Horse Racing Tips: Timeform's best bets for Friday at Ascot

Ascot Betting Tips

13:50 Western
14:25 Olympic Candle
15:00 Seaward
15:35 Lenny’s Spirit
16:10 Tafreej
16:45 Man of Eden
17:20 Gulmarg

*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.

13:50 Western

WESTERN hasn’t been seen since making an encouraging start to his career at this track in May, but he hails from a stable whose debutants invariably come on plenty for their debut and are in red-hot form at present, so he looks a sure-fire improver, especially with the step up to six furlongs in his favour. Cajetan proved a major disappointment at Lingfield last time, but he was runner-up in an excellent time at Salisbury on his penultimate outing and would have major claims if returning to that sort of form. Nemov is a newcomer to note in the betting.

14:25 Olympic Candle

OLYMPIC CANDLE started a big price on his debut in a strong-looking race at Newbury last month, faring best of the newcomers despite showing clear signs of inexperience. He was green when asked for his effort around two furlongs out, edging to his left but still finishing with running left. He seems sure to improve for that initial experience and is taken to come out on top in an interesting maiden. The Aidan O’Brien-trained Kestrel holds Group 1 entries and has to be feared on debut, especially if strong in the betting.

15:00 Seaward

Ralph Beckett is enjoying another terrific season and his SEAWARD is taken to build on the promise she showed on debut at Newmarket in August. She was an expensive purchase and was well backed that day, producing a good first effort but just undone by inexperience and a lack of speed. She should have sharpened up plenty for that experience and can make it count here against a field full of newcomers. Catch The Light, who cost 500,000 guineas as a yearling, looks particularly interesting on paper.

15:35 Lenny’s Spirit

LENNY’S SPIRIT has thrived in amateur company under Sophie Smith this summer and they are fancied to take the drop back to a mile in their stride to notch a fourth success of the campaign. She had a bit up her sleeve at Haydock last time and a subsequent 3 lb rise shouldn’t be enough to stop her. Ideal Guest remains feasibly treated on his best form and arrives in good heart, so shouldn’t be ruled out, whilst One Step Beyond and Shaladar complete the shortlist.

16:10 Tafreej

TAFREEJ opened his account for the season in a useful handicap at Yarmouth in June and he has performed well in defeat in both of his starts since. He let himself down at the start at York last time, but typically gave his running, switched for his effort two furlongs out and running on all the way to the line. He comes out well at the weights in this classified event and seems sure to launch another bold bid. Saxon King, who is also weighted to have a say, is feared most ahead of Out of Shadows.

WELCOME TO PP NEWS: NEW TO US? CLICK HERE FOR OUR £/€20 SIGN-UP OFFER

16:45 Man Of Eden

MAN OF EDEN has been particularly unlucky not to add to his Newcastle success in some competitive handicaps this summer, not meeting as much trouble at Windsor last time but still only beaten half a length. The straight mile at this course should be tailormade for him and, though he is proving hard to win with, he is again of interest from a mark he can win from. Bluelight Bay also arrives at the top of his game and Major Partner deserves plenty of respect for all that he’s a lot more exposed than the aforementioned pair.

17:20 Gulmarg

Several of these are shortlisted, with GULMARG marginally the pick. He quickly bounced back from an uncharacteristic poor effort at Newmarket in June when just edged out at Kempton and a reproduction of that would give him every chance. De Bruyne’s turn is surely near and he is second choice ahead of Pastiche, who remains of interest despite rather fluffing her lines last time out.