*Some odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing/Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason, you will lose your stake under traditional antepost rules on those races.
* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Tuesday 15:05 – The Acropolis
It is interesting that Aidan O’Brien has selected only THE ACROPOLIS to run from four original entries this opening juvenile contest of the week, The Coventry Stakes, only nine days after losing his maiden tag.
A rangy and powerful looking juvenile, he strode away from his previous conqueror, Thunder Eclipse, as though that rival was standing still and has any amount of improvement in him after looking very green on his debut. The selection has a lovely fluent action with a devouring stride and there is only one way he will go from here on in.
In a massive field for this six furlong event, I have also been impressed with the likes of the Wesley Ward trained Kaufymaker, the only filly in the field, along with the hat-trick seeking Ebro Rover and Andrew Balding’s Berkshire Shadow. The latter should relish the step up to this stiff six furlongs and looks a very classy juvenile in the making.
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Wednesday 17:00 – Beat Le Bon
This famous one mile cavalry charge requires not only a well handicapped horse, but luck in running and I think the set-up of the race should prove perfect for BEAT LE BON. Top of the ground and a fast pace is all important to this former winner of the Golden Mile at Goodwood and he is now 1lb lower than for his impressive success at the ‘Glorious’ mid-summer meeting.
The key to his chance is settling in the opening quarter mile and not racing too prominently as that trends to set him off and use up too much petrol through the first half of the race. If he has a good draw and the gaps open up late on, he looks way over-priced.
Of his rivals, last year’s Balmoral Handicap winner Njord, along with Juan Elcano, could also feature prominently. The last named arrives here following a wind op and this could just be the type of race he excels in off a mark of 107 in what looks a typically high-class renewal.
I also wanted to briefly mention Dreamloper today as I feel she could be one of the better bets of the week in the Kensington Palace Handicap at 18:10. Ed Walker’s team are in sizzling form at the moment and this Lope de Vega filly has run two outstanding races at the Berkshire track in her brief career.
Thursday 18:10 – Lord Campari (E/W)
Shelir will surely go close in this competitive 7f handicap following two fine runs this season at Epsom and Haydock Park, but I can’t resist an each-way play on the very lightly raced four-year-old LORD CAMPARI. Just over six lengths sixth behind the smart Palace Pier on his career debut and only juvenile start at Sandown Park, he followed up that run by waltzing away with a fair novice event at Newbury on his three-year-old debut.
He was then way too keen in the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at the Newmarket July meeting and couldn’t raise a leg in very soft ground in a Group Three at Deauville. Subsequently off the track for 266 days, but following some good home work, he was sent to the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury first time up this season and although again too free early on he belied his 50/1 price tag by finishing a very fair fifth of the 11 runners.
This level will be much more his cup of tea and on good ground I expect a massive run as long as Andrea Atzeni can settle him in behind horses for the first quarter of a mile.
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Friday 15:40 – Diligent Harry (E/W)
Capanelle and Suesa dominate the betting for the Commonwealth Cup on Friday, but the each-way value could lie with the all-weather king DILIGENT HARRY. The Clive Cox-trained youngster hosed up in the three-year-old all-weather championship race at Lingfield and would be four from four in his career but for an unlucky run on his third start.
Sand horses have a great record at Ascot and he can prove a tough nut to crack for his market rivals. The main danger to him could well be the heavy thunderstorms which are predicted on Wednesday night into Thursday morning, but on top of the ground the son of Due Diligence is the most likely entry to turn over the market leaders.
Saturday 17:00 – Pierre Lapin (each-way)
Having seen him twice in the flesh as a two-year-old, I formed the opinion straight away that PIERRE LAPIN was a sprinter, pure and simple, and he looks a fascinating value each-way play in the Wokingham Handicap on Saturday.
Massively unexposed compared to the majority of his rivals, his two worst career runs have come when there has been give in the ground, but a fast-run race over a stiff 6f on top of the ground, looks certain to suit him.
He did blow out over the course and distance in last year’s Commonwealth Cup, but he took an early bump that day which sparked him off and meant he ran loose through the first half of the race. Added to the fact that the ground was on the slow side and that run is easily forgivable.
As always in this big-field handicap there are any number of dangers, including the weather, along with King’s Lynn and top weight Summerghand who is well served by a race of this nature.
Value antepost Ascot plays this week
Tuesday 15:05 – The Acropolis
Wednesday 17:00 – Beat Le Bon
Thursday 18:10 – Lord Campari (E/W)
Friday 15:40 – Diligent Harry (E/W)
Saturday 17:00 – Pierre Lapin (E/W)
*Some odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing/Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason, you will lose your stake under traditional antepost rules on those races.
* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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