Lucky 15 Tips: Joyau Allen to get off the mark at Ascot

Flat racing is back and the Lincoln meeting concludes at Doncaster on Sunday, where there are some interesting handicaps to sink our teeth into.
They include a couple of £20,000 contests, one of which is run over 1m2f and the other over 6f.

Jump racing fans shouldn't go into hibernation just yet however, as there's a competitive meeting at Ascot to look forward to on Sunday and conditions are set to be on the quick side, while Downpatrick's Ulster National is the highlight of the day in Ireland.

Our expert has selected four tips to follow across the afternoon and they include a handicap debutant for Paul Nicholls who looks well set to get off the mark at Ascot.

Horse Racing odds

15:05 Ascot - Innamorato @ 14/1

There's a more than healthy prize pot of £40,000 on offer for this race and Irish raider Munsif heads the market at the time of writing. It's the Paul Nicholls-trained INNAMORATO who gets the nod, however, as he's progressing and should thrive in handicaps.

It took him a while to get the hang of things over hurdles, but the penny dropped in a 2m3f maiden hurdle at Taunton last month. The conditions were very different that day but he was a fair third under a penalty on good to soft at Newbury last time out.

Handicaps should bring out the best in him and it'll be a surprise if he fails to be competitive off a mark of 114.

16:05 Doncaster - Port Of London @ 11/4

PORT OF LONDON remains lightly raced for his age and only made his debut in July. Getting off the mark at the third time of asking, the positive tactics clearly suited and he battled on well to hold off the runner-up and score by a head.

He claimed his first victory in handicap company off a 6lb lower mark at Lingfield in December and that was his first start after being gelded in the autumn. Further progress seems very likely as a four-year-old now and this looks like a good opportunity.

16:15 Ascot - Joyau Allen @ 3/1

The impeccably bred JOYAU ALLEN is a full-brother to the exceptional Envoi Allen and has been a little disappointing over hurdles with that in mind.

He was an impressive winner of an Exeter bumper on his first start under rules however and finished second under a penalty after that. His first two hurdles starts were very underwhelming, but he wasn't disgraced, despite finishing eighth, at Taunton after that.

Stablemate Grand Vendetta was the winner on his most recent start and the runner-up has boosted the form by winning since. The handicapper has given him a mark of 101 for his first handicap start, which looks very workable, while perhaps the longer trip will suit.

17:25 Ascot - Brave Knight @ 3/1

Another one for Nicholls, BRAVE KNIGHT has done very well since switching to hurdles, winning five of his 10 starts thus far. Three of those successes came in novice company in the summer of 2024 and he defied a double penalty to score at Newton Abbot.

He seems to be progressing well in handicaps at the moment, having won two of his last three starts and is worth keeping on side until his limitations are exposed.

Freddie Keighley was on board when winning at Taunton in January and his claim will come in handy once again.

If all four of our selections won, today's notional 50p win Lucky 15, at the prices indicated (they can of course fluctuate), would return around £940 for a £7.50 total stake. If you can improve upon our selections (of course you can) - then go for it!

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Lucky 15 tips with Betfred Insights.