Ascot Saturday Preview - 02/10/21

The first race of the day at Ascot sees the Listed October Stakes and at an each way price we are siding with the William Haggas trained With Thanks.

The four year old was a bright spark last year on soft/heavy ground and having not had that yet this season has not put his best hoof forward.

Running in Listed events on quick ground and the all weather of late it has not suited but when running on heavy ground his figures are 1121 and with the rain set to come down on the Berkshire track he could be a big player.

Another nice Listed event on the card is the Oakland Group Rous Stakes over five furlongs and we think the Michael Dods trained Dakota Gold could have a big say.

The seven year old is experienced sprinter in similar events and seems to do his best work with cut in the ground which means he should get his ideal conditions.

At the back end of last season the gelding came into his own on soft ground landing a hat-trick of wins in Listed and Group Three company.

This term having been running on quicker ground we have not seen the best of him but his only run with cut in the ground saw him finish a narrow second at Chester.

Having won at this meeting last year and over course and distance in the past, he has the potential to run a big race at an each way price.

One of the best races of the afternoon at the Berkshire track on Saturday is the Group Three Cumberland Lodge Stakes over 1m4f and Hukum could be tough to beat in the soft ground.

The four year old colt was a decent two year old, only racing twice and getting off the mark at the second time of asking at Kempton over a mile.

Burrows always planned to step this horse up in trip and on his seasonal debut last term he landed the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot in gritty style.

The way he battled and stayed on that day showed he could handle a bigger trip and when stepped up to 1m5f in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury, he was a runaway winner in soft conditions.

Both these runs set him up perfectly for a crack at the Group One St Leger at Doncaster, but on the day he was outstayed by better horses and had to settle for fifth.

He returned this season at Sandown in the Group Three Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown over 1m2f and looked to need the run in the final stages.

As expected he came on for the run last time out when getting off the mark for the term in the Listed Tapster Stakes at Goodwood back over 1m4f and that put him spot on for a go at back to back Royal Ascot winners.

He headed into an above average renewal of the Hardwicke Stakes and plugged on well in soft ground to grab third behind the dual Group One winner Wonderful Tonight.

Many horses coming out of that race have franked the form and Hukum added to that roster of animals when next time out landing the Group Three Silver Cup Stakes at York in taking style.

He made it back to back wins next time out at Newbury when taking the Geoffrey Freer Stakes for the second time in his career.

Looking for the hat-trick he went to Kempton on the all weather for Group Three September Stakes and when looking like the winner of the race was outdone near the line by the progressive Hamish.

It was still a nice run although being a beaten odds on favourite and back on turf with soft conditions in his favour he could be tough to beat.

The final big race of the afternoon sees the Group Three Bengough Stakes over six furlongs and Great Ambassador for Ed Walker looks to have a big chance.

The four year old gelding has been frequently seen this term in handicap and more recently Listed events and in his last seven events has not finished outside the frame.

Starting the season off at Newmarket in a good handicap when finishing third, he then went to Goodwood on soft ground and finished a narrow third in the Stewards' Cup.

Running to a high standard he then went back to Newmarket and got off the mark for the season in a decent race that has seen the form franked on numerous occasions.

He then backed that up at York when taking a good Listed event with ease and last time out he was a narrow loser in the Ayr Gold Cup.

Versatility with ground and consistency with performances are big things on his side and it would be no surprise to see him go close again.

The final selection of the afternoon from us sees the Class 2 Challenge Cup Handicap over seven furlongs and we have gone with the consistent Escobar to run another big race for connections.

Handling both soft and good at a track he loves he fits the profile for this race in a big way and at 14/1 having not been far behind the market leaders in recent times, it makes him the value.

He has been frequently campaigned this term as always, but of late things have seemed to click when a good second behind Aratus at Goodwood and he then backed that up with another close second at Sandown in Listed company behind the smart Mostahdaf.

Although the second top weight off a mark of 106, he has ran credible races this term off similar marks and with him very rarely running a bad race at this track he looks a big contender at what looks a big price.