3.45pm Ascot Tips & Betting Preview 30/09/2016

The feature race on Friday’s Ascot card is a Listed race for 3yos over 1m6f. Read our horse-by-horse race preview for our experts’ betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: Platitude produced an excellent performance to win a Goodwood Listed event by 5l just over a month ago and makes plenty of appeal here, but he takes on some interesting rivals and opening quotes at around 6/4 don’t tempt. Dermot Weld’s one-raced maiden winner Aydoun falls into the “could be anything” category and 1,000 Guineas fourth Fireglow could also give the favourite plenty to think about if back on song, However, there is some value in ALYSSA, who clearly wasn’t herself when well beaten in a Doncaster Group 2 on her latest outing but completed a hat-trick in lesser company beforehand. The speed figure she recorded when making all in a Salisbury handicap last month suggests she can make a splash in Pattern company soon.

1 Platitude – Runner-up in a hot handicap at Royal Ascot (1m4f, soft) in June and bounced back from a disappointing performance at Glorious Goodwood when winning Listed event by 5l back at Goodwood (1m6f, good to firm) last month; might still be improving and is a leading contender here.

2 Aydoun – Has a good pedigree and easily justified heavy market support when winning a Listowel maiden (1m4f, heavy) on debut a fortnight ago; represents a highly respected Irish stable and could have a very good future.

3 The Tartan Spartan – Won a Thirsk maiden (1m4f, soft) on debut in April and subsequent seventh in the Listed Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot (2m, good to soft) was very respectable; soundly beaten in the St Leger this month, though, and others have more pressing claims.

4 Fireglow – Well beaten in the  Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks on latest outing but began the season with very creditable fourth in the 1,000 Guineas and was a convincing winner in Listed company at Newmarket (1m4f, good) in July; will be a tough nut to crack if back on song and suited by this step up in trip.

5 Alyssa – Well beaten when upped to Group 2 company for the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster this month but became upset in the stalls that day and not much went right for her; had previously looked very progressive, winning  a maiden and two run-of-the-mill handicaps in good style, and there’s still every chance she can make her mark at this sort of level.

6 Great And Small – Displayed improvement to win her maiden at Chester (1m4f, good) in July, her third start, and posted another good effort when runner-up on handicap debut at Newmarket (1m5f, good to firm) last month; was running off a BHA mark of 77 that day, though, and a big leap forward is needed to pose a threat in this company.

7 Novalina – Disappointed when favourite for last month’s handicap debut but fared much better when winning a Class 4 event by 6l at Musselburgh (1m6f, good) three weeks ago; that form is well below the required standard here but her pedigree offers significant hope she has a lot more to offer.

myracing Forecast Prices: 6/4 Platitude, 11/4 Aydoun, 9/2 Fireglow, 8/1 Alyssa, 10/1 Novalina, 20/1 The Tartan Spartan, 33/1 Great And Small