1:55 Ascot
TARBOOSH 9/1 William Hill (5 places), Betfair (4 places) – 0.5 POINTS E/W
We have been following TARBOOSH this season taking a view that he is a much better horse on soft ground. The time we didn’t follow him last time out (good ground), he wins with ease. Really annoying part of this game as it is a known fact he loves soft ground. That is why I am back with him today on this ground with a view that they have him at the top of his game, judging by his win at Doncaster 3 weeks ago. He is a horse who can be a bit hit and miss if I am being honest but when he is on top form, he is such a smooth traveller with lots of gears. He will get a decent pace to aim at with the likes of Dakota Gold in the race and that should enable him to travel well. Ascot is an unknown for him but I think a wide flat straight course, should be up his street. E/W.
2:45 Newmarket
VERACIOUS 8/1 Sky Bet and Paddy Power – 0.5 POINTS E/W (4 places, 1/5 odds)
VERACIOUS looks to be the forgotten horse in the race and is a big price at 8/1. She was 2nd in this race last year and a year on is a much stronger and mature horse. She won the group 1 Falmouth Stakes last season and has finished 2nd and 3rd in multiple group 1s. She has only had one start this season which was back in August when winning at Haydock. Following that win she has not run since which tells me she has been aimed at this race specifically. Chris Richardson who is managing director for owners, even mentioned this race, after winning at Newmarket. She is such a smooth traveller through races who has relaxed the older she has got. Oisin Murphy is back in the saddle and he was on board in this race last year. After the news that broke this week about his positive drug tests, which he strongly denies, I am sure he is hungry to get more group 1 success. The ground should be no problem either as she has form on heavy and soft ground in the past. E/W.
3:05 Ascot
RAISING SAND 7/1 Paddy Power, Betfair and Bet Victor – 0.75 POINTS E/W ( 5 places)
All about the ground here with RAISING SAND and all about Ascot which is a course he absolutely loves. He has only run once this season which tells me he has been aimed for this race all season. Trainer Jamie Osborne has clearly lined the race up for the horse and his daughter, Saffie Osborne. She is a talented jockey, a very neat jockey who stays low and tucks herself in well. She has basically had one to one training by her father and you can see by her style of riding. To me she is worth every bit of her 7lb claim. She has had 5 winners from 17 rides over the last 14 days, which is an impressive 29% strike rate. With her 7lb claim, it brings the weight down to 9st 3lb and is drawn in 11, right down the middle which should be ideal. RAISING SAND has won 4 times around Ascot including this race in 2018 off a mark of 97 (100 today with the 7lb claim). He has to be thereabouts especially with everything in his favour. E/W.
3:25 Redcar
UNCLE JUMBO 9/1 with William Hill and Sky Bet (both 6 places) – 0.5 POINTS E/W
UNCLE JUMBO is a half brother to Major Jumbo who is also trained by Kevin Ryan. Major Jumbo was a horse who liked soft ground so you would think UNCLE JUMBO will love the sof ground here. He was a winner on debut at Doncaster in June and then ran in a decent race at York, coming home 4th to Happy Romance who has since gone on to finish 4th in a group 2 and is now rated 106. His final start was just 3 weeks ago at the St Leger meeting where he was supported strongly in the market, going off 7/2 fav. He came home 3rd that day just getting collared in the last 100 yards. Line Of Departure was the winner that day with Yazaman in 2nd who is rated 102. UNCLE JUMBO has only had 2 starts and has yet to reach his potential. He could easily shape into a group horse and if the soft ground benefits like I think it will, the 10/1 available looks too big. E/W.
