Ascot Placepot tips: Keith Melrose fancies taking on some Friday hotpots

Ascot offers a Placepot card that can be looked at upside-down, with a good deal of the action in the small-field races.

Start with a banker, as Dargiannini looks sure to suit this test in the conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle (12.35) and is already a major contender on form. Stablemate Complete Unknown is the solid choice in the following maiden hurdle (1.10), but take Soldier Of Destiny too.

Red Rookie and Thyme White represent a good pairing in the eight-runner novice handicap chase (1.45).

Now we are into the Graded races, where Jonbon faces by far his biggest test in the Kennel Gate Novices' Hurdle (2.20) and is taken on with Knappers Hill and I Like To Move It.

Pic D'Orhy either wins or bombs out in the Noel Novices' Chase (2.55). Placepotters almost always hope for the latter. Faivoir and Fifty Ball seem the likeliest to take advantage if it happens.

The aforementioned Knappers Hill won the closer (3.30) last year for Paul Nicholls. Henri The Second made a good impression when winning at Chepstow and can be the banker that allows those looking to trade the most straightforward route to lock in profit.

Ascot Placepot perm

12.35
3 Dargiannini

1.10
2 Complete Unknown
7 Soldier Of Destiny

1.45
2 Thyme White
3 Red Rookie

2.20
1 I Like To Move It
4 Knappers Hill

2.55
2 Faivoir
3 Fifty Ball

3.30
7 Henri The Second

1x2x2x2x2x1 = 16 lines

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