It’s quality over quantity at Ascot on Saturday as their two-day autumn meeting concludes with a six-race card featuring four Pattern races ahead of a pair of quality handicaps.
Racing at Ascot on Saturday is from 1.30pm-4.25pm and you can watch all the action via live streaming when logged into MansionBet – alongside every race from the UK and Ireland. Our tipster has a race-by-race look at Saturday’s Ascot card.
1.30 – World Mental Health Day British EBF Stakes (Fillies’ And Mares’ Listed, 7f)
Having won at the Royal Meeting over C&D in June it’s not that hard to see Highfield Princess going well having more than held her own in Group races of late. The market has placed John Quinn’s filly as such. Every drop of rain that falls will come as a bonus for WITH THANKS and the William Haggas-trained Camacho filly may just get her ground today. Despite the numbers, this looks less demanding than the Newbury Listed race she contested against males a fortnight ago and, with that in mind, she earns the verdict.
Selection: With Thanks @ 9/2
2.05 – Oakman Group Rous Stakes (Listed, 5f)
Hurricane Ivor continues to impress, supplementing his win in the Portland at Doncaster with a hard-earned Group 3 win at Newbury a week later. He should go well again. In-form King Of Stars may force a good pace, with Strong Johnson another forward-going sort, and they may help set this up for KEEP BUSY to arrive fast and late. John Quinn’s filly wasn’t beaten far in the Group 1 King’s Stand over C&D in June and comes into this after a good effort at Ayr under top-weight two weeks ago. She gets allowances from the boys now and has her claims.
Selection: Keep Busy @ 7/1
2.40 – ABF/BGC Cumberland Lodge Stakes (Group 3, 1m4f)
Owen Burrows’ HUKUM was third in a strong renewal of the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes over C&D in June and has twice won in this grade since at York (1m6f, good) and Newbury (1m5½f, good). He was turned over on the all-weather at Kempton last time but that was a messy event and this stiffer track should see him back in the groove. Improving 3YO Title and Ebor runner-up Quickthorn spearhead the dangers to Jim Crowley’s mount.
Selection: Hukum @ 9/4
3.15 – John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes (Group 3, 6f)
Glen Shiel didn’t fire in the Sprint Cup at Haydock four weeks ago but is a C&D winner equipped to rebound now. Tabdeed is another of note while the likeable Summerghand is never crossed off in any haste but KING’S LYNN can give a good account at a decent price for Andrew Balding in the Royal colours. A Listed Haydock winner in May, he shaped well in the King’s Stand over 5f here in June and then ran a blinder four days later in the Wokingham over track and trip on soft, going close despite a 5lb penalty and a troubled run. After a break, he warmed up with a pleasing 5f spin in a Newbury Group 3 a fortnight ago and should be primed back at this venue tackling six-furlongs again.
Selection: King’s Lynn @ 8/1
3.50 – Equine Productions ‘The Fall’ Challenge Cup (Heritage Handicap, 7f)
So promising last summer when he recorded a hat-trick in handicaps, AL RUFAA has seen his progress stalled since. He ended last term with a listless run in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket and looked in need of the run when reappearing from 336 days off at Goodwood in late August. He has since finished a close second over 7f at Sandown, unlucky not to run down the cleverly-ridden winner Marshal Dan. That effort hints that the Kingman gelding is worth a crack at this stiff 7f and, from an unchanged mark, he can go well for the John & Thady Gosden team with Martin Harley taking the ride.
Selection: Al Rufaa @ 13/2
4.25 – McGee Group Handicap (5f)
Boundless Power has C&D form this season and returns here on the back of what amounted to a career-best when second to Hurricane Ivor in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster three weeks ago (winner won Group 3 next time/ runs in 2.05 race here today). He’s up 3lb for finishing second but Rossa Ryan’s mount is a player. REBEL AT DAWN is 6lb lower than when running well in a 19-runner C&D handicap (heavy) at the Royal Meeting in June. The 3YO has flattered to deceive a bit since but his mark is dipping as a result and he’s now 2lb below his previous win-mark with conditions in his favour and that one previous Ascot visit offering encouragement.
Selection: Rebel At Dawn @ 10/1
*All odds correct at time of writing.
