Yesterday’s Review
Dora Milaje (111) – A strongly run race, and a career best on the clock from the selection. Unfortunately, it looks like she landed in a very strong contest for the grade. It will be interesting to see how this race pans out going forward whether the partcipants can reproduce their efforts.
Today’s Advice
Tales Of The Heart (6f Gp3) – A tardy start last time out looked to have cost this two-year-old filly any chance of getting involved in the Duchess of Cambridge Group 2 Stakes at Newmarket where racing prominently looked to provide a huge adavantage. The drop in class for today’s (1.50) Ascot should be more to her liking, and while the short priced favourite Simmering looks to have her measure on a line through Heaven’s Gate, I don’t believe we got to see the real Tales Of The Heart last time out on a line through Arabian Dusk. She looks the right price for a speculative interest to see if she can show her true colours with today’s drop in class.
Zarzyni (5f Hcap) – This hold-up performer has been hitting the crossbar a lot this season having been beaten a head twice and a neck once, and has not won a race in over two years. With plenty of pace looking likely for today’s (2.05) York, conditions should be perfect for Sean Bowen’s mount in this “Jump Jockey’s Nunthorpe” Handicap. The cheekpieces have been put back on to help him concentrate, and he really should be getting his head in front form this type of handicap mark, sooner rather than later. He looks the right price for a small interest in what should be a strongly run contest.
Sunway (11F 211Y Gp1) – The highlight of the day will be the (3.40) Ascot King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes where short priced favourite Auguste Rodin looks to have plenty in his favour. With the ground looking much more suitable for him, than when finishing tailed off in last year’s event on a much softer surface, backers will feel much more confident going into today’s contest. The ground has been advertised as Good To Firm (Good in places) with a going stick reading of 7.4. Clerk Of The Course Chris Stickels has put 3mm of irrigation on the track overnight, and the surface should be fair for all contenders. The selection is the only three-year-old in the field, and backers will be hoping he can follow in the footsteps of previous three-year-old winners Adayar, Enable and Taghrooda. He has been something of a nearly horse this season having been beaten a neck in a Group 3, and three quarters of a length most recently in the Irish Derby at the Curragh on Good ground. He has yet to race on a Good To Firm surface, so confidence today can only be at the lower end of the scale as to how he will cope with the ground. Nevertheless, it has to be said that his most recent effort has been his best so far, both on the clock (117), and on form (118+) Racing post Rating. Front runner Hans Andersen should ensure a decent pace, and we will be hoping jockey James Doyle, who won this race in 2018 aboard Poet’s Word, will have the son of Galiway nicely positioned for the turn for home. He looks worth a small interest getting eleven pounds from the favourite at the prices on offer.
0.5pt e/way Tales Of The Heart (10/1 Betvictor/Unibet, 9/1 General) 1.50 Ascot
0.5pt e/way Zarzyni (10/1 5 places General) 2.05 York
0.5pt e/way Sunway (14/1 General) 3.40 Ascot