Deacon Blues has won 4 on the bounce and still looks to be improving. He is a course and distance winner at Ascot and should go well in the 2.25 although the hoing is probably not ideal..
The 3.35 isn’t a betting proposition but all eyes will be on the unbeaten Frankel. He is impossible to oppose but will be long odds on.
The 4.10 looks the pick of the Ascot card. Midday has only been out of the first 2 4 times in a 21 race career and has to be respected. So You Think has already landed 3 Group 1 races this season and was 4th in the Arc from a bad draw. Nathaniel has never been out of the first 2 in his career and has won both his starts at Ascot. He could just find this trip on the short side though. The unbeaten Dubai Prince is an unknown quantity but 3 year olds have a good record in this race. Snow Fairy has already been runner up to So You Think and Midday this season and comes here on the back of a 3rd in the Arc.
I do have concerns over the trip but I am going to go for Nathaniel who has had quite a light campaign and comes here fresher than most. Snow Fairy looks over priced and is worth an each way saver.
The 4.45 looks an impossible handicap. Striking Spirit is due a win and his last run was quite encouraging. The Confessor looks to have a leading chance, while others to consider include Noble Citizen who likes the track and the tough Dubai Dynamo. In these sprints I tend to go for one drawn high and one with a low draw. Confessor and Noble Spirit.
Over the jumps at Cheltenham Paul Nicholls saddles Tonic Mellysse, a winner at the Ayr Scottish Grand National meeting in the 3.15 while in the 3.50 Balthazar King will appreciate the ground. He is not very big but jumps well.
At Catterick Courageous is a tentative selection in the 2.55. When he won at Chester last month he was breaking a 25 run losing sequence. Now he has got the hang of winning he might be able to follow up.
At Kelso the 2.10 is an interesting little race. Lively Baron looks the pick with Vosges the main danger.
Lastly, at Wolverhampton Twisted is fancied to repeat his winning performance in the same race last season.
Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Jane Dunn.
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