Robin Goodfellow’s racing tips: Best bets for Saturday, February 19
The Betfair Ascot Chase is one of few races in the UK racing calendar the Irish have not dominated in recent years and the home contingent will be hopeful raider Fakir D’oudairies does not end a lean spell.
Sound Man was the last horse to land the prestigious Grade One for the Emerald Isle in 1996 but in the Joseph O’Brien-trained seven-year-old, Ireland has a live contender sure to love both the conditions and the fact there is no Allaho in the line-up.
Fakir D’oudairies has seen the backside of last year’s Ryanair winner at the Cheltenham Festival on more occasions than his connections will care to remember, including last time out in a Thurles Grade Two where he manfully tried to keep tabs on the eight-year-old but was again beaten a dozen lengths.
Sportsmail’s racing expert Robin Goodfellow dishes out his tips for Saturday’s meetings
It was a similar story in the Ryanair as Allaho simply galloped his rivals, including Fakir D’oudairies and MISTER FISHER (Ascot, 3.38), into submission to score by the same margin from his regular adversary.
Although Mister Fisher was eventually pulled up in the Ryanair, that does not tell the whole tale of his performance which, up until a shuddering error at the third last fence, was a highly creditable one.
Jockey Nico de Boinville wisely looked after his mount from that point on so that the combination could be reunited at Aintree in the Betfair Bowl. Unfortunately, they only reached the 12th fence that day when an error led to De Boinville being unseated, while another attempt at three miles ended in disappointment in the King George on Boxing Day.
Thankfully, a return to two and a half miles worked the oracle at Kempton last month when the eight-year-old lowered the colours of subsequent Denman Chase winner Eldorado Allen to enhance his excellent record both on right-handed courses (three wins from five starts) and with James Bowen on board.
Bowen’s figures aboard the selection read 21811, with one of the two defeats sustained by a short head and the other inflicted by Klassical Dream in the 2019 Supreme Novices Hurdle.
Mister Fisher also boasts an incredible record over obstacles when he is returned to the track between 20 and 48 days, with his stats standing at an impressive six wins from seven starts when he has completed.
He also beat Kalashnikov on soft ground at Cheltenham in 2020, so will hopefully cope with anything that Storm Eunice has to throw at Ascot today.
ASCOT
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
1.15 Hecouldbetheone
1.50 Does He Know
2.25 Fiddlerontheroof (nb)
3.00 Zacony Rebel (nap)
3.38 Mister Fisher
4.10 Imphal
4.45 Missed Vacation
GIMCRACK
1.15 Skytastic
1.50 Doyen Breed
2.25 Caribean Boy
3.00 Cap Du Mathan
3.38 Dashel Drasher
4.10 Guerlain De Vaux
4.45 Missed Vacation
HAYDOCK
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
1.00 Adrimel
1.30 Porticello
2.05 Third Wind
2.40 Blaklion
3.15 Tokyo Getaway
3.50 Green Book
4.25 Bob And Co
GIMCRACK
1.00 Keep Rolling
1.30 Porticello (nb)
2.05 Thomas Darby
2.40 Secret Reprieve (nap)
3.15 Bushypark
3.50 Hillcrest
4.25 Bob And Co
WINCANTON
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
1.38 Grivetana
2.13 Flagrant Delitiep
2.48 Tide Times
3.20 Goshen
3.58 Stellar Magic
4.33 Ask Me Early
5.05 Braganza Bay
GIMCRACK
1.38 Grivetana
2.13 Native Robin
2.48 Max Dynamo
3.20 Goshen
3.58 Mr Glass
4.33 Ask Me Early
5.05 Walk Away Now
LINGFIELD
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
12.50 Tattered Flag
1.25 Mashkuur
2.00 Mr Mac
2.35 Sherpa Trail
3.10 Chrysos
3.45 Desert Emperor
4.20 Shoot To Kill
4.55 Global Acclamation
GIMCRACK
12.50 Addingham
1.25 State Legend
2.00 Sir Joseph Swan
2.35 Miss Elsa
3.10 Chrysos
3.45 Protected Guest
4.20 Shoot To Kill
4.55 Jack Ryan
Newmarket – 12.50 Addingham (nb)
NEWCASTLE
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
5.00 Termonator
5.30 Eydon
6.00 Yaahobby
6.30 Lady Ziana
7.00 Jems Bond
7.30 One Hart
GIMCRACK
5.00 Ghostly
5.30 Oceania Legend
6.00 Yaahobby
6.30 Odd Socks Havana
7.00 Won Love
7.30 Tantastic
Northerner – 5.00 Termonator (nap); 6.30 Odd Socks Havana (nb).
Newmarket – 5.30 Eydon (nap)
