Antepost Racing Tips: Two to back at 50/1 and 14/1 for Saturday's Victoria Cup

Saturday, 14:20, Ascot, Carey Group Victoria Cup - Back Room Service EW @ 50/151.00

Saturday's Handicap highlight of this fixture is always the famous old Victoria Cup and, with a maximum of 29 to sort from the current 49 declarations, it reminds me of the old saying: "The hand that wears the boxing glove cannot lift the vol-au-vent." This is tough.

It took me a while to find Heathcliff in the betting, way down at 33/134.00, which for a horse of his ability is way off, but he is double-entered with a Listed race at Haydock perhaps more likely.

Room Service is another high in the weights from 105 and, at 50/151.00 with this his only entry, might be worth more than a second glance.

When I fancied him for the Ayr Gold Cup in 2024, he trailed in back in 11th, but he did right that run with a good second at York and a win that year at Doncaster in the Listed Wentworth Stakes.

Last term, when trained by Kevin Ryan, he was solely campaigned at 7f and save for the runner-up spot in the Criterion Stakes (Group 3), he failed to win. At the end of last season, he was sold to new connections and departed Yorkshire for a new trainer.

Jamie Osborne won this race 12 months ago with Hickory, and on his form in Group races, I'm not sure he deserves to be as big as 50/151.00. With his hold up style of racing, a big field at a pace could suit him better.

There are obvious sticking points, one being the draw, so we have to hope for a good one on Thursday. The other doubt is whether he will be fit and ready to roll. At least Osborne had a winner in a handicap at Newmarket recently at 28/129.00, so there is a chance he could be right, and it's his first outing since being gelded in the winter.

Rain is forecast for the Friday in a dry week but he's a pretty adaptable horse with going underfoot either good to firm or soft.

Saturday, 14;20, Ascot, Carey Group Victoria Cup - Back Hickory EW @ 14/115.00

With Osborne's winner 12 months ago mentioned, Hickory at 14/115.00 is another to include.

His record at Ascot alone and our minds can recede to the joy of his runs here in 2025 with a record of two wins, a second and a third.

Hickory when landing the Victoria Cup won it fresh and first time out 12 months ago from a mark of 86. He's 10lb higher defending his crown but signed off in impressive form and could be in for another good season of races at the Royal venue.

Saffie is booked and she cajoled him home last year under a great ride. Hickory was a long way out the back with plenty of cover but made an electric move with a 5f time of a tick over 11 seconds, the fastest final furlong and the only horse to clock under 12 seconds.

Quick ground will do and expect another smuggled ride off the pace with Saffie booked up to repeat the feat.

Lingfield, 13:58, Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes - Back Italy @ 5/23.50

The one time ubiquitous and invincible trainer Charlie Appleby was rendered near useless on his own patch at the Newmarket Guineas meeting over three days, with a scarcely believable 0-10 across the meeting and just one winner from his last 25 runners at just 4%.

That equates to about 10 billion pounds spent for each individual winner if horse flesh cost is anything to go by.

I chose completely the wrong time to go with Appleby's horse in the two classics and, while both ran well to a point, it was a worry how they failed to finish off their races.

With that, I cannot entertain backing a runner from the yard at the moment and they have three entered here with Maho Bay, Del Maro and Look To The Stars.

There's a horse in here called Balzac, named after the famous French writer whose famously frugal characters would have their penny pinching skills tested to the max with these runners.

My pick here is Italy, just about one of the biggest eyecatchers from the Leopardstown card last month.

Italy ran in the Ballysax - the traditional Derby trial in Ireland - which saw Pierre Bonnard fluff his lines. Italy fluffed the starting lines too, maybe by design, conceding 10L on stalls exit and then racing too eagerly for his own good.

He was last but one turning into the straight, and also opted for the wrong part of the track to make his challenge on the inside of the group.

The pace was not stern at 104% with a finishing speed. His final furlong time was identical to the second and that was also his first attempt at beyond 1m.

He seemed to stay well enough without ever really being put into the race, and working out the seasonal debut for an Aidan O'Brien runner is not a task for the faint hearted. I put that effort down as an investigatory run and he could improve for the trip.

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