Ascot Saturday Preview - 10/07/21

The first race of the day from the Berkshire track is the seven furlong Novice Stakes and the Charlie Fellowes trained Atrium looks a solid bet.

The juvenile holds some of the best form heading into this event racing once and finishing a good third of eight at Doncaster on good ground.

Although he will need to reverse the form with the John & Thady Gosden trained Implore is sure to improve in a big way for his first run.

Big chance.

The Class 3 Handicap over 1m6f sees a decent field of stayers head to post and at a big price Indianapolis for Ian Williams could be a big place player.

The six year old having been struggling of late drops massively back in grade and has also seen his handicap mark fall like an avalanche.

He is a thorough stayer that has previous of winning at this track over 1m4f and now being 8lb lower than his last winning mark he could be a player.

Needs to bounce back.

The feature race of the day at Ascot on Saturday is the Group Two Summer Mile and this contest looks set up for the smart Sir Busker.

A highly campaigned handicapper, Sir Busker has amassed 25 runs and five wins during his career to date.

Most notably when winning the Silver Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot last year. Shouldering top weight, he finished like a steam train under Oisin Murphy to a thrilling success.

He nearly followed it up in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket but found the drop to seven furlongs too sharp to see him get the better of Motakhayyel.

Career best efforts soon followed with a second in the Group Two Celebration Mile and fourth in the Queen Elizabeth II, finishing just behind the superstar miler Palace Pier.

The straight mile at Ascot is certainly his bag and he returned with an encouraging third this term in the Listed trial for the Queen Anne Stakes.

He went over to France for his final bit of prep and he was underwhelming but bounced back in a big way last time out when finishing a superb third behind Palace Pier again and Lope Y Fernandez in the Group One.

That sets the standard in this race and with how much he loves it at Ascot he looks an obvious contender

Another smart contest at Ascot sees the Betfred Heritage Handicap over five furlong and the horse that takes the eye is the William Haggas trained Hurricane Ivor.

The four year old came over to Haggas this season from France and needed his debut at York when last of 12 on slow ground.

However, he bounced back to form in a big way when winning a decent handicap over 5f at Sandown last time out and if in the same form should handle the 5lb hike.

Andrew Balding is a trainer bang in form this week and in the Class 3 Fillies' Handicap over a mile he feels the talented Achelois.

This three year old showed ability last term as a juvenile, but this season has kicked on nicely and looks to be weighted to go close.

Having needed her debut at Salisbury she then went to Newbury in a Novice Stakes and was a narrow winner of a decent contest.

Last time out she headed to Sandown stepping up to a mile on Handicap debut and was a close up third and now running off the same mark as that looks dangerous in this field.

The penultimate event of the afternoon at Ascot is the Class 2 Handicap over 1m4f and the stand out pick is the William Haggas trained Dhushan.

The son of Sea The Stars cost €160,000 as a foal and then a further 150,000gns as a yearling and looks to be a very talented youngster,

Dhushan was seen once as a juvenile last term, finishing second at Goodwood over a mile, showing plenty of ability.

Stepped up to 10f, on seasonal debut he was a narrow second to the talented Too Friendly at Doncaster and then when going up a further 2f he got off the mark for his career at Haydcok.

Stepping up again last time out in the Edinburgh Cup he made it back to back wins, staying the trip out well and this distance looks to suit.

Progressive player who still looks to have not reached his ceiling

The final event of the afternoon sees the Class 4 Handicap over seven furlongs and the reliable Spanish Star is never far away.

The six year old is a very versatile runner when it comes to ground having performed well on both soft and good ground throughout his career.

Having won on soft ground at Leicester at the back end of last year, he then had a blip at Beverley on his final run of the season, but in November got back to form at Lingfield when a close second in a decent event, giving weight away to the winner.

He then came back this term over 6f at Ascot on soft ground again and was a close up third behind a horse that has since won again.

Since that event he has gone on to place three more time at Leicester, Salisbury and Windsor and the step up to 7f might bring more out of him.

Interesting.