What are the best bets at Ascot on Saturday?
1:55 Deloitte Rosemary Handicap (Listed Race) (Fillies & Mares) 1m
After being campaigned over 1m2f and 1m4f with mixed results, SAJJHAA looked all over a specialist miler when slamming Kinky Afro in a Listed race at Bath last month. She was value for more than her three-and-three-quarter-length winning margin that day and remains unexposed, which is more than can be said for some of her rivals. This is tougher but she holds several of these on her Bath running and my Newmarket gallop watcher reports her in fantastic form at home. At 5/1 with Stan James, she can get punters off to a winning start on what is a fantastic day's racing.
2:30 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings) 1m
Now for the day's good thing, FRANKEL. Or is he? As short as 5/1 for next year's 2000 Guineas after winning both his starts, the latest by 13 lengths in a fast time from two admittedly inferior rivals, the Henry Cecil-trained colt is expected to take this race in his stride. He's not a betting proposition at 4/11 (bet365), though, and I'd be slightly concerned about the soft ground as, although he won on soft first time out, he's likely to prove best on a faster surface. A race to watch and savour.
3:05 Meon Valley Stud Fillies´ Mile (Group 1) 1m
Godolphin's White Moonstone is on a four-timer after victories here in July, in the Sweet Solera at Newmarket and the May Hill at Doncaster, where she won eased down by five lengths. Like Frankel, she heads the market for a Classic - the 1000 Guineas (10/1 Paddy Power) - and after being supplemented into this race at the five-day stage, it will be a surprise if she's beaten. A surprise, yes, but not a shock and there are grounds for thinking that THEYSKENS' THEORY can beat her.
Brian Meehan's filly was never headed when winning over 7f at Newmarket in July and landed a tidy gamble when lifting Goodwood's Prestige Stakes on her next and latest start. The bare form may not amount to much but I believe she is the one with the most improvement to come and her smart turn of foot will stand her in good stead in the short Ascot straight. At 9/4 with Sportingbet, she represents a shade of value against White Moonstone, who is on odds-on favourite with all bar William Hill (Evens).
3:40 totesport.com Challenge Cup (Heritage Handicap) 7f
The Ayr Gold Cup winner Redford makes a quick reappearance here and, given the ease of his victory, he's a worthy favourite at a best-priced 7/1 with Ladbrokes. However, as a hold-up horse, he needs the breaks to come at the right time and he'll do well to get that two weeks running.
Redford's success gave the form of Side Glance, who had beaten him into third at Chester last time, a boost and Andrew Balding's course and distance winner must be high on the shortlist. He is joined by his stablemate Kakatosi, who is "better than a handicapper", according to the trainer, although he will have to be with 9st 4lb to carry. Kieren Fallon is sweet on the chances of his mount Axiom and he will be hard to keep out of the frame (five places with bet365 and Skybet) now he's regained winning form.
However, this is a race that tends to go to a relatively young handicapper with good form at the trip and with less than 9st to carry. Step forward SARASOTA SUNSHINE (11/1 Stan James) who arrives here on the back of a career-best effort in winning at Salisbury and prior to that was given too much to do when second over course and distance. Johnny Murtagh has been booked to do the steering and that will do for me.
4:15 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored By Sony) (Group 1) 1m
It's a shame Canford Cliffs misses the race and he would have been the selection for sure. However, there's still a fascinating race in prospect with last season's QEII winner RIP VAN WINKLE taking on the French-trained 2000 Guineas winner Mafki, who is odds-on favourite across the board. The pair stand out on form and, given there is little between them on their best efforts, the value call has to be the O'Brien horse at 11/4 with Ladbrokes. I've a feeling this is going to be a tactical affair and the short straight might suit the selection more as he will be ridden to pounce on the favourite, who wouldn't have the same turn of foot.
Selections:-
1.55 Sajjhaa
2.30 Frankel
3.05 Theyskens' Theory (NEXT BEST)
3.40 Sarasota Sunshine
4.15 Rip Van Winkle (NAP)
