Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle unpicks four big handicaps at Ascot on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Racing, plus the two feature events at Haydock and Kempton. ALMERAQ is on a retrieval mission after flopping in the July Cup, but he can clinch his second Group 1 of the season in the Betfair Sprint Cup (3.40) at Haydock Park on Saturday. A combination of the fast ground on an undulating track may have been his downfall at Newmarket, but my husband Tom [Marquand] reports his mount fresh and well for an assignment he should relish. Shadwell’s colt came of age in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and has proven form on soft ground, which I expect will bring the best out of him.
Clive Cox’s Coppull looked a colt going places when stepping up to seven furlongs to win the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury and arrives at Haydock in rude health. He’s a Group 1 winner in waiting but he’s never encountered soft ground before which will raise a question mark if he takes his chance. The step up to seven furlongs is ideal for another William Haggas horse, THUNDER CALL, who reappears in the Schweppes Handicap (1.40) at Ascot on Saturday. He was doing his best work in the closing stages of the Shergar Cup Sprint at this track last month and remains well enough treated off 93 to capitalise under Cieren Fallon.
I also respect the chances of Michael Dods’ gelding Northern Express who loves this track and is only 2lbs higher than when scoring over seven furlongs at York two starts ago. I certainly don’t think he’s making the long trip from Darlington for no good reason. Heyzoom has been gelded since finishing a creditable fourth to St Leger fancy Enceladus in the King George V Stakes at the Royal Meeting and looks sure to go well in the Tote.co.uk Money Back 2nd Handicap (2.10) at Ascot. However, Owen Burrows’ three-year-old comes up against a formidable opponent in DECADE OF TIME who has been in great form this year and has been crying out for the step up to this 12-furlong trip.
Since winning his novice, Jack Channon’s colt has produced two solid runs in 10-furlong handicaps at Newmarket and Goodwood. He won’t be troubled if the rain comes, either. At a bigger price, Andrew Balding’s improving Kameko colt Cape Fear streaked away from his rivals at Windsor 12 days ago and can make an impact if this race hasn’t come too soon. The quicker they go the better for reliable sprinter HAVANA BLUE who should get the race run to suit in the Club 26 Handicap (4.35) at Ascot.
Julie Camacho’s gelding gained reward for a string of seconds when getting his head in front on the July Course at Newmarket last time and remains well handicapped off a mark of 85. I’m also prepared to forgive Fast Track Harry a disappointing run in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon last month. He’s better judged on his second to Amazing Journey over this course and distance in July while rain would be welcome for northern raider Golden Mind who is well handicapped on last year’s slow ground form. West Acre has become very disappointing but continues to fall down the weights so it would be nice to see him show that old sparkle off a mark of 99 in the closing Tote.co.uk For Racing & Sports Betting Handicap (5.10) at Ascot.
My idea of the winner, though, is Ed Bethell’s filly FLUORESCENCE whose beating of Badri at Pontefract was paid a compliment when that horse made the frame in the Listed Beverley Bullet. The daughter of Twilight Son ran well in Listed company in the summer so her new mark of 97 shouldn’t prove prohibitive in this ordinary handicap, especially if the ground is on the fast side of good. The highlight of the afternoon at Kempton Park on Saturday is the William Hill September Stakes (2.50) which looks a good opportunity for the classy GETHIN to get back to winning ways. Owen Burrows’ colt has taken on the likes of Ombudsman and Constitution River since winning a Listed race on the Polytrack earlier this year so should find this less taxing.
Godolphin’s Tornado Alert was a Group 1 winner in Germany last year and isn’t to be underestimated. He should sharpen up for his close fourth in the highest company there last time while Pride Of Arras is a danger to all if he can build on his great effort behind Item in the York Stakes. That brings me to Constitution Hill, who will have his fan club out in force for this steep step up in grade. This will be a searching test of his capabilities on the Flat against hardened stakes horses, but I hope he can keep the dream alive with a bold performance.
