14:30 Ascot
Not many from this outfit win first time out, and when they do it’s significant. Given how green Just Wonderful was you can expect a huge chunk of improvement and Wading, her dam, was a highly rated juvenile for the team. Her profile is strong.
15:05 Ascot
Rostropovich smashed his rivals at Chester and was kept away from the English Derby in favour of the French equivalent. You could say they were protecting Saxon Warrior from his stablemate. He returns back up in trip on a faster surface and that is key. Donnacha O’Brien is booked and that’s not a negative.
15:40 Ascot
Emblazoned could go very well at a big each-way price in the 3-year-old sprint division, not too far behind Sands of Mali at Haydock and that was just his fourth lifetime start. Drawn in the middle, our red hot pilot can decide which side he needs to go. Sioux Nation is going to be short and Emblazoned rates an unknown quantity.
16:20 Ascot
Alpha Centauri is a beautiful big powerful race mare and is coming in off a huge win in the Irish 1000 guineas. The ground is also a big factor in her chance as she’s not at her best with ease in the conditions. Arguably unlucky in last year’s Albany at the Royal Meeting, she can gain compensation this time.
17:00 Ascot
Di Fede showed what she is capable of when changing tactics last time at Leicester. Held up, she showed a tremendous change of speed to put a small but select field in their place. Back at a track where she had previously shown good form from the front, expect a different run-style today. Only nudged up 4lbs for that could well underestimate her.
17:35 Ascot
This will be the first time Thundering Blue gets to stretch his legs over this distance, and judging by the way he hit the line strong at York it’s going to be in his favour. Upped 7lbs for that bloodless victory to a rating of 100 shouldn’t prove too big a barrier. Frankie Dettori getting the call up speaks volumes for the trainer’s belief that a big run is in the offing.
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