1:15 Lingfield
The opener from Lingfield is the Oak Trial, a listed contest over an extended 1m3f.
The favourite GISELLE (no bet) will take the world of beating here for the Coolmore operation. She was the best of these by a good distance at 2, and with more improvement to come at 3, she looks a lively Oaks contender. She can land this before bigger targets await.
1:35 Haydock
We head up to Haydock for the 1:35, the competitive Swindon Handicap Hurdle over 2 miles.
The one for me is ANYHARMINASKING (12/1) EW for the Jonjo O’Neill yard. He appeared to relish the switch to a quicker surface when bolting up at Newcastle last time out when coming from off the pace to win going away. This strong gallop again on quick ground will suit him well and with that win last time out likely to have done his confidence the world of good, I think he can run another big race at a decent price. He’s up 4lb for that win but he had dropped significantly in the weights throughout the season so there is definitely still scope off his current mark.
1:50 Lingfield
Next up is a tricky handicap from Lingfield over 1m2f.
The one for me is HAMLET’S NIGHT (6/1). A recent addition to these shores for the Kubler yard, he improved from his debut to go down a head at Haydock last time out. He was well-backed that day, which suggests connections think he’s better than his current market. Under similar conditions, today off just 1lb higher, compensation for last time may just await.
2:05 Ascot
The first of three live races from Ascot is a fillies’ mile handicap.
The one for me is ARASAIG (5/2). A decent 3-year-old campaign last season, which saw her in the winner’s enclosure twice in decent handicap contests. She’s returned to action this season and after blowing the cobwebs away on seasonal debut, she looked really unlucky at Goodwood last time out where she just couldn’t get a run stuck in traffic. That was a listed race and back in a handicap here, I think she’s the one they have to beat.
2:25 Lingfield
The 2:25 from Lingfield is another tricky handicap, this time over the extended 1m3f trip.
I think CANDYMAN STAN (11/8) NB is the one here. The promising 3 year-old returned to action at Brighton last month and won cosily by 5 lengths going from the front and kicking clear. Similar tactics won’t be a problem in this field as he will get his own way out in front again looking at it. He can continue on his upward curve and defy the 7lb rise.
2:40 Ascot
The competitive Victoria Cup Handicap over 7f is up next.
It is TEN POUNDS (9/1) EW for me who’s progressing at a rate of knots and is capable of putting up a bold show in this off a mark of 102. Four victories from his last five starts, he’s on an upward curve. He was well-backed on seasonal debut last time out, suggesting connections believe he’s trained on well, and he duly oblige,d beating the solid Fifty Nifty a shade cosily that the neck winning margin suggests. I think he’ll appreciate this type of test and off 3lb higher, he’s the one for me in this competitive affair.
3:00 Lingfield
It’s back to Lingfield for the listed Derby Trial again over the extended 1m3f.
It’s hard to get away from PUPPET MASTER (11/8) NAP in this. The Aidan O’Brien yard have won all the trials this week at Chester and look to hold a strong hand in the middle distance classics this season yet again. Puppet Master has a run under his belt, and it was a run full of promise when chasing his stablemate Delacroix at Leopardstown. The form has a strong look to it and the second has since won the Chester Vase. Ryan Moore rarely gets it wrong when choosing the right one from the yard and I’ll put my faith in the fact he has done so again here.
3:15 Ascot
The last race from Ascot on ITV is a 1m4f handicap.
I’ve landed on FIREBLADE (11/2) here for the shrewd Dylan Cunha yard. A really consistent sort for the Gosden yard, he appeared to improve for the switch of stables when making a winning debut for the yard last time out at Leicester. That can be marked up as he had a rough passage there and done incredibly well to win. With fitness on his side and coming here in career best form, he’s the one I like.
3:35 Lingfield
We end proceedings with the Group 3 Chartwell Fillies Stakes over 7f.
I like SPIRITUAL (9/2) in this from the Gosden yard. The promising front runner will bowl along in front and on this lightning fast ground, they will struggle to get by her. She’s the only pace angle in this race, so she should get her own way in front. She’s been running well over the mile but getting reeled in within the last furlong. This drop back to 7f looks ideal to me and I think she has strong claims.
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