Jumps racing at Ascot and Limerick

Ascot has quite a decent card today, but the fields are in some cases quite small with the ground firming up, and only 3 run in the novice chase at 15.55 CET. We expect Darna (Kim Bailey/ Jason Maguire) to get the better of Prince of Pirates (Nicky Henderson/ Tony McCoy), but there could be little in it. There could be a German-bred winner in the opening maiden hurdle at 15.20; Kruzhilin (Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies) was a good runner-up last time at Huntingdon and could go one better here. He is by Sholokhov out of a Surumu mare and fast ground should be ideal. Cortinas (Linda Jewell/ Joshua Moore) could also run well at a big price in the veterans handicap chase at 17.40. He is not the most conistent but is on a very handy mark. The jockey also has good prospexts of taking the handicap chase at 17.05 on top-weight Fix the Rib, trained by his father; he is dropping in grade here and has often run well at this track. We also like Creekside (John Ferguson/ Denis O´Reg an) in the handicap hurdle for 4yo´s at 16.30; he was easily the best of these on the flat and can profit from his superior class here.

Ascot - betting forecast:
1. Race: Daymar Bay - Kruzhlinin - Kings Bayonet
2. Race: Prince Of Pirates - Darna - Harvest Song
3. Race: Lexi`S Boy - Black Pond - Creekside
4. Race: Cool Friend - Fix The Rib - Inside Dealer
5. Race: Fabalu - Nikola - Knighton Combe
6. Race: Kasbadali - Imperial Circus - Promising Anshan
7. Race: Hoo La Baloo - I Have Dreamed - Vico



The best race at Limerick is the Grade Two novice chase at 17.50. There are only 6 runners and none of them have much experience on ground as fast as this, but logically the race lies between Frisco Depot (Dessie Hughes/ BJ Cooper) and the two Gigginstown runners Crash (Michael Hourigan/ Davy Russell) and Gates of Rome (Colm Murphy/ Robbie Power).

Limerick - betting forecast:
1. Race: Mystic Desir - Musawama - Captains Dilemma
2. Race: Silverlord - False Economy - Wilde Wit Pleasure
3. Race: Ballysteen - Scots Gaelic - Protaras
4. Race: Leceile - Little Green - Johny`S Lantern
5. Race: Frisco Depot - Gates Of Rome - Crash
6. Race: Summer Star - Knocklong - Sizing Jo`burg
7. Race: Penny`S Bill - Come To The Party - Code Of The West