Ascot Betting Tips for January 1, 2026 - Ridge to claim Perth Cup glory

Martin Pennington

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Last updated: Wed 31 Dec 2025 11:48

Martin Pennington 31 Dec 2025

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Get our tips and best bets for the Ascot Races
Ascot's Perth Cup Day features an eleven-race program on January 1
Key selections: 'Buckets Ridge' in Race 10, 'Immortal Bliss' in Race 4
Trainers Grant & Alana Williams aim for success with entries

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Ascot hosts an eleven-race program on Perth Cup Day on January 1 and our free betting tips and best bets are available.

Ascot Tips January 1
Ascend Trophies Handicap Tips (Race 2)
MCA Polytrack Handicap Tips (Race 4)
Mrs Macs – La Trice Classic (Group 3) Tips (Race 8)
Tabtouoch – Perth Cup (Group 2) Tips (Race 10)

Our Ascot best bets are provided by expert form analysts and tipsters, and a preview of Thursday's racing is below.

Ascot Tips January 1

Ascend Trophies Handicap Tips (Race 2)

Ascot Value Bet – Race 2 No. 10 Lifeisbutadream

The daughter of Astern is a dual winner form eight starts and while you have to go back to June 2024 for her latest success she has been lightly-raced since then.

The mare has made just five starts since that Belmont success which came over this distance with the pick absent since finishing fifth at Bunbury in January last year.

The five-year-old was beaten just under one-and-a-half-lengths into fifth in a 1000m Class 5 handicap held on a good surface on that occasion.

Prior to that the mare had recorded top four finishes on the Scarpside track at Pinjarra and on her return to action in a Class 3 over this course and distance.

While it’s a concern that the pick failed to make a race appearance following a barrier trial here in May she has advertised her well-being with two Belmont trials this season.

Both of the selection’s previous wins have come over the 1000m distance and with Holly Watson up she looks value to provide trainer Jayson Hines with his first Ascot winner.

MCA Polytrack Handicap Tips (Race 4)

Ascot Best Bet – Race 4 No. 3 Immortal Bliss

The four-year-old demonstrated good form last prep registering three wins and two second place finishes from five starts.

The first of those wins saw the gelding take his first up record to two wins from three starts in taking out a 1000m Class 3 event at Northam in August.

The selection won by nearly two-and-a-half-lengths on a wet track on that occasion and duly followed up over the same distance at Belmont nine days later.

The son of I Am Immortal jumped as a short priced favourite on each occasion with two Belmont second place finishes following.

Trained by Grant & Alana Williams the gelding proved that good going is no issue when delivering a three length success over 1100m at Kalgoorlie in early October.

The pick was spelled following that Benchmark 66+ handicap triumph and he should be sharp for his return to action following a trial third at Lark Hill just over two weeks ago.

Regular pilot William Pike is again set to ride and with a good barrier the gelding is expected to resume with a win.

Mrs Macs – La Trice Classic (Group 3) Tips (Race 8)

Ascot Next Best – Race 8 No. 1 Machine Gun Gracie

Justine Erkelens representative takes the eye having shown good form last prep registering wins at this venue in three of her final four starts.

Those starts included wins at Group 3 and Group 2 level over 2400m including by nearly three-and-a-half-lengths in the WA Oaks in early April.

The daughter of Maschino backed that success up with a win against the boys in the WATC Derby over the same track and trip two weeks later.

The filly was spelled following that effort and she made a highly pleasing return to action dropped markedly in distance for a 1600m Listed event here last month.

The selection stayed on nicely to be beaten just over one-and-a-half-lengths in the that day with Secret Attraction (second) and Luvnwar (third) both ahead of her that day.

A change of tactics saw the filly ridden with more restraint last time out and with the extra 200m here in her favour she looks up to reversing that form under Shaun O’Donnell.

Tabtouoch – Perth Cup (Group 2) Tips (Race 10)

Ascot Feature Race Bet – Race 10 No. 5 Buckets Ridge

The Grant & Alana Williams stable have won this race in three of the last four years including with Hemlock Stone twelve months ago.

The stable are double-handed this time around with preference for the son of Buckets Ridge who has demonstrated improvement with racing this prep.

The gelding failed to make an impact in his first two starts but took a marked step forward in finishing a good half-length second upped to 2100m here in November.

That effort came on a sound surface with the gelding again encountering good going when defying top weight in the Listed G.A. Towton Cup here early last month.

The five-year-old won by half-a-length over 2200m on that occasion and has performed well over this track and trip in the past placing second in the 2024 W.A.T.C. Derby.

The selection has been ridden from mid-division or off the pace in recent starts and similar tactics are expected in this contest.

Luke Nolen takes the ride and with a wide barrier unlikely to pose an issue his mount is taken to complete a course double.