Follow The Money: Falcon to fly home at Ascot

Can Creek Falcon get them beat at Ascot?

Today's Follow The Money comes from the meetings at Hexham, Ascot and Nottingham.

We start at Hexham where there has been continued support for Papa Caruso in the 2m4f Handicap Chase at 15:05, now trading at 4.216/5 from an early 7.613/2. The nine-year-old has been a consistent runner when completing, with two placed efforts either side of a fall at Ayr. He has dropped a further 2lbs in the weights since finishing third at Wetherby over today's trip on soft ground in late March when he faded after the last. His two wins have come on better ground and conditions seem ideal today. Although saddled with top weight, jockey Jonathan England takes 3lbs off and the gamble suggests Grand National-winning trainer Sue Smith can land a considerably less valuable prize here.

We move south to Ascot for our next selection, Creek Falcon has interested a few punters in the 6f Handicap at 16:25, now available to back at 7.87/1 from a high of 10.09/1. Formerly trained in Ireland, where he won a Handicap over a mile at Dundalk, this four-year-old impressed on the all-weather at the turn of the year before returning from a break to win at Doncaster last time out. He travelled well and won cosily that day, showing plenty of pace over 7f which bodes well for the furlong drop in trip today. Creek Falcon only gives weight to one of his numerous rivals when jockey David Bergin's 5lb claim is taken into account and with trainer David O'Meara among the winners of late and with the gelding open to plenty of improvement, a follow-up may be in the offing.  

We go to Nottingham for our negative where Magog has proved easy to back, now 3.3512/5 from 2.727/4. The Roger Charlton-trained runner ran just once last year when recording a seemingly unexpected win at odds of 16/1 over a mile at Salisbury which indicates today's ten furlong trip should suit. However, the cut in the ground was said to have suited him on that occasion and today's going may not be to his liking. Current favourite Salutation ran well at Newmarket last week and has attracted notable support.

Recommended Bets
Back Papa Caruso @ 4.216/5 15:05 Hexham 
Back Creek Falcon @ 7.613/2 16:25 Ascot 
Lay Magog @ 3.3512/5 16:30 Nottingham