Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Ascot and York on Saturday. View selections below.
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ENABLE (3.35) can take her third Group 1 scalp of the season by routing the older brigade in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
John Gosden’s dual Oaks-winning filly can take full advantage of her weight allowance, having fairly routed her rivals at the Curragh a fortnight ago.
Recent rain will have heartened connections of Gosden’s second string Jack Hobbs, so disappointing on fast ground at Royal Ascot, and he will finish a lot closer to the admirable Highland Reel this time round. Gosden is leaving nothing to chance by also declaring pacemaker Maverick Wave.
Highland Reel also holds an advantage over subsequent Coral-Eclipse hero Ulysses on their Prince Of Wales’s Stakes running and will make a bold bid to retain his King George crown. He has drifted to a tasty price for each-way backers.
Highland Reel’s brother Idaho, winner of the Hardwicke Stakes at the royal meeting, also represents Ballydoyle with an each-way shout.
Benbatl, fifth in the Derby, found the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot a less formidable assignment but lacks the class to trouble these genuine Group 1 rivals.
CENTURY DREAM (2.25) continues to go from strength-to-strength and can complete his hat-trick for Simon Crisford.
His colt appreciated soft ground when hacking up at Doncaster in June and defied a 6lb rise on a quicker surface at Ayr 17 days later. Century Dream had hinted that a big summer was in prospect by running fourth to Defoe in a Newbury handicap back in May, a race which is working out very well. Ryan Moore takes the reins.
FASTNET TEMPEST (3.00) got no sort of run in the Royal Hunt Cup and was unable to show the burst of speed he utilised to land the Victoria Cup over course and distance in May.
The gelding can gain compensation in the Gigaset International Stakes, a typically trappy 7f handicap. Stall 24 is potentially a cracking draw near the stands’ rail and although William Haggas wouldn’t want to see any more rain for his four-year-old, ground conditions should be okay.
Fastnet Tempest’s usual cheek-pieces are discarded in favour of blinkers this time and that man Moore is in the saddle.
Remarkable finished just ahead of my selection in the Hunt Cup and the Gosden-trained gelding has shown a penchant for Ascot in the past, running fifth to Ribchester in last year’s Jersey Stakes and chasing home Yuften in the Balmoral Handicap on Champions Day.
If there is a track bias down the near side, then Viscount Barfield should go close from stall 28. A 3lb penalty for beating classy Jungle Cat at Chester isn’t insurmountable by any means.
The lady amateur riders have their big day in the sun and SUPERSTA (4.45) should give Hayley Moore a great spin in the Longines Handicap.
Supersta chased home useful Makzeem (runs in the 3.00) at Newmarket on good to soft in June, then backed that up with a solid fourth to Private Mission at HQ earlier this month when mounting his challenge on the slowest section of the track. Stall 3 isn’t ideal but Supersta should still run well at an ew price.
Jim Goldie saddled last year’s winner Hawkeyenoo, whose well-earned retirement was announced earlier this week, and the same colours are carried by Tommy G.
Classic Seniority finished fourth in this race last year but now races off a 13lb higher mark following his latest victory in the Scottish Stewards’ Cup at Hamilton. He is in the form of his life.
If rain falls on the Knavesmire, ALGOMETER (2.05) has decent prospects of turning round form with favourite Autocratic in the Sky Bet York Stakes.
David Simcock’s four-year-old was beaten by Autocratic in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in May when conceding 3lb and has since performed very well at Newmarket when filling the minor berth behind Hawksbill and Frontiersman.
Algometer is a decent tool when there is cut in the ground, as he proved when routing Dartmouth at Newbury last September.
Genuine soft ground would also be a big aid to Irish challenger Success Days, fourth to Decorated Knight in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in May.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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