Saturday
It’s the final day of the flat season tomorrow and although I don’t think it’s a vintage renewal there are plenty of high class horses on show.
TRUESHAN is fancied to put a below par performance at Doncaster last time out behind him and gain a convincing success here. I think he is much better than any of these but didn’t show that last time out for whatever reason, there were plenty of excuses to choose from. The softer conditions will definitely suit and the 2/1 about him currently could look massive come 1.30 tomorrow afternoon.
The Champions Sprint looks wide open but ROHAAN looks to have obvious claims. I would have rather he stayed at around the 5/1 mark as he was earlier in the week but his course record speaks for itself and punters have obviously latched on to him. The softer ground shouldn’t hinder him and providing the gaps fall right I think he will take some beating.
Perhaps the most enticing race for punters is the closing Balmoral handicap where I think the most value can be found. I quite like two in the race, starting with STORMY ANTARCTIC who runs in his first handicap at the age of 9. He’s been a grand servant to connections over the years but it does appear that he requires a step down in grade in order to get his head back in front. He has been showing enough to suggest there is life left in the old boy yet and I’m hoping the drop back into handicap company can allow him to go close.
I’m disappointed not to have got this piece out earlier in the week as MIGRATION was 16/1 then and has since halved in price. He has a welter burden on his back but with William Buick booked I sense shrewd connections have had this race mapped out for him for quite some time. He won’t mind conditions nor will the long break have an affect on him as he has run well fresh before. I would rather a bigger price but I think he is a solid each way selection. Ascot 1.25 – Trueshan
Ascot 2.00 – Rohaan
Ascot 4.40 – Stormy Antarctic / Migration
