3 minute read

We head back to Ascot with the Easingwold Stakes the feature of the day.

After a teriffic Perth Cup on New Year's Day, we return to Ascot on Saturday with the Easingwold Stakes the feature event.

Progressive gelding Starry Heights looks to make it seven wins on the trot as he steps up in grade, opening up favourite in the 11 horse field. 

Vast Art does have the ratings/ability to match Starry Heights, but has been crueled by bad barriers (or tactics) his past couple of outings, leaving himself with far too much to do late in the race.

He may need a touch of luck Vast Art, but if things do fall his way, he's going well enough to knock off the current favourite.

To the best bet of the day, which comes up in Race 7 in CAPTAIN PLUTO.

The son of Savabeel was trending in a similar way last campaign when going from 1800m to 2025m and winning fourth-up at Cranbourne, before going on to contest the South Australian Derby.

His ratings this time in have improved with every run and now fourth-up and out in distance, he looks ready to peak again and notch up his first win since joining Grant and Alana Williams.

The four-year-old has gotten a long way back in his runs since arriving in WA, having settled much closer earlier in his career.

With what appears a lack of tempo on Saturday and Pike hopping back in the saddle, the pair may be able to inject themself into the race from the outset and prove too strong for his rivals.

We're banking on the fact he can show similar improvement to last campaign, and if he can do just that, he should be able to get the job done on Saturday.

Struggled to find any value runners on the program with the early markets almost in line with what the Racing and Sports ratings are saying, but FLURO NEURO in race 7 is an Entire open to further improvement.

Another Grant and Alana Williams runner I know, but when they're striking at 30% from their last 50 runners (up from 23% their last 350), you want to be finding their horses.

The son of Gingerbread Man ran right over the top of his rivals over 1200m last time out and a read of the sectionals there suggested he wasn't stopping close to the line.

Racing and Sports ratings show a big jump with that victory and his racing pattern/sectional analysis suggests the extra furlong won't pose an issue.

Back to a 1 Metro Win does see him rise to the top of the weights, but much like Captain Pluto, we're backing him on the basis that he can improve again out in distance.

The Best From The West

Best Bet: Race 6 Number 5 CAPTAIN PLUTO @ $3.20 with bet365.

Next Best: Race 7 Number 1 FLURO NEURO @ $3.60 with bet365.

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