The highly progressive Deacon Blues is as low as 9/4 favourite for Saturday's £250,000 added British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot (due off 2.25).

The four-year-old has been a revelation in the second half of this season; winning the Wokingham over course and distance back in June, before making the progression to Pattern class with ease when landing a Group 3 at Newbury, followed by further Group 3 successes at the Curragh and back at Newbury. His performance last time out was perhaps the most visually impressive as, despite running over a trip (5f) that was considered too sharp for him, he simply laughed at his rivals and was value for more than the one length winning margin. Back over 6f and on a course he clearly likes, he looks sure to make a bold bid for the five-timer and is a worthy favourite at a top price of 11/4 (Stan James).

For many punters, he will be the best bet on Ascot's star-studded card and they may well be able to get 3/1 or better on the day, but there is a note of caution concerning the ground - the going on Saturday will be faster than for his last four starts - and even his trainer James Fanshawe is worried, saying that he hopes the ground hasn't dried up too much. To be fair, he did win his maiden on good to firm at Leicester but it's still a question mark nonetheless and, given the quality of the opposition he faces here, the percentage call is to take him on.

His stablemate SOCIETY ROCK, for one, looks a huge danger and he's available at over double the price - 6/1 with bet365. The four-year-old initiated a red-letter day for Fanshawe at Royal Ascot by winning the Golden Jubilee Stakes and his record at the track now stands at two from three, with his only defeat coming in last season's Golden Jubilee, in which he was runner-up to Starspangledbanner. He does have to reverse form with current second favourite Moonlight Cloud (10/3 Paddy Power), who beat him by four lengths at Deauville last time, but a 4lb pull and a return to his favourite track gives him every chance of gaining revenge and, while he's the perceived stable second string, I doubt there's as much between the pair as the betting suggests.

I will be surprised if one of them doesn't win but these sort of races rarely go to type and with 12/1 or bigger available on horses outside the front three, there's plenty of scope for an each-way bet. You can make a case of sorts for eight of them but the one that takes the eye is the three-year-old LADIES ARE FOREVER at 20/1 with William Hill, who are one of several firms offering enhanced place terms of one quarter the odds the first three.

Backing three-year-olds at this stage of the season against older horses can be profitable as they get a generous weight-for-age allowance and this Monsier Bond filly gets a further 3lb sex allowance. She has the form in the book too having been beaten only a length into third place by subsequent Nunthorpe Stakes winner Margot Did at Ayr in June, and was a winner at York herself on her next start in a Group 3 when beating Dever Dream over 6f on good to firm ground. Connections then decided to put her away to allow her to grow (over a hand, apparently) and her owner Reg Bond was sounding quite bullish when interviewed on attheraces this week, admitting he'd had a "good each-way bet on her". I suggest you do likewise along with a win bet on Society Rock.

Recommended Bets:-

Society Rock 2pts @ 6/1 bet365
Ladies Are Forever 1pt each-way @ 20/1 William Hill (1/4 odds, 1.2.3)