his best form.
No doubt Chester in May is the aim as he goes especially well there, but a mark of 84 may be too good to pass up and he won first time out two years ago.
He is definitely one to watch in the Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap.
ASCOT
Race 2 – CARTONNE 14/1
CARTONNE is lining up for Donald McCain’s yard in the Ascot Racecourse Supports Achieving For Children Handicap Chase.
Despite a disappointing outing last time out at Musselburgh, he has form when it comes to finding the winners enclosure with wins at Ludlow and Doncaster in the two races prior to Musselburgh.
Theo Gillard takes the reins here and he was in the saddle in those two victories and has four victories in total when riding the seven-year-old.
Race 4 – THELASTTHIGHTKING 7/2
THELASTTHIGHKING can defy top-weight in the LK Bennett Handicap Chase.
With £40,000 up for grabs he only has five to beat and two of those are out of the handicap.
Thelasthighking, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, has been incredibly consistent, not finishing out of the first two in his last five outings.
He has risen from 118 to 134 in the ratings in the process but ran another solid race when second to Our Jet last time out.
Clearly at his best on a decent surface, this incredibly wet winter has not been in his favour but the wait can prove worthwhile.
Race 5 – REBEL INTENTIONS 7/1
REBEL INTENTIONS is one to watch in the Ascot Shop Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
Emma Lavelle’s seven-year-old has plenty of experience of running at Ascot and is a course winner, albeit over a slightly shorter trip.
He pulled up over the same distance at Huntingdon last time out, but that should not deter punters given his form prior to that with four top three finishes in his five races before Huntingdon.
Race 7 – SUPREME GIFT 5/1
Punters who hang around until the final race at Ascot can be rewarded for their patience if they back SUPREME GIFT.
Henry Daly’s seven-year-old has a decent strike-rate, winning four of his 15 outings – and he definitely reserves his best for Ascot.
He won at the track in November, prompting Daly to take him to Aintree for a decent race on Boxing Day.
However, despite the ground only being described as soft, it rode much deeper and the time was 45 seconds above standard, suggesting it was heavy.
Given Supreme Gift likes a decent surface, and we know now seems to prefer going right-handed, a line can be put through that run.
He was never going when pulled up behind subsequent Reynoldstown winner Henry’s Friend at Hereford, but back at Ascot last time out he returned to form over the smaller obstacles
The drying ground is in his favour and with Sam Twiston-Davies on for the first time he can go well in the Colts And Fillies Handicap Hurdle.
