Ascription can bounce back to form for red hot Palmer and Smullen

Trainer Hugo Palmer had a weekend to remember last week, winning two massive prizes, and he can land more success at headquarters this afternoon with ASCRIPTION, available at 7/1 with Betway in the Dubai Challenge Stakes (2.40pm).

 

Palmer saddled Sunday’s Prix de l’Opera winner Covert Love in Paris less than 24 hours after Gifted Master had scooped Newmarket’s valuable sales race.

 

He has his string in rude health at present, having sent out a further three winners from three runners since that Group One success. 

 

Things haven’t gone to plan with Ascription over the past couple of years, as injury forced him to spend the whole of 2014 on the side-lines. 

 

However, he has shown enough in a couple of his runs this campaign to suggest the fire still burns within.

 

He travelled really well when second to Cable Bay at Haydock back in May and when finishing in that same spot behind Hathal at Newbury three weeks ago.

 

The ground was possibly too soft for him last time and the return to a slightly sounder surface may well help. Last year’s winner Here Comes When and Breton Rock (who finished third that day) are both extremely untrustworthy and need more rain. A bigger threat may well come from Barry Hills’ Markaz.

 

Today’s feature, the Group One Dubai Fillies’ Mile (3.10pm), looks too hard to call as the formbook says that Minding should win after claiming the scalp of Ballydoyle last time. However, the ground was pretty soft that day and I’m not convinced.

 

A better bet may well be QUIET REFLECTION in the opener (1.35pm), who relished the drop back to five furlongs last time and can win again stepping up in class for Karl Burke.

 

Quiet Reflection 1.35pm Newmarket

Ascription e/w 2.40pm Newmarket