I don’t envisage as many bets on Thursday as there are a lot of very hard, guesswork 3 year olds races where the form is hidden. The only all aged handicap is the very last race and one I like a lot at a huge price is as below.
More to follow later.
6:15 Ascot
THE X O – 1 Pt EW @ 44/1 boost Lads 5 places, 40/1 5 normal, 33/1 6 places generally
4 year olds make hay in this race and this 4 year old, now gelded, is starting to show consistency. He loves this straight track, splitting horses rate 114 & 117 now over 6F as a 3 year old then thought good enough to be pitched into a Group 1 which he wasn’t up to. His mark suffered as a result but he is on a workable mark now and caught the eye 2 runs back here and again LTO at Epsom, running a stormer despite being trapped very wide at Epsom on his 1st try over 7furlongs. He still quickened smartly to cruise to the front but was worn down late on. That was the first time Rossa Ryan, who I like a lot, had rode him and he stays aboard which looks significant. He has ridden 3 winners, 4 placers ALL TIME from 8 rides for the shrewd John Ryan (he has a good record here also) so at a massive price, I thought he had a much bigger chance than his odds implied so he’s the main bet with the only question mark the stiff 7furlongs (his sire, Zoffany was just held by the mighty Frankel here over 1mile though!!) so I am hopeful.