Buckstay A Solid Campaigner For Victoria

Ascot’s Victoria Cup is the big betting heat this Saturday and after hitting the mark at Chester with No Heretic, the hope is that Jamie Spencer can land another big pot for Jim and Fitri Hay.

Bucking The Trend
In the last 10 renewals of the race only two horses have managed to carry more than 9st to win the Victoria Cup but despite having plenty of weight on his back, the course and distance winner Buckstay is picked to run a big race at 14/1.

Predominance looks the likely favourite at 7/1 after an impressive victory on quick ground a fortnight ago and could still be progressing but Buckstay is a solid campaigner who won the valuable Challenge Cup at Ascot back in October.

Prior to that he lost little in defeat in the Ayr Gold Cup over six-furlongs and his final run of last season may have just come at the end of a long season and on ground slightly softer than ideal.

Peter Chapple-Hyam’s horses are in good form and he is just a horse who may well have another big pot in him, even off a mark of 107.

Oaks Trial
Aidan O’Brien sends Seventh Heaven to Lingfield for the Oaks Trial and whatever about the Ballydoyle Derby contenders, there is no doubting the strong hand the trainer has in the fillies division and the Dundalk winner is the latest to go on trial.

However, Mountain Bell is picked to come out on top of this one for Ralph Beckett and Oisin Murphy.

Mountain Bell was second on debut last season but stepped up in trip and won in real good style at Windsor on her first start this season and while this is certainly a marked step up in class for her now, she looks a filly that can keep progressing and take a race of this nature.

Derby Trial
Landofhopeandglory is next up for Ballydoyle in the Derby Trial but again the Irish champion trainer is opposed on this occasion as Humphrey Bogart looks a colt who could go one better than his narrow defeat last time.

Humphrey Bogart may not be an obvious Epsom Derby contender but his run behind So Mi Dar last time at Epsom was a good one and while Landofhopeandglory can be expected to improve for his seasonal debut, it is worth taking him on with Humphrey Bogart for a trainer in form in Richard Hannon.

Recommended Bets:
Mountain Bell – 3:25 Lingfield
Buckstay – 4:15 Ascot
Humphrey Bogart – 4:00 Lingfield

*Prices correct at time of publcation