Our star daily duo Rory Delargy and David Massey mark your card for today's racing and have a couple of Ascot selections.
Racing betting tips: Friday December 19
1pt e.w. The Gray Ghost in 12:40 Ascot at 9/2 (General 1/4 1,2,3) – min 4/1
1pt e.w. Moab in 14:25 Ascot at 40/1 (bet365 1/5 1,2,3,4,5) – 4 places acceptable, min 28/1
12:40 Ascot
Robbie Llewellyn has saddled two winners from his last three runners and THE GRAY GHOST is handicapped to go very close here. A winner over 2½m as a novice at Newcastle, he’s shaped well several times in handicaps and the assessor has given him a chance by dropping him for a couple of excusable efforts this term.
His saddles slipped on the first of them at Kelso, which is self-explanatory, and after staying on well for fourth in a better-class handicap at Aintree in October, he found the drop to a sharp two miles all against him at Wincanton last time, having had wind surgery between runs. Once again, he was making late gains at Wincanton and the return to further on his second start since that breathing operation should ensure he’s seen at his best now.
13:15 Ascot
Off The Jury was a frustrating horse to follow last season when often looking to be taking the mickey out of owner/rider David Maxwell, and there is no doubt that he should have won at least once, but it’s a blessing in disguise for new connections that he keeps that maiden status for the season ahead. He actually finished behind Big Ticket when the pair clashed over C&D last month, but he wasn’t suited by the race developing into a relative test of speed, and his excellent second in the EBF Final at Sandown shows what he’s capable of.
Off The Jury will be ridden by James Bowen for brother Mickey here, and they will be determined to get his head in front with the view to kicking on to better things. They have found a deeper race than the one he was beaten in last time, in truth, but it’s also one that ought to be run at a more generous gallop, and that should allow class to come to the fore.
13:50 Ascot
Excelero has won at 2m2½f but raced too freely without his usual hood over 2½m at Worcester on his chase debut (jumped well) and looked suited by the return to two miles when beating Mister Cessna by 9½ lengths at Warwick last time. That was a three-runner contest and some will assume the form is flimsy, but Excelero set a fair gallop and outjumped his rivals to win with something up his sleeve. I think he deserves full credit for beating a progressive gelding (Mister Cessna went into Warwick on a hat-trick and was beaten on merit) and with the headgear back on last time and retained now, he can cement that positive impression against more exposed rivals.
Jane Williams continues in excellent form with four winners and two seconds from her last ten runners, and there are few yards in better form at present.
14:25 Ascot
Let It Rain has been hard to train but has always had a big home reputation and was a leading bumper performer in 2023/24 when missing the big festivals. She won easily on her second hurdles start at Wetherby a year ago and has been given an opening mark of 120, which Dan Skelton has described as “acceptable”, although I suspect he’s happier with that that his response might suggest. The tricky thing is that she was reported to have cut into a tendon when winning at Wetherby and it’s never easy to know whether any horse will come back 100% from such an injury. The betting is likely to guide, but she will take up a chunk of the market in any case, and might provide some each-way value.
Henrietta Knight has only had two winners since the end of October, but her horses have been running really well, as a further nine seconds would testify, and MOAB looks seriously overpriced at 40/1 here.
A fine second on his return from a break at Fontwell last month, he finished 20 lengths ahead of Game Colours, who was herself placed in a competitive mares’ handicap at Cheltenham last week. Moab then travelled well before failing to see out 2½m at Southwell and will clearly appreciate a return to shorter. That run is easy to forgive and no doubt the reason why the firms have been dismissive, but he’s essentially progressive and capable of winning a handicap at two miles when conditions aren’t too testing. Rain on Thursday won’t have helped, but it was good to soft at Fontwell and he’s worth risking at the odds.
15:08 Uttoxeter
Martin Keighley has his horses in good order at present and I’ve been waiting for his Osterberg to get a mark, having always looked a handicap project. He’s a giant of a horse and will have taken plenty of time both to get fit and learn the job, and although well beaten at Ffos Las last time out, that’s form that’s worked out well, with a few in front of him confirming the strength of it since.
He looks a stayer, so this test in deep ground should suit, and despite some poor-looking form figures, he can do better today. We’re already down to the dead eight runners, so if they all go to post, he’d be worth a small each-way interest, but betting each way for only two places is madness, and another defection turns it into no-bet territory.
Preview posted 09:44 GMT on 19/12/25
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