Ascot Betting Tips for March 22, 2025 - Rock to claim Cup

Martin Pennington

Editor

Last updated: 20 Mar 2025

Add to Calendar

Martin Pennington 20 Mar 2025

Share this article

Castle Road expected to win Race 2; previously successful at Ascot
Soso Lucky highly rated in Race 4; consistent performances across surfaces
Watch Me Rock, strong competitor in Race 6; great track record
Value pick: Here For Cheques in Race 9; recent win boosts confidence

Three Listed races will be run on Saturday's Ascot card. (Getty)

Ascot hosts a nine-race program on March 22 and our best bets are available below.

Ascot Tips March 22
Cassius Grey – Proudly Off The Track Plate Tips (Race 2)
Blazing Morn – Proudly Off The Track Handicap Tips (Race 4)
Grandstand Cup (Listed) Tips (Race 6)
Belhus Racing Join A Racing Syndicate Handicap Tips (Race 9)

Ascot Tips March 22

Cassius Grey – Proudly Off The Track Plate Tips (Race 2)

Ascot Next Best Bet - Race 2 No. 1 Castle Road

The son of Safeguard is the only previous winner in the field having registered two wins from three starts earlier this season.

All three of those efforts came at this venue including when justifying short-odds in finishing over three-and-a-half-lengths clear of his rivals on his second start.

The pick raced over 1000m on a good 4 surface that day with the gelding returning sore in both fore legs when going on to disappoint when eighth of nine over this distance subsequently.

Paul Jordan’s representative is expected to have benefitted from the spell and he looks the pick of those with form.

Regular rider Craig Staples is again in the saddle with his mount arriving here on the back of a barrier trial success at Belmont earlier this month.

The selection is expected to race close to or on the speed and he is taken to concede weight to his rivals to resume with a win.

Blazing Morn – Proudly Off The Track Handicap Tips (Race 4)

Ascot Best Bet - Race 4 No. 4 Soso Lucky

Trained by Daniel & Ben Pearce the filly is a dual winner having won her first two starts in 2024 including by over two lengths in a 1300m Class 3 at Belmont in August.

The four-year-old raced on a wet track on each occasion but she has since proven she is equally at home on a sound surface finishing runner-up in her last three starts.

The second of those saw her beaten by a narrow margin when contesting a handicap over this course and distance at the end of last month.

The selection went on to prove that she stays further when beaten less than a length stepped up to 1400m here two weeks ago.

The form of that contest looks strong with the winner and fourth both winning here subsequently while the fifth home was successful at Albany recently.

Regular rider Chris Parnham is again set to ride and the pick looks up to recording a win jumping from an inside barrier.

Grandstand Cup (Listed) Tips (Race 6)

Ascot Feature Bet - Race 6 No. 5 Watch Me Rock

Winners of this race in 2018 the Grant & Alana Williams team look to hold strong claims with two runners this time around.

The pick ended last year with two victories at this venue including by over one-and-a-half-lengths when contesting a 1600m Benchmark 72+ handicap in November.

The son of Awesome Rock was spelled following that effort and he recorded his second first up success when resuming over 1200m at Ascot last month.

The gelding contested a Benchmark 72+ handicap on that occasion and he jumped at $1.85 when stepped up to Listed company at Bunbury subsequently.

The selection was beaten just under two-and-a-half-lengths in finishing fourth on a good 4 track that day and similar underfoot conditions are expected for this event.

Any softening of the going would be no issue here and with regular pilot William Pike up the pick looks capable of recording his fifth win in six starts at this track.

Belhus Racing Join A Racing Syndicate Handicap Tips (Race 9)

Ascot Value Bet - Race 9 No. 5 Here For Cheques

The five-year-old registered a number of placed efforts this prep prior to breaking through for his first win at the start of this month.

The gelding got home by a narrow margin when taking out an eight-runner 1600m handicap held on a good 4 track on that occasion.

The selection raced on the speed that day and was ridden with slightly more restraint when finishing fourth in a 1690m Benchmark 66+ handicap at Bunbury a week later.

Trained by Bernie Miller the gelding had to have a hind plate re-fitted and underwent a veterinary check at the start prior to being beaten just over two lengths that day.

The pick returns to a Benchmark 66+ handicap here while Patrick Carbery’s mount has gone well from a wide barrier in the past.

The son of Universal Ruler arrives here in good form and having finished in the top three in three of his four starts at this distance he is taken to return to winning ways.