Newmarket 14:05: Indian Tygress
James Fanshawe’s filly has done little wrong in four starts to date – boasting a 50 per cent strike rate. She’s from a family that the trainer knows incredibly well, being a half-sister to Deacon Blue and also The Tin Man. She slots into this handicap – albeit a competitive one – with a rating of 83. That looks to underestimate her ability.
Ascot 13:50: Spring Loaded
This lad has long been a favourite of mine and he has not had things go to plan on his last couple of runs.
He ran at Goodwood and the downhill part of the track always seems to catch him out. It was also a similar story at Ripon where there is a severe dip and he just failed to handle it. Back on a more even track, we know he enjoys and with Adam Kirby on board – there are lots of positives about his chances in the opening sprint.
Ascot 14:25: First Eleven
Another runner on a busy Saturday with a tremendous pedigree, as he’s a half-brother to Kingman. He has much more stamina about him and has really come into his own since being stepped up in trip. He’s not tested on official ratings, but you had to be taken with the way he bolted up last time out at Newmarket. Surely, he’s the runner in this line-up with the potential for a massive chunk of improvement.
Redcar 14:45: Kodyanna
Richard Fahey’s two-year-old has had a fairly hard campaign running in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot and finished second in a Group 3 in France. I’m going to forgive her below par effort at Ayr last time, as it was on bottomless ground and she was previously well fancied for the big money sales race at York. She found herself in an impossible position early on and did well to finish as close as she did in fifth behind Red Balloons. Saturday’s quicker conditions and a middle draw will suit this each-way price runner under Jason Hart.
Ascot 15:00: Dream of Dreams
Sir Michael’s Stoute’s runner has not had everything go his way this season and connections kept running him over the long sprint of seven furlongs. I’m pretty sure that if they focused on 5f & 6f races, we would have seen everything click into place, A big, powerful, imposing runner, Dream of Dreams can be a bit of a handful. However, he seems to go particularly well for today’s pilot Adam Kirby. He’s also flexible as regards ground conditions – so it won’t matter if they get the anticipated rain.
Ascot 15:35: Escobar
Has always been a bit of a seven furlong specialist and he now he gets a really good opportunity to win a big pot over his ideal trip with a tidy draw in box five to boot, He was drawn on the wrong side the last time he ran at Ascot and was basically not knocked about as his race was over at half-way. He is one of only a few who has a couple of lbs in hand of the handicapper. Again, he looks like being a juicy each-way price.
Newmarket 15:15: Wind Chimes
The French challenger put up a remarkable performance last time when chasing home and absolute top-notch colt at Longchamp in Recoletos. She’s not flying under the radar as she put up a career-best performance last time. Karl Burke’s Laurens brings some top-notch form of her own. However, she has had a very tough campaign and this may be a race too far after her Matron Stakes’ win at Leopardstown.
15:05: Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe, Longchamp Sunday
It’s easy to go for the favourite Enable and she may well win comfortably. She looks to have had an ideal prep when winning at Kempton as she tries to retain the crown she won here last year.
From a value point of view though, Hunting Horn may well just slot under the radar at a massive each-way price of 50/1! He still looks to have improvement in him and he can be ridden cold from stall 12. Super sub Seamie Heffernan is on board. And Paddy’s paying the first four home!
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