Tomorrow sees the start of the Ascot Festival meeting and I will start tonight’s bulletin there. The first race, the 2.00 is a nursery, that is a handicap for 2 year olds. I have been following Byrony who is trained by Richard Hannon and the horse has now won 3 in a row. He has of course gone up considerably in the weights but I will stick with him until he loses. Another I like in this race is Apace a winner at Folkestone last month.
Another horse that I have been following is Michael Bell’s Hypnotized who runs in the 2.35. He has won a couple of times on the all weather at Kempton but has largely been disappointing of late. He tries a longer trip here but as he has tended to pull hard in his races I will keep a watching brief on this occasion.
In the 3.10 there are 3 horses that I have been following; Star Rover, Dungannon and Deacon Blues. I am not sure that either Star Rover or Dungannon are racing over their optimum trip here so I will plump for the consistent Deacon Blues who was a good third in the Portland handicap on his last start and has the benefit of Kieren Fallon in the saddle (who won for us on Jade at Pontefract today).
In the 3.45 I am going for the 100/1 outsider Funday. She is a sister to the hurdler Pigeon Island and I just think she may be better than she has shown so far.
There are some decent types in the handicap at 4.20. The connections of Bramshaw were very enthusiastic about him when they appeared on the Morning Line the other week and this lightly raced type is one to consider. For my selection though I have chosen Brick Red who was a winner at Kempton last month and may be ahead of the handicapper.
Haydock next and Muffraaj is an interesting runner in the 2.45. As the name suggests he is by Iffraaj who was Timeform’s highest rated speed horse of 2006. Leviathan will like the soft ground and is my selection in the 4.30.
In the 5.05 Lordship ticks most of the right boxes. He likes soft ground and has won 3 times for his jockey Jake Payne.
At Wolverhampton the Godolphin juvenile Tahaamah can make a winning debut in the 7.45.
Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Jane Dunn.
ahorse 