As well as the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, there is a valuable 7f Handicap and David Elsworth’s Ripp Orf – who seems to have been around for years but is still only five – is the 7/1 joint favourite at BetVictor alongside David Baron’s Kynren.
Hugo Palmer’s Arbalet finished runner up in the corresponding race 12 months ago and looks to have been laid out for the weekend – he is 12/1 at BetVictor and he looks sure to go close.
There is a listed 7f contest for juvenile fillies at Sandown this afternoon and Light Blush (2.15) is taken to make it two out of two having won on the July course on debut. In the immediate aftermath of her win trainer Charlie Appleby suggested we wouldn’t see his daughter of Kodiac again until the end of August, yet here we are seeing her reappear just 12 days on. The hope is that she has thrived in the interim period.
The form of Maronnier’s recent C&D success was given a boost when the runner up Dreamweaver scored at Haydock and a 4lbs rise is unlikely to prevent him going very close in the 10f Handicap. Marginal preference, however, goes to Match Maker (3.20) who has won his last couple for Simon Crisford and has the scope to lump 10st to victory this afternoon.
Lady Mascara (3.55) is taken to go one better than when runner up at Nottingham when she improved for the step up to today’s trip. Oisin Murphy takes over in the saddle this afternoon from a 2lbs higher mark and she remains open to significant improvement after just five career starts.
In the opener at Southwell Tanrudy (11.25) was unfortunate to fall at Worcester last time when he appeared to stumble a couple of strides after the fence. Nigel Hawke’s 5-year-old was well backed on that occasion and Sean Bowen keeps the mount.
Four of the six runners in the 3m Handicap won last time including Irish raider Home Place (11.55) who was a facile winner at Uttoxeter last time and can defy what is effectively an 11lbs rise in the weights. The selection is the youngest in the field and looked an improved performer at both Limerick, on his penultimate start, and in Staffordshire last time.
Haafapiece (12.30) bumped into a course specialist when runner up at Worcester last time from a 1lb lower mark and he is taken to go one better for Pam Sly and Kielan Woods. Jamie Snowden – who recently became a BetVictor Brand Ambassador – saddles Carntop and his 6-y-old appreciated returning to hurdles last time when second at Ffos Las.
I feel Starczewski (3.40) could, and probably should, have won his last couple of starts and he is taken to make it third time lucky with Jamie Spencer taking over in the saddle for David Simcock. The selection is 3lbs higher than when a fast-finishing second at Haydock last time and certainly deserves to get his head in front.
In the 7f Fillies’ handicap at Doncaster this evening I hope Inhale (7.20) can make a winning handicap debut having shaped better than her finishing position would suggest when down the field at Newmarket on her belated seasonal/turf debut over a mile. Amanda Perrett’s three-year-old suggested on that occasion that a drop back in trip would suit and tonight’s 7f looks ideal.
For all the latest odds head to BetVictor.com and follow @BetVictorRacing on Twitter