By Carl Harris
There will be many punters chasing the Christmas money on Saturday with the card at Ascot presenting a minefield of opportunities.
The clash of the day was the Long Walk Hurdle where Big Buck’s and Diamond Harry were to square up to see who is the best staying hurdler. In the red corner is the undisputed champion from the Paul Nicholls camp and in the blue corner the young pretender, Diamond Harry, who has looked highly impressive. Sadly the weather has taken the Ascot card, leaving a depressing day of racing. I will not get heavily involved today.
Here are my best bets for Saturday.
14:30 Lingfield, Tranquil Tiger- Win. With no Ascot and weather chaos all over the place I have one bet for you on the all-weather at Lingfield. Tranquil Tiger won a listen contest last time over course and distance and should serve up another win for Henry Cecil and Tom Queally. He is the class act on show and hopefully will provide some profit on an otherwise depressing cold winters day.
One bet for Saturday 19 December
- 14:30 Lingfield, Tranquil Tiger- Win
Ascot is now off. Here is what I was going to suggest at Ascot;
14:05 Ascot, Bgc Long Walk Hurdle, Big Bucks- Win. I love Diamond Harry but when it came down to it at Cheltenham last year he was just found a bit short. That said he may have improved but faces a mountain to overcome Big Bucks on level weights. Paul Nicholls summed this up very well on TV the other day. “We know Big Buck’s is the best staying hurdler around and if Diamon Harry beats him it is becuase he is better”. That is the bottom line and the official ratings say that Diamond Harry will need to improve eleven pounds to beat the World Hurdle Winner. As much as I would love to see Harry win, Big Buck’s is genuine class and should prove it today. Diamond Harry to chase him home is not a bad forecast. If the prices are right I will back Diamond Harry for a place.
McCoy rides for Jonjo O'Neil on Get Me Out Of Here
14:40 Ascot, Ladbroke Hurdle, Get Me Out Of Here- Win and Place. Another hot pot from the Paul Nicholls camp will start as favourite, Pepe Simo is a decent horse too. Regular readers will know that I have been a hug advocate of Get Me Out Of Here since he won his bumper so impressively in May. At Newbury I thought he was very well treated on a mark of 123. I said he was a 135 horse and I take some satisfaction in seeing his mark now raised to 135. I have said all along that he is a very good horse and today he gets the chance to show just that with Tony McCoy aboard. We will get another good price, a win and place bet at excellent value. I think he has a serious chance of winning and has been underestimated once again in the market. A win and place bet is my best of the day. If this comes in it will be a Merry Christmas.
Carl Harris’ Best Bets for Saturday 19 December
- 14:05 Ascot, Bgc Long Walk Hurdle, Big Bucks- Win
- 14:40 Ascot, Ladbroke Hurdle, Get Me Out Of Here- Win and Place
