Saturday Racing Tips - Ascot Racecourse 16/12/23

Racing returns to Ascot for a $2.1 million dollar card and our listed feature of the day is the Damien Oliver Gold Rush, a $1.5 million race in Open grade over the 1400m alongside the Starstruck Classic for a share of $125k. I have gone through the card and picked out my best betting spots so follow me below as I outline them below!

(Note: Odds provided by Playup)

Selections:
#4 - Stormchaser (NEXT BEST) - $3.00
#1 - Blue Lagoon - $3.20
#5 - Leading Taddy - $11.00
#9 - Weeraechoux - $10.00

BEST BET - #4 - Stormchaser (NEXT BEST) 
Stormchaser is an honest horse for the Fernie camp who won very well first up at Bunbury before last 
stepping out in the Lee Steere two weeks ago where he was 1000m out to 1400m and just faded a bit late in the run. He now will be much sharper staying at this distance and is ready to win.

THE DANGER - #1 - Blue Lagoon
Blue Lagoon comes into this after racing in the WA guineas where he couldn’t get clear air behind Zipaway when finishing fourth there. She then went out to nearly win the Northerly last week so this is clearly stand out form and coming back to 1400m is positive I think.

VALUE BET  - #5 - Leading Taddy
Leading Taddy has really clicked up in his last few runs and after winning last start I think he can be sharp here. He last stepped out under Michael Poy’s steering at Belmont over this trip when overcoming a very tough run, having to do the trip out three wide and then fanning six wide to get a huge win. He rates well coming into this now.

Selections:
#2 - San Fabrizio - $4.00
#3 - Eee Pee Cee - $3.80
#4 - Manhattan Strip - $7.50
#7 - Elite Fighter (ROUGHIE OF THE DAY) - $11.00

BEST BET - #2 - San Fabrizio
San Fabrizio has returned in great order for the Stephen Miller and now comes into this better for two runs at the trip with her last being a fortnight back here, getting back near last in the run but closing off flying to a key rival who he meets again here in Eee Pee Cee. The extra 100m and added fitness I think is exactly what he needs to roll the other favourite this time around.

THE DANGER - #3 - Eee Pee Cee
Eee Pee Cee has always been a solid horse for Neville Parnham and clocked an outstanding win first up last time out when racing over the 1400m a fortnight back and letting down from on the speed to win very well. Naturally it makes sense he goes out in trip now and will be tough to beat here.

VALUE BET  - #7 - Elite Fighter (ROUGHIE OF THE DAY) 
Elite fighter has looked very sharp in two runs since coming over to Rebecca Bayliss and should be around the mark here third up from a spell and making improvements as he did last run. He raced aggressively last time out over the 1200m here when just doing a bit too much and getting run off his legs to be swarmed by the exacta late. 

Selections:
#7 - Devine Belief (BEST BET) - $3.50
#9 - Rear Admiral - $5.00
#8 - Hardly Ever - $23.00
#11 - Costazita - $5.00

BEST BET - #7 - Devine Belief (BEST BET) 
I think Devine Belief is one of the better bets of the program for David Harrion after resuming two weeks ago over the 1000m and getting a good steer from Joe Azzopardi when dominantly winning. The extra 100m should be positive now as she improves with fitness and I think she just wins this.

THE DANGER - #9 - Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral is a smart horse for the Casey camp that should be hard fit here third up. She last ran three weeks ago at this track and ran on very well from a wide gate after doing heaps of early work behind a smart horse. Craig Will now gets the ride and he should have her running well.

VALUE BET - #8 - Hardly Ever
Hardly Ever is a smart mare that resumes for Simon Miller here having not raced since Mid July at Belmont when not able to do too much in the straight behind Sunny Honey. She looked to have needed the break and now comes back much more ready, off the back of two sharp trials and I think has been placed with a fair bit of intent here.

Plan on betting on the races this Saturday? Betting online is surprisingly simple these days, and our Best Bookmakers area is the simplest way to discover the best online betting sites to follow our expert’s tips.

Playup is my top selection for Racing this week as they are providing some of the best overall fixed odds amongst the Australian bookies at the moment for racing. They are also very generous, often offering a number of racing promotions such as money back in bonus bets for 2nd and 3rd for a selected runner in a race of your choosing. They cover all Australian thoroughbred racing and are quite comprehensive in their international racing markets.

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William Pike, the wizard in the West, one of the best jockeys of all time is consistently picking up winners and applying his magic touch to rides till this day and this year he has proven he still has the touch, riding over 1 in 5 rides to victory and almost one in two to place. I have outlined his whole list of bookings for tomorrow’s racing at Ascot below:

R1 - #2 - Pot Shot - $5.00
R6 - #8 - Rusty Spirit - $8.10
R7 - #9 - Wiley Girl - $7.00
R8 - #9 - Western Knight - $46.00
R9 - #12 - Revitup - $7.50
R10 - #8 - Romancing The Rock - $9.00

Ascot is a pretty tricky track and as such I have chosen runners that suit this track, generally being those close to the rail for the sprint distances and those that can settle just off the speed for the mid distance races. Follow me below for a fun bet to track over race day!

Ascot R7 - #7 - Devine Belief  - PLC  $1.60
Ascot R1 - #4 - Stormchaser - PLC $1.40
Ascot R2 - #7 - Elite Fighter - PLC $3.20

Total Odds = $7.00
$50 Stake = $350.00 Return!

Odds provided by PlayUp, sign up for a new account here to get started.

Our experts have curated a bet type information page which delves into all the different types of exotics betting, check it out for clarification on the different types of exotics betting or just to brush up on your knowledge.

Ascot Racecourse Trifecta Tip (R7)
1st: 7, 8, 9, 11
2nd: 7, 8, 9, 11
3rd: 7, 8, 9, 11

$50 stake = 208% flexi

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If you are looking for the best promotions this week for Wednesday's racing I wouldn’t look past Unibet, often they offer odds boosts in addition to the money back promotions. Don’t forget to check your account as well for personal offers. 

Promotions often change so make sure you sign up at unibet.com.au to see what promotions are applicable to you and you may even be surprised to find some promotions that weren’t mentioned here!