Ascot 1.15 – Another competitive handicap which isn’t really
a betting proposition for me but there are one or two at a price which might be
worth a few quid each way. Zhui Feng loves this straight track at Ascot and won
the actual Hunt Cup off a mark of 100 a few years ago. He may not be the same
force of old but he should have claims off 94. However, it’s SUCELLUS who edges a tentative vote.
His stablemate, Presidential has seen plenty of money over the past few days
after his victory at the weekend but given the fact Ben Curtis jumps ship to
ride this former John Gosden horse suggests to me, this is the fancied Roger
Fell runner. He threatened to be tidy middle distance horse for John Gosden but
never quite delivered on his potential. A bout of wind surgery and a drop to a
fast run mile could be just what he needs and I’m hopeful of a good run at
20/1.
Ascot 1.50 – I have maximum respect for Kenzai Warrior here
after I was sweet on him for the Guineas but having to give 4lbs to a field of
likely improvers is going to be quite difficult. With that said I do expect him
to improve for the step up in trip but he could run his heart out and finish
third here. Same comments apply to Berlin Tango. First Receiver was impressive
on season debut and he looked ready to do the business that day. It’s
interesting connections have decided to send him here and with Frankie on board
he has to have maximum respect but I just get the feeling that RUSSIAN EMPEROR has more to offer than
his recent Derrinstown run suggests. His stablemate nicked it from the front
but Seamie Heffernan didn’t throw the kitchen sink at my selection, perhaps
with an eye on this race and he was very complimentary about him afterwards.
His trainer is a master and at 7/2 he could be a very good bet in a open but
tight event.
Ascot 2.25 – My followers will know how disappointed I was
when Kipps got done on the line at Haydock a couple of weeks ago when he really
should have won. Perhaps not such a bad thing as he lines up here off the same
mark but I do think he is very short now at 9/2. He clearly has a few pound in
hand but this is a big step up in grade and is probably best watched at a short
price. I’d rather take a punt on SUBJECTIVIST
at 20/1 with Ryan Moore booked to ride. He showed plenty at two given the
fact he is bred to excel over further and as a three year old being a half
brother to Sir Ron Priestley. A lot of these aren’t proven at this level and
have a lot to find whereas my selection probably has less to find after a
strong two year old campaign so therefore rates great value at 20/1.
Ascot 3.00 – JAPAN is
my horse to follow for the season so I just can’t have him beat here. I think
he is going to improve no end as a four year old and given how good he was at
three that is quite a scary prospect. He is short here and you are taking a
gamble on his fitness but he is trained by Aidan O’Brien so perhaps not such a
gamble. He was ultra impressive here last year, albeit over a longer trip, but
he downed last year’s winner of this race, Crystal Ocean, at York and that is
the best form in the book for me. Rank outsider Bangkok could be his biggest
danger.
Ascot 3.35 – The unexposed types will be at the forefront of
punters’ minds here but I’m siding with the tried and tested KYNREN. This horse is a standing dish
in these sort of races and deserves to have won more than he has done in his
career. He has had the misfortune of being on the wrong side of the track or
struggled to find a passage on more than one occasion but I’m hopeful he can
turn the tide here. He’s drawn 15 which is ideal as Ben Curtis can chose which
way he wants to go and follow the right horses. He’s high in the handicap but
he loves the track and will run his race.
Ascot 4.10 – This is a really tricky race to pick apart here
as a lot of these have any amount of improvement to come. Aidan O’Brien’s Chief
Little Hawk is at the head of the market and is probably short enough given
what he has achieved so far. I’m really sweet on The Lir Jet in the Norfolk and
STEADMAN wasn’t too far behind him
at Yarmouth on debut in a race which broke the track record. That was an
encouraging debut performance and if you can find a bookmaker offering extra
places, I’d certainly be looking to back this lad each way.
Ascot 4.40 – The new Copper Horse handicap looks a good race
with plenty of nice types in here. I was taken with Collide last week at
Chelmsford, that was a smart performance to win off top weight and he will have
to repeat the feat here if he is to gain victory. He could well be good enough
to do so but connections have stated he may need some cut in the ground and he
wouldn’t be guaranteed to get that here. FLOATING
ARTIST is a horse I really like and he would have a chance here despite a
big weight. He ran very well in a farce of a race at Newmarket on his comeback
and that would have blown away any cobwebs. He may be susceptible to an
improver down the bottom but I do think he has plenty more to come himself.
Summary
1.15 – Sucellus – 0.5pts e/w
1.50 – Russian Emperor – 1.5pt win
2.25 – Subjectivist – 1pt e/w
3.00 – Japan – 3pt win
3.35 – Kynren – 1pt e/w
4.10 – Steadman – 0.5pts e/w
4.40 – Floating Artist – 1pt ew
