Horsebetting.com experts give their three best bets for the supporting card on Sodexo Gold Cup day at Ascot on Saturday, 3 November. Shantou Rock has a good record fresh and looks the class act in the Listed 2m Byrne Group Handicap Chase, so rates the main bet. Wenyerreadyfreddie ran a cracker when runner-up last time out and is our next best punt in the 2m 2f novices’ handicap chase. Magic Dancer, meanwhile, looks a solid each-way bet in the Listed 2m Ascot Handicap Hurdle. Find out more about these horses in our our in-depth preview with Ascot betting tips for November 3.Shantou holds Rock solid claims in Byrne Group Handicap ChaseShantou Rock has a good record fresh so looks the answer to the Listed 2m Byrne Group Handicap Chase at Ascot on Saturday (14:25). This gelding hails from the in-form yard of Dan Skelton and developed into a smart novice chaser last season when winning once and finishing in the frame on four occasions.
The six-year-old could not have been more impressive when making a winning debut over the larger obstacles at Newton Abbot. He jumped for fun at the head of affairs to easily beat The Unit by nine lengths, leaving the impression that there were plenty more races to be won with him.
Shantou Rock then lost little in defeat when runner-up at Warwick and backed that up with a solid third to the useful Cyrname in the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton. He then found only the very smart Sceau Royal only two lengths too good for him in a grade 2 at Doncaster, sticking to the task well when headed and having tried to make all.
The son of Shantou went on to round off the campaign with a fine 8 1/2 lengths third to Diego Du Charmil in the Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree off an official rating of 148. He now makes his handicap debut off the same mark.
It makes Shantou Rock look potentially ahead of the assessor, especially as he looks the type who will strengthen up significantly this season. With just five rivals taking him on, there is every chance that he is also likely to get an uncontested lead in this.
That is going to make this bold jumping front-runner extremely difficult to peg back, so Shantou Rock is fully expected to take this en route to better things. Thus he had to be the standout bet on the card in our Ascot betting tips for November 3.Wenyerreadyfreddie weighted to strikeIn the 2m 2f novices’ limited handicap chase (13:50), Wenyerreadyfreddie looks to hold leading claims of opening his account over the larger obstacles at the third time of aking. This Nicky Hendersonm trained seven-year-old was a decent hurdler who posted a much improved effort over fences last time out when runner-up at Uttoxeter to Lil Rockerfeller.
The son of Beneficial set a strong pace and attemped to make all in the hands of Nico de Boinville. He dug deep when challenged strongly after two from home and, after getting headed at the last, only weakened late on to be beaten just 1 1/2 lengths.
Lil Rockfeller, whom he met on level weights, was rated higher 23lb higher than him over hurdles and has gone on to win again since at Cheltenham by four lengths to be get a chase mark of 153. The pair also pulled 13 lengths clear of the third home, so that gives the form a really solid look.
It was a cracking effort by Wenyerreadyfreddie against such a highly talented rival and, if taken at face value, makes him look absolutely thrown in at the weights in this off an opening chase mark of 130.
Wenyerreadyfreddie also remains open to stacks more improvement in this sphere, and a repeat of his last effort should be more than good enough to see him come home in front. He therefore rates our next best bet on the seven-race card.Magic Dancer looks just the trick each-wayMagic Dancer ran a cracker when runner-up at Cheltenham eight days ago and looks a solid each-way betting proposition in the Listed 2m Handicap Hurdle (15:00). The six-year-old showed much improved form last season after joining Kerry Lee, winning on three occasions.
The last of those successes came at Cheltenham, where he sluiced clear to land a competitive 15-runner amateur riders’ handicap hurdle by six lengths off a mark of 124. Magic Dancer got put up to 128 for that victory but, following wind surgery, looked better than ever when a four-length second of 16 to Storm Rising on his return to action at Prestbury Park.
Although no match for the very easy winner, the son of Norse Dancer stuck to the task well and finished the race off really strongly. The winner, who won doing cartwheels, has since gone on to win again in ready fashion at Wetherby and was clearly a handicap blot.
So, given that Magic Dancer is able to race in this off an unchanged mark, it makes him look ahead of the assessor. It’s therefore no surprise to see connections turn him out quickly before the handicapper has his say. Providing the race doesn’t come to soon, it’s hard to seem Magic Dancer not making the frame at the very least and he actually has a very good chance of winning, so also features among our Ascot betting tips for November 3.Your Next Bet
