Andrew Asquith has put up two ante-post selections for Saturday, sending punters toward High Degree at Sandown and Thunder Call at York, both priced at 8/1. It is a straightforward call, but one that points readers to two horses with very different stories behind them.
High Degree is the one to watch at Sandown in the Read Meg Nicholls Blog BetMGM Handicap, where the ground was on the soft side of good and further rain was in the forecast. The William Haggas-trained colt has won only once in his short career, yet that success came at Ffos Las just under a year ago, and he returned at Newbury before this column was published only to be beaten by Hand of God. Asquith still sees enough in him to keep him onside at 8/1, especially with the chance that a win could bring a penalty and help his case for a place in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot next week.
Thunder Call is Asquith’s other Saturday play, this time in the Macmillan Sprint Handicap at York, also at 8/1. He is another from Haggas’ yard, but his case rests more on what he might become than what he has already shown. He was all at sea on his debut last year, then returned to win a six-furlong maiden at Kempton last month, and his family line adds another layer: he is closely related to Skardu, who won the Craven Stakes before finishing third in the 2000 Guineas and also made the frame in the Irish 2000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes.
That leaves the race-day question exactly where ante-post betting always leaves it: both horses now have to turn those claims into results. Sandown and York are the next stops on Saturday, and for anyone following Asquith’s itv guide, the real answer will come only when the stalls open.
