Bet of the day: Drumacoo to deliver against big name rivals at Ascot

Defending a perfect record over larger fences, it is interesting Drumacoo has Nico de Boinville on board again, as he has previously ridden race rival Vyta Du Roc.

Nicky Henderson’s grey was sent off an odds-on favourite last time out at Doncaster, having edged Jonjo O’Neill gelding The Saint James on chasing debut, but succumbed to Bouvreuil by one-and-a-half lengths.

Vyta Du Roc is best known for blundering on the big stage at Cheltenham when in contention to challenge for the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle last season.

He had to be content with fourth of 10 behind Windsor Park, Parlour Games and Willie Mullins’ 2016 Champion Hurdle hope Nichols Canyon.

Going suits selection not rivals

Onenightinvienna from Philip Hobbs’ yard ensures this Ascot encounter is a competitive looking affair but, like his fellow seven-year-old Vyta Du Roc, he prefers heavy ground with the going set to be soft.

That instead suits Drumacoo, who has won so impressively over the trip. Onenightinvienna only has a 33 per cent strike rate since sent chasing, and that when defeating the aforementioned Fletchers Flyer at Exeter back in November.

Le Mercurey, a course winner for Paul Nicholls over 2f shorter than this race, could turn out to be Drumacoo’s biggest rival, but he was pulled up when finding the pace of the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster too hot to handle.

What also counts against Le Mercurey is Sam Twiston-Davies carries top weight, giving 7lb to Drumacoo, who thus looks well worth a wager to land the spoils for in-form jockey De Boinville (six wins or places from 11 rides in the last seven days).

Related

Check out our previous bets of the day, or find more horse racing tips on Coral’s dedicated section.