Nasri the value call in wide open Victoria Cup

By Stephen, bettingexpert.com | Published 00:00 12.05.2012

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Nasri is a tentative selection in a very competitive Betfred Victoria Cup at Ascot this afternoon.

David Nicholls 6-y-o proved a revelation for new connections in 2011, winning two valuable handicaps and finishing a creditable third in this contest. He shaped promisingly when sixth on his seasonal debut before flopping in desperate ground at Pontefract, and has the up-and-coming 7lb claimer Darren Egan in the saddle for the first time.

Main danger for the 85,000 prize may come from last year's victor Hakeyethenoo. He has been lightly raced since and features on a mark just 7lb higher than his winning one. The seven month absence may also be a positive as he has a decent record fresh, and the booking of the in-form code-switching jockey Graham Lee is a signal of intent.

Tariq Too heads the betting after winning impressively in deep ground on his first start for Amy Weaver 21 days ago. He asserted readily on the bridle in that Thirsk handicap over this trip, and a 6lb rise seems on the lenient side. However, he was well backed there and may not improve as much as expected on this second run back in a much tougher race.

Global Village has been kept typically busy since joining the astute Brian Ellison stable, and he posted a career best effort when third in a mile handicap at Newbury last time out. He will be staying on well at the death and is a solid each way alternative to our selection.

Topweight Pastoral Player got his act together last season, and showed a liking for this venue when winning a quality course and distance contest on his final start. The assesor has lumped him up to a career high mark on this return from 224 days on the sidelines, and carrying 9-10 in this ground will be no easy task first time out.

Brae Hill represents the red-hot Richard Fahey stable and sprang a 33-1 suprise when landing the William Hill Lincoln on his reappearance, prevailing by a short-head in a driving finish. He was fourth in this last season, but now features on a much higher mark and others may be less exposed this afternoon.

At a bigger price King of Jazz may outrun his odds. He went into several judge's notebooks when third over 6f on his debut for Michael Bell, travelling really strongly until lack of a recent run told in the closing stages, and he can be expected to come on a ton for that pipeopener.

In summary, a high class handicap with all the huge field having claims if at their best in the testing ground. Nasri ran abysmally last time in truly awful conditions, but is proven with cut in the past and has a good record at Ascot from higher marks. At around 20-1 this morning he is worth a small each-way interest to propel his young rider further into the limelight.

Stephen's Friday Nap Aiken 2.20 Ascot

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