Rory Delargy is at the helm for today's Punting Pointers and he has three bets at Ascot.
Racing betting tips: Friday May 1
1pt win Tabletalk in the 14:35 Ascot at 11/2 (Ladbrokes) – min 5/1
1pt win Coppull in the 15:10 Ascot at 13/2 (General) – min 11/2
1pt win La Botte in the 15:45 Ascot at 5/1 (Bet365) – min 9/2
14:35 Ascot - Longines Sagaro Stakes (Group 3) 1m7f209y
After an enjoyable stop-off at Punchestown, UK racing takes centre stage again on Friday and a pair of Group races make for an intriguing card at Ascot. The Sagaro looks a tricky betting heat with Sweet William the pick on form after his second in the British Champions Long Distance Cup. He’s now a seven-year-old, though, and may prove vulnerable, particularly in a tactical contest.
TABLETALK and Tarriance were separated by a neck when second and third in the Red Sea Turf Cup in Riyadh earlier this year, but the former was conceding 11lb in Saudi and now must give his old rival just 1lb which makes his chance of confirming the form obvious. Both are previous winners of the Melrose Stakes at York and are capable of better still as stayers, but Tabletalk is the pick of the weights and is taken to score a first win since his Melrose triumph in 2024.
15:10 Ascot - Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes (Group 3) 6f
The weights and measures brigade can have their say again as the market may have got it wrong in terms of Wise Approach, who must concede a penalty for his win over Brussels and COPPULL in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket in the autumn. On that occasion, Wise Approach beat Richmond Stakes winner Coppull by three-parts of a length at level weights but must give that pair 4lb here, and while he can be considered a leading candidate for the Commonwealth Cup, he’s likely to be better for this return and looks opposable in the conditions.
Brussels and Coppull are closely matched on Middle Park form having been separated by just a short head at Newmarket, and the question is which is most likely to have progressed from two to three. Brussels has since run well in defeat in the Cornwallis Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint over five furlongs and the feeling is that he might be best suited by the minimum trip, particularly on a stiff track. Coppull is proven over C&D, with his third to Gstaad in the Coventry Stakes holding up well, and his only below-par run came in the Prix Morny. His stable is in fair form, and he was a winner on debut as a juvenile, so is expected to be ready for this challenge on his return and offers good value at the prices.
15:45 Ascot - Memberships At Ascot Paradise Stakes (Listed) 1m
LA BOTTE disappointed on yielding ground in the Lincoln but is probably better on a sound surface and it’s worth remembering the promise of his return at Wolverhampton when rattling home from a poor position and he ran his best race as a three-year-old when just touched off in the Britannia Stakes over C&D. This appears a step up on paper but he’s already shown he has the talent to win at this level and is clearly suited by conditions. Backers will hope he’s ridden a bit closer to the pace than has been the case on either start this season but Jamie Spencer has often found the straight track at Ascot a happy hunting ground and the nature of the track certainly suits his preferred style of riding, frustrating as that can sometimes be for his followers.
Preview posted at 09:57 BST on 01/05/26
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