Horse Racing Betting Tips: Return to his beloved Ascot can see Sands Of Mali strike

CHOISIR made history in 2003 whenbecoming the first horse to win the King’s Stand-Diamond Jubilee double in the sameyear.

It was a remarkable achievement,but 16 years on Blue Point will attempt to repeat the feat in tomorrow’sDiamond Jubilee Stakes (4.20pm).

Charlie Appleby’s five-year-oldoutstayed Battaash to win the King’s Stand for a second year running onTuesday.

He is the best horse in the race,but you’d have to be slightly worried about the four-day gap.

He also isn’t guaranteed to gethome over such a stiff six furlongs.

At just 11/4, I’m going to opposehim, as well as 9/2 shot Invincible Army who is seeking a hat-trick.

Although a winner over course and distanceat the start of last season, he disappointed in the Commonwealth Cup and thenagain in the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury later in the year.

He looks like he’s improved butI’m not prepared to back him at such a short price in a race like this.

SANDS OF MALI was narrowlydenied in the aforementioned Commonwealth Cup, finishing just half a lengthbehind Eqtidaar.

Things went downhill after thatbut he bounced back with a vengeance when comfortably landing the QIPCO BritishChampions Sprint in October at odds of 28/1.

He ran respectably to be sixthbehind Blue Point in the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on his reappearance and wasthen a little disappointing at Hamilton a couple of weeks ago.

I’m sure that was purely a trialfor this, though, and he looks worthy of each-way support at 14/1 with Coral.

The Wokingham Handicap (5.00pm) isone of the biggest betting races of the whole week and always a fiendishlydifficult puzzle to unravel.

There doesn’t look to be astandout contender this year and all of those at the head of the market havequestions to answer.

For that reason I’m going to throwa few quid on a couple of big-priced outsiders.

First up is INTISAAB forDavid O’Meara who won the Queen Anne Stakes with Lord Glitters on Tuesday.

This eight-year-old has been well beatenin this race for the past two years but has now dropped to a mark of 103 whichhe can definitely win off.

He ran well behind Soldier’sMinute at York last time and O’Meara has booked Ascot straight coursespecialist Jamie Spencer. The 33/1 available looks too big.

My other selection is SPRINGLOADED who always runs well at Ascot and wasn’t beaten far in ninth 12months ago when not getting a clear run.

He is a bit higher in the weightsnow, but Paul D’Arcy is legging up promising 5lb apprentice Dylan Hogan and 22/1with Coral is a decent each-way price.

The curtain comes down on themeeting as always with the Queen Alexandra Stakes (5.35pm) run over the marathondistance of 2m 5½f.

Ryan Moore has teamed up withIrish champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins twice in the last seven years towin this and the pair join forces again with favourite Max Dynamite.

However, it’s been nearly twoyears since he last tasted victory and at the age of nine, I am prepared totake him on with Andrew Balding’s CLEONTE at 6/1.

He got bogged down in the mud in theChester Cup last time but has run well at Ascot in the past and looks like astayer that’s improving with age.

POINTERS SATURDAY

Sands Of Mali e/w 4.20pmRoyal Ascot

Intisaab e/w 5.00pm RoyalAscot

Spring Loaded e/w 5.00pmRoyal Ascot