Your Guide to Saturday's Racing Action: The Football Pools
13.50 – Ascot – Princess Margaret Stakes (Group 3) Lots of these have form together from the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot last month. Soprano finished third that day and finished first of her group that raced on the near side, she stayed on very well when looking outpaced and there should be more to come from her and looks a big player here with Frankie Dettori taking the ride. Pretty Crystal was back in 5th that day and only 1 ½ lengths behind Soprano that day and is another who should progress and rates a big danger. While Symbology looked above average when easily accounting for her rivals at York on debut and is open to plenty of improvement and shouldn't be dismissed despite the rise in grade.
14.05 – York – “Jump Jockeys’ Nunthorpe” Handicap A wide open handicap with plenty of chances. Ecclesiastical has been in consistent form of late and he wasn't beaten far last time out in this grade for which he's been dropped a further 1lb in the weights and he should go well. Count D'Orsay arrive having raced on Thursday night and if the race doesn't come too soon he looks a big player considering the current form he is in. While Sound Reason arrives on the back of a win and has been raised 4lb for that success and has to be considered in his follow up bid with champion jumps jockey Brian Hughes on board.
14.25 – Ascot – Valiant Stakes (Group 3) This could prove to be a good opening for Random Harvest who has been far from disgraced at a higher level that this on recent starts, this drop back down to G3 company could be just what she needs to get her head back in front. Cadeau Belle remains unbeaten after comfortably winning at listed level last time out and she remains open to further improvement and its unlikely she's reached her limit. While Ameynah hasn't been seen since finishing 6th in the 1000 Guineas G1 last year and she remains lightly raced and capable of better down in grade and is high on the shortlist.
14.40 – York – Dash Handicap Plenty in with a shout with It Just Takes Time taken to get his head back in front, he went close here in May when finishing 4th of 20 in a big field handicap and then won next time out, he was only beaten by an improving sort last time out and races off the same mark here and has to be considered. Aberama Gold finished behind Music Society last time out and has been dropped 1lb for that and might not be far away here with Mark Winn claiming a further 3lb he looks a big player. While International Girl looks very interesting, she has made a pleasing start to the season and finished behind a couple horses who have gone on to run well at group level and if she comes on from that last run she holds solid claims of landing the spoils.
15.00 – Ascot – International Stakes (Heritage Handicap) Biggles has to shoulder a 3lb penalty which is far from the end of the world after winning comfortably last time out at Newmarket and if replicating that performance here he ought to go close again in his follow up bid and he is a must for the shortlist with Ryan Moore doing the steering. Vafortino has been in tremendous form recently and was denied by a narrow margin last time out and is another who has to be feared with Kaiya Fraser claiming 5lb which could prove very valuable. Northern Express beat Vafortino last time out and has to saddle a 3lb penalty also but he is improving and cannot be dismissed in his current groove. Though many of the field cannot be ruled out in what looks a cracker.
15.15 – York – York Stakes (Group 2) A small but interesting field. My Prospero drops in class following a couple of decent efforts in defeat at G1 level and he has the best form in the lineup and has to be considered the one to beat here. Alflaila ended last years campaign with a win at G3 level and the absence wont be of any concern and he might not have reached his limit yet and is a big danger. While Mashoor bolted up at G3 level over in Ireland and is another who may not have stopped improving.
15.40 – Ascot – King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1) A vintage renewal. King Of Steel finished second behind Auguste Rodin in the G1 Derby on just his first start of the season and then bolted up at G2 level last time out and with those runs under his belt he looks a big player here and holds every chance of reversing the Derby form and he will not be far away. Hukum has been subject to support in the market all week and saw off previous Derby winner Desert Crown when last seen with a bit in hand and he rates a big player. While Auguste Rodin followed up his Derby win by winning the Irish equivalent and holds every chance here though stall 11 won't make life easy. Though it is hard to rule any of these out.
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