Ascot Betting Tips for April 5, 2025 - Gracie to take Oaks

Martin Pennington

Editor

Last updated: Thu 03 Apr 2025 10:10

Martin Pennington 03 Apr 2025

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Watch Me Rock is favored in the Old Comrade Stakes (Race 3) with solid past performance
Supportive offers value in Wittens Irrigation & Design Handicap (Race 4) promising strong form
Machine Gun Gracie, a standout in WA Oaks (Group 3, Race 8), continues to show improvement

Expired

The Group 3 WA Oaks headlines Saturday's Ascot program. (Getty)

Ascot hosts a nine-race program on April 5 and our best bets are available below.

Ascot Tips April 5
Ascend Trophies – Old Comrade Stakes (Listed) Tips (Race 3)
Wittens Irrigation & Design Handicap Tips (Race 4)
Drummond Golf – WA Oaks (Group 3) Tips (Race 8)
Solutions Matchmaking Handicap Tips (Race 9)

Ascot Tips April 5

Ascend Trophies – Old Comrade Stakes (Listed) Tips (Race 3)

Ascot Best Bet - Race 3 No. 2 Watch Me Rock

The Grant & Alana Williams stable look to hold strong claims in this event with preference for the son of Awesome Rock.

The gelding won four of his six starts last prep and resumed with a victory by just under half-a-length in a 1200m Benchmark 72+ handicap here in February.

The selection was dropping back in distance that day having ended his last prep with a near two length triumph in a Benchmark 72+ handicap over track and trip in November.

While the pick disappointed when only fourth as an odds-on favourite in the Listed Bunbury Stakes over 1400m at Bunbury second up he returned to winning ways back at this venue last time.

The four-year-old got up late on having been caught behind rivals in the straight and while he won by a narrow margin that day he gave the impression there was plenty left in the tank.

Regular rider William Pike is up here and he looks up to confirming form with the second that day, stablemate Fluro Neuro among the beaten horses set to line-up here.

Wittens Irrigation & Design Handicap Tips (Race 4)

Ascot Value Bet - Race 4 No. 4 Supportive

The six-year-old is a five-time winner including at this venue and she showed up well in her first three starts this prep.

Two of those efforts came over this course and distance including when beaten just over half-a-length into third when racing on a good 4 track at the start of last month.

A change of tactics saw the mare ridden cold in finishing two-and-a-half-lengths third in a Benchmark 72+ handicap over track and trip two weeks later.

Both of those efforts came on a good 4 track and similar underfoot conditions are expected for this contest.

While not at her best that day the daughter of Dissident can be forgiven that effort having shaped as if she is worth another try at this distance.

The pick went well in a higher grade on her penultimate start and looks value to record her first win of 2025.

Drummond Golf – WA Oaks (Group 3) Tips (Race 8)

Ascot Feature Bet - Race 8 No. 2 Machine Gun Gracie

Justine Erkelens filly has demonstrated improvement with racing since making her debut over 1400m at Bunbury at the start of February.

The pick was beaten a length into second that day and she went on to deliver an impressive four-and-a-half-length victory in a sixteen-runner 1600m contest at Pinjarra later that month.

The daughter of Maschino’s third start saw her lose out by less than half-a-length in the 1800m Ascot 1000 Guineas at this venue last month.

The filly had her main rival here Twilight Tale behind her in third that day and she again saw off that rival when successful in the Listed Natasha Stakes here two weeks ago.

The selection came home nearly three-and-a-half-lengths clear of Michael Grantham’s filly when making all that day with the third, fourth, fifth and sixth also set to re-oppose here.

Shaun O’Donnell’s mount has forecast underfoot conditions to suit with all four of her previous efforts having come on a good 4 track and she can record a win stepping up in distance.

Solutions Matchmaking Handicap Tips (Race 9)

Ascot Next Best Bet - Race 9 No. 10 Pharoah Show

Michael Grantham’s representative broke through for his first victory when contesting a 1200m maiden at Bunbury on his return to action in February.

While unable to win in three subsequent outings he has performed with credit on each occasion including when losing out narrowly in finishing second over 1400m at the same track next time.

The son of American Pharoah came home seventh over this track and trip on his penultimate start however he was beaten less than two lengths when contesting a Class 3 handicap that day.

The gelding was ridden cold when stepped up to Listed company for the J.C. Roberts Stakes held on a good 4 surface at this venue when last in action two weeks ago.

Racing over course and distance once more the pick jumped at $26 prior to finishing fourth, beaten just over three-and-a-half-lengths.

The drop in grade is a positive here and racing off a low weight the youngster is selected to return to winning ways.