There are quite a few meetings to go at tomorrow and I will tackle them in Alphabetical order.
At Ascot in the 1.40 I think that Trumpet Lily might be worth considering. She won at Windsor last month and has shown that she handles all types of ground.
The Victoria Cup (2.15) looks as competitive as ever. Zaahid, last season’s winner si 6 lbs higher in the handicap this time but is still one for the short list. Dhaular Dhar has run well on some of his previous visits to Ascot and seems to like these big field handicaps. He can get into the picture off his current mark. We’ll Come is admirably consistent which tends to count against him as he never gets any respite from the assessor. Even so he is another to consider. Opus Maximus ran a stormer from a poor draw at Chester today and if he lines up again he has to command respect. Lastly for my short list I like the look of Manjuro who was a fast finishing 4th in the Thirsk Hunt Cup last Saturday after getting away to a tardy start.
My idea of the 1-2-3 4 would be Opus Maximus, Manjuro, Dhaular Dhar and We’ll Come.
In the 4.00 Jimmy Styles runs off a mark 5 lbs higher than when winning the race last season. He is lightly arced however and may be open to further improvement. Although he has not raced for some time he has gone well fresh in the past.
Up at Haydock Redford is an interesting runner in the 4.50. He has always given the impression that 6 furlongs could be his trip and he gets the chance to prove it tomorrow. If he gets the right ground, he wouldn’t want it too quick, he should go well.
Dark Lane could be well handicapped and I can see him running a big race in the 5.25.
Lingfield stage their classic trials with the Oaks race the first at 2.40. Anice Stellato won nicely on her only start last season which was in a Newmarket maiden. Her dam won over 6 furlongs but there is some stamina elsewhere in her pedigree. July Jasmine is a half sister to Rob Roy and won her maiden at Leicester last season in taking fashion. That was on soft ground but her pedigree suggests she may be best suited by a sound surface. Midday was runner up to Debussy in the Blue Riband Trial against the colts at Epsom. One possible dark horse is Spirit of Dubai who is well regarded by connections and expected to leave her 2 year old form behind this season.
Midday has the form in the book while Anice Stellato and July Jasmine could, as they say, be anything. If pushed for a selection I would go with Anice Stellato.
Only 5 line up for the Derby Trial at 3.15. Sumbe disappointed at Newmarket but it is too soon to be writing him off just yet. Father Time was 3rd at Newbury and that form has been boosted by the 4th and 5th who have come out and run well since. Age of Aquarius must be respected on his 4th in a Group 1 at Saint-Cloud while Alwaary was 3rd to Crowded House on his racecourse debut before getting off the mark in a Yarmouth maiden. The Irish arider may well be top class but he looks likely to start at very cramped odds and I would be inclined to take him on with Father Time.
At Thirsk the lightly raced Atlantic Beach could well be ahead of the handicapper and is my fancy in the 6.40 while another that could be well handicapped is Sir Royal in the 7.10.
Today’s pictures are by kind permission of the artist Ruth Buchanan.
ahorse 