Ascot Racing Tips for November 8 - Captain Pluto is ready to win, 3rd-up

Steve Bennett

Editor

Last updated: 07 Nov 2025

Steve Bennett 07 Nov 2025

Share this article

Ascot hosts a 10-race meeting on Saturday 8 November
The track is currently rated a Soft 5. Weather Forecast: Fine.
American Escape can win Race 4, 2nd-up, draws well in gate 3.
Essentric Nature to win Race 6, won his past 3, Pike in the saddle.
Captain Pluto best of the day in Race 9, ideally drawn, Pike rides again.

Expired

Australian Horse Racing (Getty Images)

Ascot racing takes place on Saturday, November 8 with a 10-race program set down for Ascot racetrack.
We have the best bets picked from across the meeting with a Best Bet and other value selections for Ascot racetrack.
Race 4: No.8 American Escape
Race 6: No.5 Essentric Nature
Race 9: No.5 Captain Pluto

We have the best bets picked from across the meeting with a Best Bet and other value selections for Ascot racetrack.

Race 4: No.8 American Escape

The Daniel Morton-trained galloper is second-up here and ticks enough boxes to suggest she can play a leading hand in this event.

Last start, the American-bred mare resumed after 18 weeks off the scene and in need of the run, finished a respectable fourth in Heat 1 of the Westspeed Platinum Series, here over 1200m.

With William Pike aboard, she settled last of the ten runners before putting in a solid finish, passing half of them in the run to the line.

Fitter for Heat 2 here, she draws nicely in gate three and does little to no early work as she maps to settle neat mid-field in the bigger 13-strong field.

Pike sticks with her here and already a winner when second-up, she looks a serious contestant in this contest.

Race 6: No.5 Essentric Nature

The Team Williams-trained galloper comes of a hat-trick here and looks perfectly placed to add another picket to the fence in this event.

Last start, the Savabeel gelding made it three-straight when he finished best in a BM66, here over the 1400m trip with Pike in the saddle again.

Despite drawing the outside gate (11), he settled last of the eleven, then in the run home, Pike wound him up and he responded, arriving in time to grab the gold medal.

Up in grade here, he faces BM78 company but drops 2.5kgs and carries just 56kgs for the event.

Ideally drawn in gate three, Pike should have him settled mid-field or better and with a trouble-free run from there, the five-year-old looks set to bring up his third win on the Ascot track.

Race 9: No.5 Captain Pluto

Another from the Team Williams camp, Captain Pluto is third-up here and boasting previous success at the track, will take beating in this event.

Last start, the Savabeel gelding showed plenty of improvement off his first-up effort when he finished a respectable third in the Listed Northam Cup over 1600m.

William Pike was having his 12th ride on him that day where he drew the outside gate (12) and settled last before scouting wide on the turn and finishing strongly to grab the minor prize in the race.

The six-year-old posted the best closing splits for the race to be beaten just over a length on the line that day.

Much better drawn here in gate four, he maps to settle mid-field with cover and has Pike at the helm again.

Already a winner when third-up, a trouble-free run here should see him storming home again and should prove hard to hold out in this contest.