Ascot Saturday Preview - 03/10/20

Ascot host the best card of the weekend in England in the first race of the day we have gone with the Roger Varian trained Daahyeh.

The filly has been a shining light for the yard over the last two years putting in some strong performances in group races and now dropping down to Listed company should give a bold showing.

The three year old has not finished outside the top two on all six of her runs to date, landing the Group Three Albany Stakes, Group Two Rockfel stakes and also placing in the Group One Fillies Mile at the Breeders Cup meeting on her final start last term.

Although this is her first race of the season, she should have the class to see off this field that don't have the same past form as she does.

More Listed events follow and the Rous Stakes over five furlongs sees a classy field of sprinters head to post and from a value angle Maid In India is our selection.

The Eric Alston trained mare has been a frequent runner in these five furlong events and holds some nice form this season when being in and around the frame.

Having finished third on good to soft at Haydock on seasonal debut she has come on from that to get involved in better races and off the back of his fourth of 14 at The Curragh in the Group One Flying Five Stakes last time out she should be feared.

Logician for John Gosden looks to be one of the bankers of the day for Punters in the Group Three Cumberland Lodge Stakes.

The four year old grey was superb last term winning all five of his events with ease, including the Group Two Great Volitgeur at York's Ebor meeting and rounding of the season by landing the Group One St Leger.

Since that win the Khalid Abdullah owned horse had been off the track for almost a year, suffering a severely life threatening illness during the winter, that gave connections questions on whether he would ever race again.

Fortunately for the team he was back in action and better than ever in a two runner Conditions Stakes at Doncaster and having come out of the race in good health, Gosden and connections have picked this race as his next stepping stone.

The big fielded Challenge Cup Handicap over seven furlongs sees 18 runners go to post and with that in mind we have two selections.

The first pick is the Clive Cox trained River Nymph and with the trainer having a fine season to dat there is no reason why this three year old can't run another big race.

The colt has been consistent this term with one place and two wins from his three runs and now seeking a hat-trick off the back of a good win at Newbury on soft ground lat time out, he has to be respected.

At a bigger price is the Charlie Fellowes trained King Ottakar who although hitting the frame has not finished off his races and now on attractive mark should feature.

Since finishing third in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot last season he has not been able to replicate that form in handicaps.

However, now on a mark of 100 which is his lowest for some time he should be able to outrun his double figure odds at a track he has performed at in the past.

The penultimate runner of the day runs in the Group Three Bengough Stakes over six furlongs and although having his first start of the season Cape Byron should be a class above.

The six year old landed back to back wins over course and distance last season when winning the Victoria cup an then backing that up in the Wokingham Stakes handicap at the royal meeting.

On his second to last start he won again at Ascot in this race on soft ground and in similar conditions he has to be on the shortlist once more.

The final runner of the day for us is the Richard Fahey trained Mighty Spirit and this filly has been progressive this season placing in some decent events.

Having been hit and miss at the start of the season the three year old has really upped her game finishing third in a Class 2 event at York which has since been franked and then backed that up with another third at Leicester last time out.

Dropping down another 1lb to a mark of 84 for this race makes her a very attractive bet and with the yard going well over the last few weeks she can not be underestimated.

She is 6lb lower than her fifth in the Holyroodhouse Handicap over course and distance at the royal meeting which was full of better runners than this event.