Placepot Pointers

12.40

GOTHEREINTHEEND, runner-up in a Warwick maiden hurdle for Laura Horsfall in May when we last saw her, looks interesting on her debut for Robbie Llewellyn, who landed this race 12 months ago. Her in-form handler has a respectable record at the first time of asking with horses he takes over from other yards, especially with thoses wearing a tongue-tie (Gotthereintheend wears one for the first time today). Having won over 2m5f at Kempton on his penultimate start it was an odd move to drop CIRCUIT BREAKER back to 1m7.5f at Haydock last time where he could only finish a modest third. Today’s 2m7.5f distance could prove ideal and his trainer has won this twice in recent years. With seven runners and only two Placepot positions to play for I want a third selection in the perm in the shape of THANK YOU MA’AM. Paul Nicholls’ five-year-old remains a maiden after 11 starts but has finished second in six of them.
1 Thank You Ma’am
2 Circuit Breaker
6 Gotthereintheend

1.15

The Ventia Williams-trained GALOP DE CHASSE has form figures on right-handed tracks of 21324123 (2-8) and looks an obvious Placepot inclusion. KOTMASK has placed behind the hugely progressive Martator in a pair of 2m1f chases here this season and will find this easier.
2 Galop De Chasse
4 Kotmask

1.50

This four-runner Class 2 graduation chase has an impossible look to it. IROKO should probably have won at Haydock last time where he was left with too much to do but he’s only scored once from seven starts above Class 3 level and is far from bombproof. Cases can be made for the other three runners and I’m going to cover the field.
1 Fil Dor
2 Jungle Boogie
3 Iroko
4 James Du Berlais

2.25

Current favourite STRONG LEADER is not certain to appreciate the right-handed track – his only run in this direction saw him beaten after jumping out to his left – and I’m taking him on with THE WALLPARK and last year’s winner CRAMBO.
4 Crambo
8 The Wallpark

3.00

VICTTORINO ran an incredible race to finish third in the Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury last time, clearly hating the left-handed track but staying on from out of the clouds in the straight after looking more likely to pull up than place. He loves Ascot and won this race last year. Banker.
4 Victtorino

3.35

SECRET SQUIRREL was a big eyecatcher over course and distance on last month’s reappearance, doing clear best of the hold-up horses in a race not run to suit. Hughie Morrison has won this twice in recent years and his five-year-old looks set to encounter the required strong pace. He’s been freshened up by a seven-week break and has form figures when rested for at least five weeks of 111213 (4-6). Banker.
12 Secret Squirrel