Just stick with House and Hubert in Ascot Stakes
LOOKING at the betting for the Ascot Stakes (5.00pm) and it appears to be at the mercy of the Irish with three of the first four in the market being saddled by the Mullins family.
Ryan Moore has won this race three times for Willie Mullins and they team up again with favourite MC Muldoon who switches back to the Flat after a decent spell over hurdles.
He is as short as 4/1 which seems pretty short for one not certain to relish the fast ground or see out the marathon 2 ½ mile trip.
In fact, I prefer the chances of the Emmet Mullins-trained Cape Gentleman despite the fact that he has to shoulder topweight.
He will be popular in the market as he is the mount of Grand National-winning jockey Rachael Blackmore, will stay the trip and should be fine on the ground.
However, I am going to side with two English-trained runners in JUST HUBERT and ROCHESTER HOUSE at 12/1 and 22/1 respectively.
The pair finished first and second in an epic renewal of a handicap over this trip on a sound surface at Glorious Goodwood last season.
Just Hubert prepped for this with a lovely run on ground far too soft for him at Haydock last month.
The William Muir and Chris Grassick team have been in terrific form of late and I expect this one to go well despite landing a poor draw out in 19.
Old rival Rochester House didn’t fare much better and didn’t have much luck when trapped out wide for most of last month’s Chester Cup fading into eighth late on.
He finished fifth in this 12 months ago of a 1lb lower mark and goes well for today’s partner Silvestre de Sousa.
The Mullins team saddle the favourite in the last too with Saldier as short as 3/1 for the Copper Horse Stakes (6.10pm).
He may be really well handicapped, but he wouldn’t be for me at the prices and I prefer a couple at double-figure odds.
ARTHURIAN FABLE looks to have been primed for this with a prep run at Newmarket last month that would have blown the cobwebs away.
He was most impressive last season when he encountered this trip and fast conditions at Sandown and looks over-priced at 12/1.
I’m also prepared to take a chance on Mark Johnston’s HOCHFELD who is another at home when he rattles of the ground over this distance.
Conditions were never going to suit at Goodwood last time and he is better judged on a good third in the Chester Cup and a nice win on fast ground over this distance at Nottingham.
POINTERS
Rochester House e/w 5.00pm Ascot
Just Hubert e/w 5.00pm Ascot
Arthurian Fable e/w 6.10pm Ascot
Hochfeld e/w 6.10pm Ascot