Trap For Fools wins the Towton Cup at Ascot, on December 9.

Key Runners: Ascot - Wednesday 20 December

Expected Weather: Fine and 29

Expected Track Rating: Good 4

Rail position: 15m


Race 1: 1.19pm – Peacock Bros Maiden (1,000m) - Bet With TABtouch

1 SHACKLETON a $1.35 million yearling formerly with Gai Waterhouse. Has been gelded and trialled nicely.

 

2 ROGER THE DODGER tough effort when 3/4L off I Needa Cardy at Bunbury. Fitter now.


3 GINGER COOKIE not asked to do much in recent trial. Drawn nicely.


4 MEGALUCRE trialled okay. Double figure gate not ideal.


5 MEGATALK hard to make much of trial. Happy to watch.


6 IN THE BOOT took on some handy ones last prep. Nice gate, can return well.


7 REZEDA 6yo who has had just the three starts. Concussion plates go on.


8 MISS UNFORGETTABLE pushed along in most recent trial. Happy to see debut.


9 SECONDA VITA trialled well and can kickoff career with promise.

 

10 CHISANO showed good turn of foot in sole 400m trial. Can debut well from barrier two.


11 PRINCESS TARA resumes. Produced a sharp 4L trial win leading in to this. Drawn well.


Selections: 1-11-2-10

 



Race 2: 1.54pm – Magic Millions Handicap (1,100m) - Bet With TABtouch


1 DOUBLE THE PRO should go forward from wide gate and give a sight.


2 INFILTRATOR first starter and recent trial winner. Jarrad Noske rides from barrier three.


3 OKINA KURI good effort at Pinjarra. Has fitness edge being third-up.


4 PATRISTIC debuts. Beat home She’s No Angel in sole trial leading in.


5 TWENTYTHREE RED trial was solid. Bred to enjoy trip so 1100m may be too short.


6 YINDI trial time a fair bit slower than Patristic. Also draws poorly. Not keen on early price.


7 WEE CENT drawn wide and will get back but showed promise last campaign.


8 ALL SQUARE resumes. Debut run at Belmont in June was good. Clicked along in trial. One of the chances here.


9 MYSTERY AFFAIR ran in behind two handy ones as a 2yo. Not the worst.


10 PERCEPTIVE MISS debuts. Trialled nicely behind Princess Tara and has drawn well in four.

 

11 SHE’S NO ANGEL debutant and stablemate to Perceptive Miss. Had three trials coming in and should get favours from gate five.


12 ZING BANG WOP lost rider last start. Place claims.

 

13 ZARISKA debuts. No public trial. Market watch.


14 PICASSO BAY scratched.


Selections: 10-11-4-2



Race 3: 2.29pm – Amelia Park Lamb Handicap (1,400m) - Bet With TABtouch

 

1 KIA ORA STAR smart 4yo resuming. Ran well in three of four runs last preparation. Looks a level above these.


2 JELANI EXPRESS scratched.


3 RED ARMY has looked sharp in two career starts to date. Still learning. Blinkers on. Can challenge.


4 HUMANITY scorched home late to finish 2.5L off It’s Got It All at Pinjarra. 1000m to 1400m suits and should have come on second-up now.


5 COLONEL JESSEP debuts. Prefer to watch.

 

6 CITY STAR good effort in 3L defeat to Klondike Kenny. Has fitness on side.


7 MARCHIGIANO good win in soft company last start. This is tougher.


8 AFLICA’S GIRL positives in run behind War Room at Bunbury. Each-way.


9 FROSTY HEART debut was okay. Tougher here, plus awkward draw.


10 SHADABLAZE prefer others.

 

Selections: 1-3-4-6




Race 4: 3.10pm – Get The TABtouch Handicap (1,800m) - Bet With TABtouch

 

1 SENSO midweek Ascot winner last Wednesday. Benefits from the claim again and barrier three.


2 AMALIEMOO ran home really well last start behind Senso. Can turn the tables.


3 GREAT AGAIN super run when 3/4L off Wrinkly. That horse is a subsequent winner. Down in grade, looks talented and should go close.


4 DUSHA ZACHISTKI outclassed by Touch Of Silver last start. Nice draw but place chance.

 

5 RULING ANGEL plenty of positives in 2.5L defeat to Touch Of Silver. Another down in grade, but will need luck from draw.

 

6 TIME TO HUNT honest effort at Muswellbrook. Would need to find, but has run well this track/distance twice this campaign.


7 PRYING TOM scratched.


8 DAISY EXPRESS won well at Mt Barker. Tough race but 34’s looks massive overs. Place chance.


9 ROJO CALOR just even again behind Queen Bey.

 

Selections: 3-1-2-5




Race 5: 3.45pm – Oaten & Wheaten Premium Glenroy Chaff Handicap (1,500m) - Bet With TABtouch

 

1 RICH RED toyed with rivals at Pinjarra. Suffers from wide barrier again but claim assists again and should be in it for a long way.


2 CAPPO D’ORO likely to enjoy further than 1500m on offer.


3 DISCO METAL needed first-up run at Bunbury. Should improve but likely to find a few here too good.

 

4 NO SAY IN IT competitive again when 1.5L off Touch Of Silver. Needs luck from the gate, but drops considerably in class and should be ready to win third-up.


5 BLACKBEEL poor last start with no explanation. Expect better but still will be outclassed.

 

6 LEITFADEN numbers this prep don’t read well but late splits have been solid. Third-up and can improve sharply.


7 THE BLUE NIPPER back in grade but will need luck from sticky gate.


8 REMUNERATOR quickest last 600m when 3L off Blackline at Pinjarra. Should be closing late.


9 FREMOND going with others.


10 MEDOM hard to have on recent runs.


11 SCARLET SPEEDSTER not on form.


12 CLASSY CAT not here.


13 RETOSONA scratched.


Selections: 4-1-8-6




Race 6: 4.20pm – Glenroy Chaff – Kevin & Max Smith Handicap (1,600m) - Bet With TABtouch

 

1 JUST LIKE THAT scratched.

 

2 FULL DISCLOSURE broke maiden comfortably at Ascot last Wednesday. This is a step up but is drawn to get favours.

 

3 SUMMIT TRAIL led and fought on gamely when 1.5L behind Missile Launch at Pinjarra. Should give a sight.


4 HE’S PACKING luckless last start. Can fill a placing here.


5 JOYOUS AFFAIR needed first-up run at Bunbury. Looks tested.


6 LEXDEN EXPRESS still a maiden. Looking elsewhere.


7 MY NAUGHTY BLONDE no luck last start behind Duck Feet. At best can be a threat.


8 HAYA second career start enormous when 3L off War Room in Listed Sir Ernest Lee Steere Classic. Wide draw stings but big chance.


9 BELLE WINTER prefer others.


10 QUIET WHISPER positives and negatives in first-up run. If there’s a surprise, it could be her.


11 SALVAGED hasn’t placed since November 2016.


12 SILVER ROLLER recent form just okay. Likely to be outgunned by a handful.


Selections: 8-2-3-4



Race 7: 5.00pm – A.T.A Stakes – (2,200m) - Bet With TABtouch

 

1 ZARANTZ 3.5L off Trap For Fools but produced quickest last 600m in Listed Towton Cup. Building nicely at run number four this prep.


2 TRAP FOR FOOLS chasing six wins in a row. Up in weight but simply can’t jump off on recent form. Alan Kennedy replaces Douglas Whyte.


3 BOLLYWOOD BLITZ disappointing last start. Place best.


4 COULEUR BIZARRE will find this tough.


5 DARK ALERT plain behind Trap For Fools in Tatts Cup. Place.


6 DARK MUSKET chased hard in 3L defeat to Trap For Fools. Like many in this, gains 3kg weight swing on that horse and can close the gap.


7 JUICING CARROTS ran well in 1L defeat to First Affair last start. Place looks best however.


8 MOSSERATTI another who performed nicely behind First Affair. Place.


9 NOT AGAIN KEN was poor last start. Not figuring off that effort.

10 ROYAL STAR second quickest last 600m outside of winner in G1 Kingston Town Classic. May need run at the distance here but is full of class.


11 SHINTA MANI midfield finishes a theme this prep. Going with others.


12 SUNSET SUPERMAN scratched.

 

Selections: 2-10-1-6




Race 8: 5.40pm – Glenroy Chaff Premium Hay Bales Handicap (1,200m) - Bet With TABtouch

 

1 PARIS TEXAS tough win first-up at Pinjarra. Sticky gate, but would be surprised if not in the finish.


2 PRESENTATIE resumes. Not asked to do much in trial. Should return well.


3 THE GOSPEL SIN wide throughout in 3/4L defeat to Paris Texas. Draws gate 11 but should also be close to full fitness fourth-up.


4 MAJESTIC MAN below best second-up at Pinjarra. Needs to lift.


5 COUNT TOMOZ OFF been racing well and can have impact. Draw hurts.


6 FAIR NAKITA scratched.


7 BUSHFIRE BLONDE impressive last prep. Another who suffers from a horror gate though. Each-way.


8 STOCKYARD GOSSIP pen through last start. Better draw here. One to consider for quaddie players.


9 TURBO POWER been running against best 3yo’s in Perth. Bit of an unknown in this. Sure to find it easier however.


10 LUCKY LEGACY short neck off Paris Texas last start. Draws outside that runner here so will need luck, but peaking fourth-up.

 

11 ORANGE STRUDEL blocked for a run the majority of the straight when 3.5L off Santiago Gal last Wednesday. Draws barrier two again and should run well.


12 IT’S GOT IT ALL two wins from two starts to date. Steps up again but draws rail and can run well.


13 SOUNDCHECK (E1) frustrating last six weeks. Needs luck from 10 alley but wouldn’t shock if able to turn things around.


14 DOLLY EM (E2) looks tested.


15 SLIK SAM (E3) poorly drawn. Hard to have if gets a run.


16 WEST FIFTY FOURTH (E4) unlikely to get a start but going by debut win in June, would be a live chance in this if could.


Selections: 1-10-3-11