Barbican to defy topweight at Ascot
By Stephen, bettingexpert.com | Edited
Email: 
Twitter: @Stephenh61
Google+: Stephen Harris
Alan Bailey's Barbican can give weight away all round to land Ascot's Gl Events Owen Brown Handicap at 2.50 this afternoon.
The 4-y-o had a steadily progressive profile in 2011, scoring twice in listed company including over 1m6f at this venue. He showed much better signs this term when third at Newmarket on his latest start, and will relish the rapidly quickening surface after two hot, drying days. Richard Hughes is an eyecatching booking for the small yard, and he can produce this quality type in the closing stages despite the burden of ten stone.
Main danger for the £20,000 prize money may come from Rock a Doodle Doo. The William Jarvis trained 5-y-o landed a competitive course and distance handicap in 2011 and returned to form this term when scoring at Kempton last time out. He has more on his plate now upped 5lb by the handicapper, but remains a leading contender under the excellent Paul Hanagan.
Tropical Beat hails from the in-form John Gosden yard and is another with a clear chance on the book. He came back to winning ways when scoring in a 1m2f handicap at Kempton and followed up with a good second off a career-high mark last time up. The 4-y-o appears to be going the right way now and this marked step up in trip seems sure to suit on run-style.
Parlour Games is one to watch in the betting after 107 days on the sidelines. He landed the valuable Melrose at York and posted a good second in a listed event at Kempton in 2011, and a poor run is best excused on his seasonal reappearance in April. He promises to be sharper now, dropping back down in trip with the Mahmood Al Zarooni stable in much better form.
Fattsotta has run consistently without winning in his last three starts and may be firmly in the grip of the assesor, while Willing Foe made need a few runs to reach optimum fitness after 260 days away from the racecourse.
Perhaps the unexposed Rawaki will outrun his price for those looking away from the front of the market. He is very lightly raced, with just three career starts to date, and overcame greenness to land an 1m1f Wolverhampton maiden on his sole start in 2011. The 4-y-o was still raw on his seasonal return, but shaped well when setting a steady pace in a warm Windsor handicap last time out, and could easily step forward receiving weight all round upped in grade here.
In summary, a fiercely competitive handicap with the layers offering around 6-1 the field this morning. Barbican has a touch of class and shaped as though nearing his peak last time. At around 10-1 this morning he is well worth a decent each-way investment.
Stephen's Sunday Nap Kings Wharf 2.25 Newton Abbot
Keep track of Stephen's Daily Nap's on our BettingExpert Daily Naps page.
Enter our £5,000 Horse Racing Tipping Competition. It's on now sponsored by Betfred.
Follow Stephen on Twitter :@stephenh61
You must be logged in to post a comment! Sign up + or log in in the top right corner.
| 
|