We usually try to find something at a fair EW price for Pro
Tips but the decent ground is at Ascot and both features look likely to be
taken by something in the first 3 in the betting.
In the 1965 Chase, Top Gamble is favoured by the weights and
might launch a fair bid although the ground is against him. They've tried to
compensate by stepping up in trip but that rarely seems to work for horses who just
like it properly soft, and in all probability the race will turn into a match
between Top Notch and Smad Place.
Both will have their supporters but thanks to a touch of
ageism the value lies with SMAD PLACE,
who ran superbly in the Old Roan Chase. Even in receipt of 3lbs, Top Notch will
need to have come on a fair bit to get the better of the 2015 Hennessy winner
who is the better jumper of the pair and a tough nut to crack in peak form
LIL ROCKERFELLA
has shed his Grade 2 penalty and is now ripe to collect another decent pot. He
ran a blinder in this race last year, giving 4lbs to Yanworth who had to pull
out all the stops. This year he receives 6 from L'Ami Serge and 3 from Defi Du
Seuil. He also comes here cherry ripe, rather than having a straightener for other
targets which is really what this race represents for the others.
The imponderable is how much improvement Defi Du Seuil will find at this trip, but he's still only a 4-y-o and has a long season ahead - he's not fully mature and they will have left something to work on, and at the prices we think the value lies
with Lil Rockerfella.
2.05 Ascot, Smad
Place 2pt win 7/2 various
2.40 Ascot, Lil
Rockerfella 2pt win 11/4 various
Also 1pt EW double
Good luck,
Herbie is one of the pro-gamblers in the ENIGMA
forum:
![]() |
Smad Place, will be a tough nut to crack in the 1965 Chase for Alan King |