Saturday Racing Tips: Back Justice Day to lay down the law at Ascot

I know plenty of punters who will view the Shergar Cup as a good excuse to ignore racing and concentrate their cash on Saturday's rugby union internationals, and I can definitely see where they are coming from.

Luckily - or not, depending on the results - I am happy to multi-task and punt on both sports, and my Ascot hit-list starts with Justice Day in the opener at 12:55 at odds of 8.07/1.

I personally will be keeping stakes pretty low at Ascot, though, for reasons I will come to shortly.

Somewhat bizarrely this is Justice Day's handicap debut on his 27th start, but he makes it from a very fair mark.

He is rated 104 and that underestimates the merit of some of his Group race efforts, notably his second to Goldream in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket in May, and he certainly didn't run badly when beaten only three lengths into midfield behind Muthmir at Goodwood last week.

Add in his track form - he won over course and distance in October last season - and we have a decent bet on our hands.

However, one little moan or reservation as regards betting on this event.

At the time of writing Secretinthepark is still in the opener but is also declared to run in the 20:25 at Newmarket on Friday night, so we don't know the make-up of the field, and the first reserve Indescribable would be a big player back over 5f after a good run over 6f at Goodwood last week. And the second reserve Midlander is also entered in the last.

And, on a wider point for punters, the reserves can come into the races up to 45 minutes before the off, so you have to keep your eyes peeled.

***

Communicator, third in the 1m4f handicap on this card last season, was my fancy for the 13:30, but I was expecting a bigger price to be honest.

And I flirted rather heavily with My Spirit in the 14:05 on account that she has slipped to a decent mark and the step back up to 1m4f will suit.

And the form of the William Haggas stable at the moment - his recent placings going into Friday's racing were 221222111 - is something else. But Innocent Touch is the chief among a number of serious rivals in the race, so I'll pass.

***

I do like Master The World in the 14:40 and hopefully he can give David Elsworth a double in the card at 8.07/1.

I'd be inclined to totally ignore his Goodwood run last week - things didn't go his way and he wasn't given a hard race at all - and if you do then he comes into this race as a progressive horse.

He won well over 1m2f previously and prior to that had plenty of solid 1m handicap form, so the step back down to this trip isn't a negative. And Pat Smullen is very definitely a positive. I think he'll go close.

***

Perestroika is my idea of the right favourite in the 15:15, but I will chuck a few quid in Baitha Alga in the 15:50 at the far bigger odds of 15.014/1.

He completely lost the plot after winning the Norfolk Stakes here last season, and failed to beat a horse home in his next three starts.

But there was far more promise in his effort on soft ground at Newmarket last time - he momentarily looked like taking a hand in the finish after 2f out - and back on faster ground and down to a mark of 100 then he has chances of causing an upset.

If his does win, then expect his Qatar-based trainer, successful with Dubday at Goodwood, to again be making bullish noises about UK raids en masse next season.

***

Sennockian Star can run the odd stinker but I think double-figure odds underestimates his chances of going one better in the race he finished second in two years ago. Back him at 11.010/1 in the 14:20.

He would have disappointed those who backed him into joint-favouritism at Goodwood last week but he certainly didn't run badly in finishing seventh, beaten only three lengths, and has been dropped 1lb as a result.

That only puts him 1lb higher than when second in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot, form that is rock solid with the likes of Fire Fighting and Mount Logan - third and first respectively in that Goodwood race last week - finishing immediately behind him.

He likes to sit off the pace and try and pounce from the furlong marker and with stablemates Zand - who the handicapper has given a chance by dropping 4lb since Goodwood - and Master Of Finance sure to be to the fore, he looks set to have the run to suit.

Whether he has the form to take advantage, we shall see.

***

The Sweet Solera at 15:35 isn't really my bag from a betting point of view but Bint Al Reem is probably the most interesting in a race full of unexposed unknowns.

Her course and distance maiden win came in a good time and the form is working out OK - the third won a maiden at Glorious Goodwood - and he represents Godolphin, who won this race for five year's running before Winter's Moon could only finish third when favourite last season.

The filly had clearly been showing plenty at home to start at 6/4 on her debut but Charlie Appleby's juveniles do tend to come on a good deal for their initial run - Mansfield the most recent example at Brighton on Wednesday - and she could see off this field.

But this is very much a guessing game, and I'm not playing.


Recommended Bets

Back Justice Day at 8.07/1 in the 12:55 at Ascot
Back Sennockian Star at 11.010/1 in the 14:20 at Haydock
Back Master The World at 8.07/1 in the 14:40 at Ascot
Back Baitha Alga at 15.014/1 in the 15:50 at Ascot