How To Bet £20 on Saturday: Rush in for Russian

Something will have to give at Ascot on Saturday when two of the sport’s biggest stars, Shishkin and Enurgumene, meet for the first time in the SBK Clarence House Chase (3.35).

It’s refreshing that connections of both horses are refusing to blink, with last year’s decisive winner, First Flow, also in there to give us a great measuring stick.

The big two both shone as novices last term and impressed on their respective returns. They have got numerous 1s against their names and are seemingly in the prime of their lives, with the handicapper having one on 172 (Shishkin) and the other on 171 (Energumene).

Let’s hope there are no mishaps and they produce their best. If they do, we will be in a race for savour, even if it will be one to sit back and enjoy rather than be punting on.

I don’t have a strong view on who will prevail – none of us can know exactly how good either might be – but if someone were to give me a free £5 bet, then I’d stick it on Energumene because he’s the bigger price of the two at 7-4. Also, Ascot is a great track for front-runners such as him, and his jockey Paul Townend might enjoy a tactical advantage.

The SBK Mares’ Hurdle (2.20) has also drawn a small field but this is a race that gets my betting juices flowing because there’s no way Emmpressive Lady should be the outsider of the field at a general 20-1.

Molly Ollys Wishes and Western Victory boast the best form in the race, which is reflected by the betting, but the pair both enjoy forcing the pace and, as a consequence, there must be a chance they will contrive to set the race up for a closer who stays well, and it’s the unexposed Emmpressive Lady, trained by Sue Gardner, who fits the bill.

The seven-year-old looks all stamina but was having only her second start over 3m when winning a handicap hurdle in decisive style at Kempton over Christmas. She’d run in the same race 12 months earlier, too, when Molly Ollys Wishes kept her at bay after getting first run. Strictly speaking, she has her work cut out turning the tables on 6lb worse terms but this contest likely to unfold differently plus the all-action Jamie Moore, enjoying a fine season, will be on board Emmpressive Lady this time.

Molly Ollys Wishes is a general 2-1, so how her old rival is 20-1 is difficult to fathom. But I’m not complaining.

My other fancy on the Ascot card is Garry Clermont in the SBK Holloway's Handicap Hurdle (1.45). This strong traveller has already run two cracking races in defeat at the course this term, latterly when a close third to Tritonic in the Betfair Exchange Trophy.

He’s only 1lb higher and promises to be suited by the extra three furlongs, plus this is a weaker contest. That is reflected by him having to carry top weight, but this is a race where those at the head of the weights have fared well in recent years, with Ballymoy (2019) and Thomas Darby (2020) carrying 11st 12lb to victory.

Unexpected Party is the obvious threat, despite snatching defeat from the jaws of victory at Wetherby last time. I’ll be sticking the pair in a Reverse Exacta.

I made a case for backing Remastered for Haydock’s Peter Marsh Chase earlier in the week and the general 4-1 available still appeals as he has plenty going for him. Lord Du Mesnil, who reserves his best for the Merseyside venue, may pose a biggest threat than last year’s winner, Royale Pagaille, who faces no easy task conceding lumps of weight all-round.

Jonbon is likely to take plenty of stopping in the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle, although we’ve yet to see him in anything like a true-run race and this will be the deepest ground he has encountered.

I’d rather back Might I to finish in the first two at 11-10 with bet365 because he impressed when beating Thunder Rock by 11 lengths on his return at Newton Abbot (the runner-up has won his subsequent two races, beating Cobblers Dream on the first occasion) and then had the misfortune of trying to concede 6lb to Constitution Hill at Sandown last time, when he was no match for the winner but pulled 17 lengths clear of the third.

Might I gets a handy 5lb from Jonbon on Saturday and so it was tempting to put him up as something of an each-way bet to nothing. But we’d only get our money back if he finishes runner-up, so I’d rather back him to finish first or second. I can't see him out of the first two.

Minella Dream, Hunters Call and Sea Moon also appeal on the card but look about the prices they should be, so my other weekend wagers will be at Taunton in the shape of The Russian Doyen in the Biowavego Blocks Pain Seniors' Handicap Hurdle (2.43) and Yala Enki (3.15).

The Russian Doyen was a smart performer in his prime, being placed behind A Plus Tard over fences at the Cheltenham Festival three years ago off a mark of 141. Having tumbled in the weights, he showed he still had some fire in his belly when chasing home Gallic Geordie at Newbury last time, and that form was franked when the winner went close to following up off a 9lb higher mark.

The Russian Doyen is switching to hurdles but that’s not an overly big concern – he’s won over 2m at this track - and he will think he is running loose with only 10st 2lb to shoulder, running off 118. His trainer, Jeremy Scott, has his horses in great form and jockey Rex Dingle is also enjoying a purple patch.

Finally, Yala Enki looks banker material to win a third successive BioWaveGo Portman Cup Chase (3.15) and I’m surprised he’s available at 5-6, rather than long odds-on.

His past two wins in the race have come after tough races in the Welsh Grand National but he missed this year’s renewal and, as a result, should be fresher this time. He would be between 5lb and 30lb worse off with his four rivals if this were a handicap and looked as good as ever when a game winner on his return at Cheltenham.

Two of his rivals, Elegant Escape and Ramses Des Teillee, arrive here after being pulled up in the Welsh National, while Full Back, who won at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, requires plenty more.

£5 double on Might I to finish in the first two in the 1.25 Haydock (at 11-10 with bet365) and Yala Enki to win the 3.15 at Taunton (5-6 with the same firm). The return would be £19.25.

1.45 Ascot: 1.45 Garry Clermont £2 win at a general 7-2

1.45 Ascot: Garry Clermont and Unexpected party in a £1 Reverse Exacta

2.20 Ascot: Emmpressive Lady £5 win and £1.50 each-way at a general 20-1 NON-RUNNER

2.43 Taunton: The Russian Doyen £3 win at 11-2 with bet365

34p Win Heinz plus 62p win accumulator with bet 365

1.25 Haydock: Might I to finish in the first two at 11-10

1.45 Ascot: Garry Clermont (7-2)

2.20 Ascot: Emmpressive Lady (20-1) NON-RUNNER

2.35 Haydock: Remastered (4-1)

2.43 Taunton: The Russian Doyen (11-2)

3.15 Taunton: Yala Enki (5-6)