Ascot Placepot picks: Paul Kealy's perm for the £50,000 guaranteed pool

Placepot punters should be prepared for non-runners at Ascot given the forecast rain, but in the opener (1.50) Crystal Casque won't have any issues with that. The veteran is in good form, too, and is drawn 13 of 14, which will be a bonus if the stands' side rail is favoured as it often is when the stalls are on the stands' side. Shaladar is another with no ground issues and goes in as well.

There's not much to go on in the next (2.25), but Seaplane ran well on his debut, will appreciate the extra furlong and is a half-brother to Sumo Sam who loves the mud, while Fifth Column was better than the result on his bow at Kempton and has some soft-ground winning siblings.

Another juvenile event follows (3.00), but this time Ballet Slippers looks head and shoulders above the opposition and is an obvious banker.

In the next (3.35), Diego Ventura has to give plenty of weight away, but he looks to have been found a soft enough target by new connections after being bought by Wathnan following his success in Ireland, and he's banked on too.

I was going to back both United Approach and Pearle D'Or for Saturday's big 7f handicap at the track, so have to include them in leg five (4.10) as it's a lesser race, while in the final leg, Bennetot and Navagio are the two who appeal most against favourite Awaal.

Ascot Placepot perm

1.50
4 Crystal Casque
5 Shaladar

2.25
5 Fifth Column
8 Seaplane

3.00
2 Ballet Slippers

3.35
1 Diego Ventura

4.10
6 Pearle D'Or
7 United Approach

4.45
5 Bennetot
6 Navagio

2x2x1x1x2x2=16 lines

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