Ascot Friday Preview - 23/07/21

The first horse of the day for us at Ascot on Friday comes in the Fillies' Novice Stakes over seven furlongs and Ephrata for John & Thady Gosden could be a potential improver.

Gosden's horses are known for needing the run and markedly coming on for it next time out and we are hoping the same happens with this horse.

The daughter of Ghostzapper was seen making her debut at the start of July over 7f at Newmarket and although only beating one home, showed a glimmer of hope.

She is bound to improve for that and with this field holding plenty of unknowns we are backing the ability of the Gosden's.

Another event for the juvenile's sees the Maiden Stakes over six furlongs and the horse that takes the eye is Ehraz for the smart Richard Hannon.

This chap goes down as one of our best bets of the day having been seen once to date making seriously eye-catching progress when second behind the smart Noble Truth at Newmarket.

He drops down to 6f which shouldn't be a problem and going off the trainers record in this race, with Hannon winning five of the last six renewals of this race, he could be banker material.

He is sure to improve again and the turn of foot he showed in the final part of his debut run was something to get excited about.

One to beat.

Moving on to Class 3 Handicap for stayers, we have sided with youth in this event and gone with Star Caliber for the inform Andrew Balding.

The three year old has only been seen four times to date, making his debut in September last year when winning at Goodwood over a mile on good ground.

Since then the son of Golden Horn has been seen three times this term, needing the run on his comeback at Epsom, but since then has stepped up in trip at Bath and Chester and performed well.

We are expecting the extra distance today will only bring him on and getting weight allowance because of his age is another big bonus.

Interesting runner.

The feature race of the afternoon sees the Group Three Valiant Stakes over a mile and the returning Indigo Girl should be a class above this field if fully tuned up.

The three year old has been seen three times during her career, all as a juvenile and having now been off the track since October she returns in what looks a very winnable race.

Indigo Girl made her debut at Yarmouth on soft ground beating a fair field by three lengths last season and then improved from that at Doncaster next time out when taking the Group Two May Hill Stakes.

She then stepped up to Group One company for the first time in her life in the Fillies' Mile at Newmarket and she was a narrow second to the smart Pretty Gorgeous.

Her form far out weighs the rest of the field and if spot on for her return should win.

The penultimate selection of the day in Berkshire comes in the hot Class 2 Handicap over 1m4f and although the favourite Grand Bazaar looks to have a big chance, the value lies with Labeebb.

The Simon & Ed Crisford trained gelding was a bright star last season and although not hitting the heights of his form yet this term, he has a big race in him.

He made his comeback run in April over 1m4f at Wolves and was a fair third in a decent handicap and then backed that up in a better race at York when fifth of 15 behind the smart Ilaraab.

On softer ground last time out he was a close up third again behind the progress Quickthorn and now returning to good to firm conditions, off a mark of 88, he looks to have place claims at a nice price.

We round of our selections at Ascot this Friday in the Class 2 Handicap over five furlongs and serial winner at the track Significantly looks to hard to oppose.

The three year old has been a highly consistent animal for this trainer over the last two years, placing in 11 of his 13 events, whilst going on to win three of them.

He got off the mark in October last year over six furlongs and then backed that up on his seasonal debut at Newmarket when a good second behind the smart Creative Force, giving weight away.

The was second again over 5f behind the smart Dragon Symbol and took all that form to Royal Ascot when landing the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap by a head.

Still improving he was quickly sent back over the same course and distance at Ascot to land another decent handicap off 4lb higher.

He has gone up another 6lb but he loves the track and conditions and can't be faltered for how progressive he has been of late.