Ascot: 2009 Totesport Victoria Cup Betting Preview

The seven furlong Totesport Victoria Cup will be run this Saturday at 2.15pm. BBC2 will be showing the Ascot meeting, which includes the Listed John Doyle Buckhounds Stakes.

Better still, if you can hop on the short train to Ascot, general admission is only £15 and you can join in the Festival of Wine for only a fiver.

The race serves as an introduction to this season’s top handicappers, and usually brings together a mix of sprinters and milers.

The weather will be sunny and the going should be good to firm.

The last two winners have come from stall 14, but this year Beaver Patrol carries top weight.

In the last five years, 14/1 Wise Dennis was the biggest price winner in 2007. Let’s take a look at the market leaders:

6/1 Prescription

Seb Sanders rides the likely favourite for Sir Mark Prescott, in the colours of the Cheveley Park Stud.

Fillies don’t have a great record in this race and she was turned over at 4/7 in September. The daughter of Pivotal is drawn in 18 and has shot up in the ratings. She may have wintered well, but I’m very keen to take on this favourite.

NON RUNNER. A shame we couldn’t take her on.

8/1 Evens And Odds

Dandy Nicholls is another trainer in form, but Evens and Odds has never won at Ascot before. He won a handicap over six furlongs at HQ, but the handicapper has been a bit harsh. Up 6lbs and I’d expect that to be too much.

12/1 Zaahid

Last year’s winning 5/1 joint favourite won’t have the benefit of Richard Hills (pictured), but the five years olds cannot be ruled out according to the stats. I don’t need to tell readers that trainer Barry Hills is in form, because we said the same last week, before he took the 1000 Guineas and Chester Cup.

Zaahid finished second in this year’s Lincoln, but looks exposed near the top of the handicap.

16/1 Trafalgar Bay

Won at this course over a mile last month, also drawn low. He has been penalised for that success, but he has twice won at the course before. His seven furlong record isn’t great, but he has a 5lb claimer on board.

14/1 We’ll Come

Fourth in last year’s race from a similar stall. He travelled well that day and hit 2/1 in-running on the exchanges. He has only won once in 16 career starts, but he should make the frame off a good weight.

16/1 Blue Sky Basin

The talented Ahmed Ajtebi claims 3lb, but Godolphin only have a 12% strike rate this year in the UK.

20/1 Fishforcompliments

Finds winning difficult but ran a blinder to finish second to Mister Hardy at 18/1 on his reappearance. Seven furlongs is probably too sharp for him, but at the weights he looks to hold a good each-way chance.

Freddie Tylicki carries our money and he is more than capable.

In 1999, Great News won this with a 5lb claimer on board – Adrian Nicholls.

FRIDAY UPDATE: Fishforcompliments is now a 16/1 chance, having had the Newcastle form boosted by Mister Hardy at the Chester May Meeting. Still a generous price.