Luvyourracing

O’Meara has the Nak for a big handicap winner

Haydock & Kempton selections Saturday 5th September

A much wetter week has transformed the going at Haydock to heavy so on one of the big days of the year at the Merseyside track I am looking at mudlovers for the three big races. I also have a selection for the London Mile final at Kempton. Our quest for each-way value on soft ground last week went ok with Fondo Blanco second (advised 25/1) and Stem placed as well (advised 7/1).

Kempton 2.20: Warrior Mode

In a typically open looking London Mile final, the suggestion is WARRIOR MODE who qualified for this race by winning one of the final qualifiers last month and looks a faster and stronger horse since a belated start to his 2026 campaign.

Having been gelded and had a wind operation since last season, he produced a very promising comeback when third over 7f at Newmarket in July, despite getting outpaced 2f out. Stepped up to a mile here next time, he produced a strong finishing burst from the rear of the field and justified strong market support in the process.

Hold up tactics don’t always work around here, but he narrowly failed to make all the running at Newcastle last season so can be ridden handier if required. However with plenty of early pace likely here, then that should help the selection whatever the tactics applied.

Haydock 2.30: Lopeo

There is no doubt that LOPEO is at his best on soft ground, as is the case with so many of David Menuisier’s string and a return to testing conditions can bring out the best in the gelding today.

A heavy ground winner of a novice at Goodwood at this time last year, he might have finished last of five to today’s rival Galilean Quality at Pontefract next time, but was only beaten 5l and is a whopping 18lbs better off today.

This season started well with a couple of second places at Doncaster, including over this 14f distance, albeit on fast ground. However he looked all at sea on a similar surface when last running at the Newmarket July meeting and he has clearly been saved for an autumn campaign since once the weather turned. The only concern is that the trainer has gone nearly two months without a win, but he has plenty of near misses in that run.

Haydock 3.05: Ashnak

We have a short priced favourite in Aegean Prince for this handicap, but given the horse has not run this year, and is taking part in his first handicap, I am looking elsewhere and ASHNAK looks solid each-way value.

He spent his first two season racing in his native France where he boasted a heavy ground success at Chantilly amongst his profile, so today’s ground should be no issue. It has been a season of steady improvement since joining David O’Meara as the wily handler gets to know his new charge.

He was a solid third at Ripon behind Prydwen in April and then ran a cracker for fourth at the York Dante fixture. He got a rare chance to race on soft at Ayr in June where he produced a strong performance to place second to Square Necker. I think we can forgive him his last run at York on rattling fast ground, which was officially given as an excuse. It is interesting that Danny Tudhope prefers Ashnak to the well handicapped Stressfree from the same yard.

Haydock 3.40: Almeraq

Although he has not had a chance to race on soft ground for a while, the imposing ALMERAQ has already displayed plenty of prowess on a testing surface and can demonstrate that by landing a second Group 1 of the season in an arguably below par Sprint Cup.

He needed every yard of the 6f to win a star studded Jubilee Stakes at the Royal meeting, but had to contend with very fast ground that day and with stamina coming more into play on a softer surface today, he should be able to keep up more easily in the first half of the race.

The combination of fast ground and a largely downland track cost him in the July Cup at Newmarket last time, but on the only occasion he encountered slower ground in 2025 he hacked up by 5l in a competitive handicap at Ayr. He also ran well on his first two runs of his career as a juvenile on genuine soft ground including a comfortable win at Yarmouth. He is the highest rated horse in the race, so with the going no issue he can confirm those ratings today.

Recommended bets:

1pt each-way – Warrior Mode – 2.20 Kempton – 5/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)

1pt each-way – Lopeo – 2.30 Haydock – 8/1 general

1pt each-way – Ashnak – 3.05 Haydock – 11/1 general

1pt win – Almeraq – 3.40 Haydock – 100/30 general

Let’s look for some soft ground value horses

Sandown & Goodwood selections Saturday 29th August

An unseasonably wet day today means that the going is likely to be a good bit softer at both Sandown and Goodwood than was advertised overnight. As such I am looking at horses that will be capable of handling a bit of cut and therefore in a position to run much better than they have been doing of late on fast summer going. We came close in the big sprint handicap at York last Saturday with Far Above Dream (advised 18/1) beaten a nose and Coul Angel (advised 18/1) third but collecting for the each-way wagers.

Goodwood 2.00: Fondo Blanco

This season has been something of a write-off for FONDO BLANCO as yet. A belated return at Royal Ascot saw him well down the field (though he was second of the six that stayed on the unfavoured far side). He was then last in the Shergar Cup Mile under an unfamiliar jockey. However both those runs came on very fast ground which I don’t think is ideal.

He finished 2025 in great form when second on soft over this 7f trip at Ascot, before cruising home by 4l over a mile at Haydock on ground that will be similar to today. He then did well enough to finish fourth in a listed race at Nottingham at the very end of the campaign. A strongly run contest over 7f might be ideal for him and hopefully the softer going today will see him leave his recent form behind.

Sandown 2.15: Alcarath & Stem

Two horses who have been running well this summer, but shape as if they will prefer some cut today are fancied here.

ALCARATH has run with credit in three decent handicaps this season, but goes into this race relatively fresh, and I suspect trainer Alan King has been keeping him back with an autumn campaign on softer ground in mind. His last run was over this course and distance where he was beaten just a head by Dangerman.

He carried his head high in the closing stages as if he was not in love with the faster ground and I suspect he will be able to let himself down in the closing stages more easily today. A wide margin winner of a novice at Epsom last autumn, a rating of 90 looks very workable and with King’s string in such great form he looks the one to beat.

STEM won here last month over this 10f trip despite the fast ground, but is profile is all about softer ground and we can see an even stronger performance from him today.

You can ignore his last run in the Shergar Cup where 12f seemed too far and he was ridden by an unfamiliar jockey with no experience of horse or track. His win here showed he could cope with faster ground and that he remains well handicapped. On his first racecourse appearance he hacked up by 10l at Newbury on heavy, so every drop of rain will be in his favour and last season he finished 2025 with successive second places at Ascot and Newbury on good-to-soft.

Goodwood 2.35: Oneforthegutter

A few of these horses have something to prove stamina wise stepping up to 12f on softening ground and a value option might be ONEFORTHEGUTTER who will have no problem with staying the distance, nor with some cut in the ground.

In truth he has shown very little since winning a valuable handicap over 14f at Newmarket last July off a mark of 92. This season he has been running without the usual cheekpieces and the best he has done is to beat four horses home at Ayr in June. He did shape quite well though that day, the one occasion he has faced soft ground this season.

He also ran well in the Shergar Cup last time when beaten less than 3l over 2m. It looked as if he did not quite stay the distance that day and whilst a f4 drop in distance is quite dramatic, at least the softening ground will ensure a stamina test. Crucially the cheekpieces are restored for the first time in 2026.

Goodwood 3.10: Ebt’s Guard

A fascinating Group 2 can go to a horse who has generally plied his trade in top handicaps in EBT’S GUARD.

His one foray into pattern company came when he finished a highly creditable second to Ice Max in a listed contest at Nottingham last autumn. He has run some absolute crackers in defeat in handicaps this season, highlighted by a fourth in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot and a third on the Coral Challenge at Sandown.

He has been forced to run on fast ground pretty much all season, which he handles fine, but I feel he is at his absolute best with some cut. That includes a second at the Glorious meeting of 2025 on soft to Rhoscolyn over this mile before a third place on soft at Ascot. What he does enjoy is a strong end-to-end gallop which sometimes doesn’t happen in class 1 contests. However the presence of Boiling Point and Seagulls Eleven should ensure no hanging about and I can definitely see this 5yo at least running into a place as a result.

Recommended bets:

0.5pts each-way – Fondo Blanco – 2.0 Goodwood – 25/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)

1pt win – Alcarath – 2.15 Sandown – 7/2 general

1pt each-way – Stem – 2.15 Sandown – 7/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)

0.5pts each-way – Oneforthegutter – 2.35 Goodwood – 18/1 general (1/5 odds 1st 3)

0.5pts each-way – Ebt’s Guard – 3.10 Goodwood – 12/1 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 3)

Emit can pour it on in the Ebor

York selections Saturday 22nd August

All too soon we reach the final day of four at York and today should be the best day weather wise of the week. It also looks the most exciting from a punting perspective, highlighted by the big betting race of the week, the Ebor. I have two selections for the big race, but have also looked at two of the other big handicaps on an ultra competitive card. Blue Courvoisier kept up the good week when winning the opener on Friday’s card (advised 8/1), whilst Say What You See was placed for the each-way bet (advised 12/1).

York 2.25: Mythical Bay

It has certainly been Andrew Balding’s week so far on the Knavesmire and he can achieve another big race win through MYTHICAL BAY in the Melrose, a race the stable won last season with Tarriance.

This horse ticks all the right boxes given he is already a winner at this 14f trip, when just touching off Magnetude at Newmarket, despite idling in the closing stages. Prior to that he had won on good-to-soft at Newbury, this time with far more comfort, so there are no stamina or ground issues as far as this gelding is concerned.

He is also improving dramatically, that win over Magnetude avenging an earlier defeat against the same horse at Chester in May. Given the stable form he does seem a sensible each-way angle.

York 3.35: Emit & Klassleader

Another classy Ebor featuring several horses usually too highly rated for handicaps and verging on group class.

That is certainly the case with EMIT who won a listed race at Gowran last season before a pair of Group race seconds in France in the autumn – both on ground with plenty of cut. His third place to Scandinavia at Navan in the spring reads well over this trip and he is definitely a strong stayer at 14f.

His last two runs have been his first two in handicaps. Firstly he was a staying on fourth at the Curragh, probably coming from too far off the pace, and then things happened just a bit too quickly over 12f at Royal Ascot. The short finishing straight did not allow enough time for his stamina to come into play of the quick ground. However 2f extra, slightly slower ground and a longer run-in all look likely to see him in a better light.

KLASSLEADER is completely unexposed and deserves another chance back on some slower ground. Beaten in two fast ground novice events at the beginning of his career, he got off the mark on slower ground at Ffos Las before a promising second at Haydock completed his opening campaign, that run confirming his ability to stay 14f.

He was very well backed for his return here at the Dante meeting and justified that optimism with a classy win over 12f, seeing off the same horse that beat him at Haydock, Sing Us A Song. He blew out in the Old Newton Cup at Newmarket last month, but seemed all at sea on the fast ground. His breeding,by Lope de Vega out of Klassique is all soft ground, so the dig still remaining in the York turf will surely see him back to form today.

York 4.10: Far Above Dream, Flash Harry & Coul Angel

Hot favourite Dance in the Storm looks a ridiculously short price for a horse that has never run over this short and as such I am going to chance my arm with three bigger priced horses.

First choice would be FAR ABOVE DREAM who has caught the eye with the way he travelled in both the Wokingham and Stewards Cup before not quite finding as much as expected off the bridle. However his stamina might just have been ebbing at Ascot, whilst he got a bit isolated on the near side at Goodwood and I thought Kieran Shoemark kicked for home about 100 yards too early.

He won on heavy ground at Goodwood last season, so hopefully he will cope with slightly slower ground today. I also think this flatter track might seem him to better effect and if Shoemark can be a little more patient, Far Above Dream can gain due reward for his summer efforts. I think he might be drawn favourably in the centre.

FLASH HARRY is a huge price, but there definitely were signs of a return to form when ninth in the Stewards Cup last time, despite stumbling at the start. He looked very promising last season, winning twice, including at Goodwood and he looks a pacy sort over 6f which should be good for this fast, flat track.

Indeed his pilot in the Shergar Cup overdid things on him last season when trying to make all over this 6f distance before fading in the final 100 yards. He did not show too much in his first two starts of this campaign, but I was encouraged by his Stewards Cup effort and if he can handle this slightly slower ground, his current price is an insult. Horses have often come near side for the final day at York, so his high draw could prove more advantageous than normal here.

COUL ANGEL has a more obvious chance based on his last run where he ploughed a lone furrow down the near rail, almost to maximum effect when beaten only by Stratusnine in the Sky Bet Dash. He had already run well at both Windsor and Newmarket this season and seems best coming from off a strong gallop.

That should happen here and he happens to be drawn 20 of 20 so another stint along the near rail could be in the offing. That might be more beneficial today as discussed with Flash Harry. He has only raced once on softer going, but was a good second at Windsor on that occasion, so should have no issues with the going, though it will be drying by race time.

Recommended bets:

1pt each-way – Mythical Bay – 2.25 York – 6/1 general (1/5 odds 1st 5)

1pt each-way – Emit – 3.35 York – 11/2 Unibet (1/5 odds 1st 6)

1pt each-way – Klassleader – 3.35 York – 15/2 Unibet (1/5 odds 1st 6)

1pt each-way – Far Above Dream – 4.10 York – 18/1 William Hill (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)

0.5pts each-way – Flash Harry – 4.10 York – 66/1 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)

0.5pts each-way – Coul Angel – 4.10 York – 18/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)

Let’s Build on this week’s winnings

York selections Friday 21st August

Friday at York is highlighted by the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes with many of the fastest horses in training taking each other on – but on a slower than ideal surface for some. I have one selection for the big race, but also have focussed on two of the major handicaps on the card. Blue Brother was placed for the each-way bet yesterday (advised 17/2).

York 1.50: Blue Courvoisier & Jeddaal

The opening contest definitely requires two stabs given its open nature.

BLUE COURVOISIER did this column a good turn when winning the Silver Bowl at Carlisle in May and this prominent racer was able to make virtually all that day on a track that lends itself well to front-runners, similar to York. He was not then seen to best effect at Royal Ascot when trying similar tactics in the Britannia, where hold up performers are much more suited.

However he was back to form at Glorious Goodwood last time when third against older horses over 9f. I would expect Rossa Ryan to get this horse up front from an early stage, aided by a low draw into the early bend. One imponderable is the slower ground which he has not encountered before, but at least that will place a greater emphasis on stamina, which is definitely in his favour.

On the other hand JEDDAAL will have no issues with some cut as he won well under similar conditions at Chester in June. He had already run with credit on softer going at Doncaster last season, but he looked a bit immature last season and being gelded over the winter seems to have improved him.

He was only beaten a length on his last start at Thirsk, but did not look as comfortable on the fast ground that day and I am sure he will be more at home on today’s going.

York 3.35: Rayevka

There seems no doubt that the pace from this race will come low with Bacio in the field. However a headwind and the softer going might blunt that speed and there were definite signs yesterday that being drawn low might not be the usual advantage on the straight track.

As such RAYEVKA makes plenty of appeal from stall 12. For one shall is fully proven with cut having won her first race by a wide margin on soft at Chantilly as a juvenile, but more recently she won on soft at Longchamp in a Group 3 in the spring.

That was a rare outing over the minimum trip, but has prompted connections to keep her to that distance and she almost rewarded them when just touched off by Mission Central at Royal Ascot. A strong end to end gallop at 5f seems to be the key to her and she makes plenty of each-way appeal

York 4.10: Master Builder & Say What You See

There are two stand outs in this race and I will be backing both.

MASTER BUILDER looks to be best fresh and confirmed as much when well backed and justifying that support in winning over this course and distance at the Dante meeting. Second on his seasonal debuts in 2024 and 2025, he was simply not the same horse in the second half of last season, finishing down the field on a regular basis.

That did mean him dropping well down the ratings, but it looks like he is being trained differently and presumably this race has been the target for some time, as he has been kept fresh over the summer. He has been upped 7lbs but remains 4lbs below the mark on which he started 2025 with a fine second in the Great Metropolitan at Epsom. Third in the 2024 Melrose here, the long finishing straight and flat track at York is clearly suited to him.

SAY WHAT YOU SEE steps up in class here, but has been very progressive and this horse will have conditions to suit as connections have been at pains to keep him away from fast ground this summer. He was a comfortable winner at the Leger meeting at Doncaster last season (though later disqualified for a banned substance in his system) on similar going to today. He then started this season with a solid third at the same track on good-to-soft again.

When there was some rain around in early June he was able to win back to back over a 4 day period at both Pontefract and here, first time cheekpieces apparently helping on the latter occasion. Given the recent drought, the only run he has managed since was on the All Weather at Southwell when a strong finishing second. However he has found his ground today and he remains on a good racing weight, making him strong each-way value.

Recommended bets:

1pt each-way – Blue Courvoisier – 1.50 York – 8/1 Bet365, William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)

1pt each-way – Jeddaal – 1.50 York – 14/1 Betfred, Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 5)

1pt each-way – Rayevka – 3.35 York – 13/2 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 4)

1pt each-way – Master Builder – 4.10 York – 6/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)

1pt each-way – Say What You See – 4.10 York – 12/1 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 5)

Blue is the colour

York selections Thursday 20th August

Onto Day 2 at York and in truth, this looks very much the weakest card of the week for punting purposes. The big stand out though is the mile handicap featuring several old favourites and quite a few unexposed types. I have two selections for this one. We got off to a perfect start to the week with a 1-2 in the opening sprint, Air Force One (advised 8/1) leading home Corolla Point (advised 11/2) for the each-way bets. The other selection Small Fry then won the staying handicap (advised 5/2).

York 3.00: Cerulean Bay & Blue Brother

Two improving 5yo’s are fancied for this wide open handicap. It is no surprise to see Centigrade put up at a short price given his high class form in novice contests. However this is his first handicap and he will find things happening much quicker today. As such I think he is worth opposing.

Main choice is definitely BLUE BROTHER. This keen sort was made too much use of in the Golden Mile at Goodwood last time, but ridden with a little more patience today can pay dividends. After exactly a year off the track, he made a tremendous reappearance when fourth in the Buckingham Palace at the Royal meeting over 7f. However this sharp mile looks an ideal trip for him.

Formerly trained in France, he has plenty of form on soft ground, including a win in a handicap on Arc weekend at Longchamp in 2024. That bodes well for his claims here given the track is sure to be racing on the slow side by race time.

CERULEAN BAY is more exposed but continues to threaten and defy the handicapper and win a big handicap. You can forget his run under an unfamiliar rider in the Shergar Cup, where the smaller field and slower gallop were also against him. Prior to that though he had finished a superb second in the Golden Mile at Goodwood off the same mark of 105 as today.

Whilst he has yet to win a race at York, he has run some cracking races here, notably when second to Bullet Point in this race on last year’s card, and again when second over this trip at the Dante meeting. He is also fully proven on a soft surface – his form on softer than good reading 482113, so conditions won’t be an issue.

Recommended bets:

1pt each-way – Blue Brother – 3.0 York – 17/2 Bet365, Unibet, BetVictor (1/5 odds 1st 5)

1pt each-way – Cerulean Bay – 3.0 York – 18/1 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)

Point the way for a successful start to Ebor week

York selections Wednesday 19th August

The North stages arguably its biggest fixture of the season this week with the Ebor fixture at York. After two months of non stop heat and sun, this week looks somewhat different and the card could even kick off on the soft side of good with morning rain predicted. I am starting the week looking at the two big open handicaps on day 1.

York 1.50: Corolla Point & Air Force One

I have narrowed down my shortlist to two by picking the two horses most adaptable to ground conditions.

COROLLA POINT has been the model of consistency throughout his relatively short career and in six starts since joining Ed Bethell has yet to finish out of the first three. He narrowly but bravely defied top weight in the Soba Handicap at Hamilton on his last start, that photo finish win ensuring he only went up a further 3lbs in the handicap.

The extra half-furlong today could be crucial as he shapes as if he does want a bit further than 5f now. He already has a cracking run at this track to his name when third at the Dante meeting over 5f and was then only just touched off on the All Weather in the Gosforth Park Cup.

However he showed his prowess on soft ground when winning on his last start of 2025 at Hamilton on soft ground, before beginning this campaign with a solid staying on third at Beverley when there was some dig.

The horse who beat him at Beverley that day is my other selection AIR FORCE ONE. Despite a solid season since, he is actually 3lbs better off with Corolla Point to confirm form. He is certainly in the form to take advantage of that.

His last run saw him place third here over 6f at the last meeting, despite pulling too hard off an unusually slow pace for a sprint. Whilst 6f probably stretches his stamina, this intermediate distance will suit ideally, as it did when he was second in this race at last year’s meeting. That run came after winning over 5f here the previous month, so he is well suited by the Knavesmire.

York 4.10: Small Fry

After an incredibly unlucky defeat at Glorious Goodwood, SMALL FRY can make amends around this far more conventional track where luck in running should be in better supply.

This horse was very progressive for Gary Moore in early 2025, winning a handicap at the big Chester meeting before justifying favouritism for a 12f handicap on Derby Day at Epsom. Prior to that he had shown excellent form with cut in the ground in late 2024, winning at the same two tracks.

He was then purchased to join Joseph O’Brien for the end of last season. He was only ninth in the Irish Cesarewitch, but has come back better than ever this year. Second over hurdles at Listowel in May, that was essentially just a warm up for Royal Ascot where 2m4f might just have stretched him when only sixth in the Ascot Stakes.

Dropped back to 14f at Goodwood last time, he would surely have won but for getting badly shuffled back 2f out. That he recovered to finish second was hugely to his credit and he should really have no problem staying the extra 2f today. A 4lbs rise should not stop him.

Recommended bets:

1pt each-way – Corolla Point – 1.50 York – 11/2 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 6)

1pt each-way – Air Force One – 1.50 York – 8/1 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)

1pt win – Small Fry – 4.10 York – 5/2 general

Harry Fast enough for Great St Wilfrid

Newbury & Ripon selections Saturday 15th August

As we build up to York there are no massive feature races today, but nevertheless there is plenty to enjoy with Ripon staging their feature race of the year, the Great St Wilfrid Handicap. I have two selections for the big race, plus a best bet from the card at Newbury

Newbury 2.35: Humam

A very useful horse when allowed his own way in front, HUMAM jumped back to form when nearly making all at Newmarket last week. With plenty of hold up horses in opposition, he has another chance here to dominate.

He kept going well up the hill at Newmarket, though not as well as Arctic Dawn who came through to win in the closing stages. This gelding was a very impressive 7f handicap winner on fast ground at York last season and I think a flatter track like Newbury will allow Humam to hold off challengers.

The one likely battle for the lead will be with favourite Scoville, but that rival looks better off over a mile and a current mark of 88 does look very workable for Humam.

Ripon 3.25: Fast Track Harry & Fortification

An open looking Great St Wilfrid, despite a slightly smaller field than usual. First choice for the race is FAST TRACK HARRY who bounced back to form in first time cheekpieces at Ascot last time.

A horse who until now has been best fresh, winning first time out in 2024, 2025 and now 2026, he actually won his first two starts of this campaign on the All Weather. The second was an excellent win at Newcastle over the highly progressive Stratusnine, only narrowly defeated in the Stewards Cup recently.

His form tailed off after that although he was a perfectly respectable eleventh in the Wokingham beaten only 5l. However he travelled really well, perhaps too well in the headgear at Ascot last month, cruising to the front over 1f out before tiring late on. He was ridden with more restraint that day and I suspect he will be raced more handily here which is more his natural running style.

Three year olds have won a fair few versions of this race over the years and FORTIFICATION has solid claims back up to 6f. He put in a remarkable performance to win at the Dante meeting at York over 5f, given he was out the back for much of the race.

Fourth there in a valuable handicap just as week later, he showed he stays 6f just as well when a fast finishing third in the very valuable 3yo handicap at the June meeting again at York. His last run can be ignored as he was bumped coming out of the stalls, but surely he will be better off at this trip and he is being claimed off today meaning he is effectively only 3lbs higher than for his spring win.

Recommended bets:

1pt each-way – Humam – 2.35 Newbury – 17/2 general (1/5 odds 1st 3)

1pt each-way – Fast Track Harry – 3.25 Ripon – 13/2 Unibet, Betfred (1/5 odds 1st 4)

1pt each-way – Fortification – 3.25 Ripon – 17/2 general (1/5 odds 1st 4)

Consistent Guard an each-way must

Ascot selections Saturday 8th August

The Shergar Cup is the centrepiece of today’s racing action. Not a meeting that I am greatly enthused about in truth given unfamiliar jockeys riding horses they don’t usually ride. However that said 10 runner handicaps are definitely of interest to me, so I will have a stab at the four races open to older horses. Far Above Dream was placed for the each-way bet in the Stewards Cup last week (advised 7/1).

Ascot 1.35: All Ways Glamorous

We start with the fastest race of the day over 5f and the fastest horse in the race is likely to be ALL WAYS GLAMOROUS.

In a race where several of the entrants are definitely better at 6f, here is a 5f specialist at the top of his game. He has been progressive all season apart from one run when fitted with cheekpieces that he appeared to resent. Two of those runs have been here, looking likely to win on his comeback before the lack of a recent run took its toll and he was caught close home.

He made no mistake in a small race at Ffos Las next time, but back here last time, he beat a competitive field, making all and running right through the line. Yes he is up 5lbs and this is probably a stronger contest, but given his natural pace against 6f rivals, he could prove difficult to peg back.

Ascot 2.10: Hermetic

Ian Williams targets this meeting and runs three this year in the Stayers. HERMETIC looks the likeliest.

Already a winner in his native France last season, he started his new career with Williams running over just 12f at York in May. His run there was full of promise, staying on into a solid fourth following a six month absence from the track.

It looked like he was all at sea on soft ground at Goodwood next time, but he ran a cracker to be fourth on the All Weather in the Northumberland Vase last time, proving his stamina once more for 2m in the process. Whilst he does have to prove himself on rattling fast ground, a handicap mark of 81 looks fully exploitable and this horse has plenty of pace for a stayer in a race where there is no guaranteed early pace.

Ascot 2.45: Night Breeze

It looks diffficult to look past the obvious here and go with the in form NIGHT BREEZE who also bids to back up a win in this same race in 2025.

This horse is improving year on year and in fact won twice over course and distance last season. He has thrived on his racing this season, winning the Great Metropolitan at Epsom with ease in April, just two days after running at Musselburgh. Whilst he has been beaten on his last three starts, he has run with considerable credit in all.

He coped really well with unsuitably soft ground on Derby Day back at Epsom when second to mudlover Too Soon. He was then third in the Old Newton Cup at Newmarket before coming from a long way back to take third at Goodwood last week dropped back to 10f. A return to 12f will help, a smaller field will allow this hold up horse to be closer to the pace and in Dylan Browne McMonagle he has a jockey who should be a positive to his chances.

Ascot 4.30: Ebt’s Guard

The finale to the day looks best left to perhaps the most consistent horse in training in EBTS GUARD.

Of course this horse is handicapped to the hilt, but always runs his race having placed in massive handicaps at Newbury, Sandown and in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot this summer. He had plenty of excuses at Goodwood last week when stuck on the rail with nowhere to go in the final 2f.

All tracks come alike to him, but he runs particularly well here as he won this race last year from a 5lbs lower mark and then went on to place second in the Balmoral on Champions Day. He has dropped to his lowest mark of 103 this season, just a pound higher than that Balmoral run and is tactically versatile so it is difficult to see him out of the frame however this race is run.


Recommended bets:

1pt win – All Ways Glamorous – 1.35 Ascot –7/2 general

1pt each-way – Hermetic – 2.10 Ascot – 6/1 Unibet (1/5 odds 1st 3)

1pt win – Night Breeze – 2.45 Ascot – 5/2 Bet365

1pt each-way – Ebt’s Guard – 4.30 Ascot – 11/2 William Hill (¼ odds 1st 3)