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Ascot Betting Tips for December 20, 2025 - Our Paladin Al Among the Best Bets

Alex Marsh

Editor

Last updated: Thu 18 Dec 2025 14:20

Alex Marsh 18 Dec 2025

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Ascot features 10 races including the Group 2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes
Key horses: Western Ace, Miss Finkmeyer, and Our Paladin Al
Apulia eyes victory in a competitive field, expanding Melbourne accolades

Expired

Apulia heads the market for the Group 2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes. (Getty)

Ascot hosts a 10-race Saturday program highlighted by the Group 2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes, alongside a strong supporting card of Westspeed Platinum races and open handicaps.

Ascot Tips December 20
Virbac Westspeed Platinum Maiden Tips (Race 1)
Murray Vet Platinum Sires Stakes Tips (Race 3)
Ascot Equine Vet Platinum Sprint Tips (Race 7)
Ted Van Heemst Stakes Tips (Race 9)

With a mix of emerging three-year-olds, progressive sprinters, and established performers engaged, the meeting shapes as a straightforward betting card with opportunities across the program.

Ascot Tips December 20

Virbac Westspeed Platinum Maiden Tips (Race 1)

Ascot Favourite - Race 1 No. 7 Western Ace

William Pike does not ride for Trevor Andrews often, but “The Wizard” knows the right ones to jump on from this small but very astute stable, having saluted in all three engagements for Andrews this season.

Pike is aboard Western Ace, who ran the fastest last 800m, 600m and 400m of the November 11 meeting at Pinjarra in a race taken out by Don’t Wink, who was dropping out of Listed company.

The runner-up Bannered could not frank that form with a disappointing effort on Wednesday, but he still had solid two-year-old references.

This gelding put a two-length margin on fourth-placed Double Fun, who went on to win at his next start.

His sole trial leading in was encouraging and getting to 1400m looks to suit.

Murray Vet Platinum Sires Stakes Tips (Race 3)

Ascot Value Bet - Race 3 No. 7 Miss Finkmeyer

She is up in grade for this second-up assignment, but Miss Finkmeyer is back against her own age.

Not only is the extra furlong a positive, but there are more options this time around from a low draw.

The Darren McAuliffe-trained galloper looks a much stronger filly than the one seen in two winter outings.

She completed a nice December 1 trial ahead of an Albany resumption, where the three-year-old was eased back from a wide draw and rattled home for third, with the first two settling on the speed.

It shapes as a wide-open affair and with just 51kg on her back after the claim, she could be the blowout.

Ascot Equine Vet Platinum Sprint Tips (Race 7)

Ascot Best Bet - Race 7 No. 10 Our Paladin Al

This is technically a rise in grade for Our Paladin Al, however there was good depth to the 60+ he contested first-up off no public trials.

Sent out a respected favourite, he got home from off the speed in a slowly run event to grab third.

The gelding plummets in the weights, dropping from 59kg to 54kg.

Ability was evident through his first campaign with back-to-back victories at starts three and four, while his winter culminated with a Listed second as a popular market elect.

The winner of that event, Arcadia Park, went on to take out the Belmont Classic a fortnight later, and while staying at 1400m is a slight query, he looks the most progressive horse in the race.

Ted Van Heemst Stakes Tips (Race 9)

Ascot Feature Bet - Race 9 No. 1 Apulia

The Victorian visitor was never in contention in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes, where a wide draw proved costly as he was dragged back to the rear early.

Closing sectionals suggest it was a better run than the tenth placing reads, and now getting to 2100m in a race with far less depth is a big positive.

Despite a one-year absence, he opened his spring account with consecutive Melbourne victories.

He was a month between runs heading into the Northerly Stakes, and that fast-run affair should have topped him off nicely.

The son of Fiorente showed staying potential as an early three-year-old with a Moonee Valley Vase win before just missing in the Victoria Derby.

Verdict

Ascot - December 20

Our Ascot tips for Saturday, December 20 are:

Our Paladin Al

To Win

$2.75 - 3 Units

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Apulia

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Western Ace

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Miss Finkmeyer

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$19.00 - 1 Unit

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