Ascot 2.25 14 Papa Stour @ 20/1 + 7 Sam Gold @ 10/1

SkyBet go odds to 5th place and WH/Lads/Coral + PP odds to 4th - we will settle to 4th place

With some rain about but not really knowing what Going is until racing starts we have adopted approach of looking for something unexposed with form on Good and Softer Going but OK on Good to Firm

This is a tough and competitive 3 year old handicap and many have chances but with the weather and form indications we like especially SAM GOLD. It ran OK in midfield in The Britannia but prior to that had romped home on soft Going over the straight mile at Doncaster. It runs off the same mark today and should not "get lost" in a field of 15, like it did in The Britannia with it's 30 runner field, I think it can be very competitive.

A dark horse could be the Andrew Balding trained Papa Stour, it ran well enough on its return at Newmarket and it is not so much the winner (runs here after a treble) who franks that form as the runner up Arigato who romped home impressively yesterday. Papa Stour had returned after a wind op and that can lead to a better run second time out and generally the Balding horses come on for a run. Bred and initially raced in Ireland, will welcome Good Going and given connections, likely improvement and wind op, looks a sporting 20/1 punt to enhanced place Odds off a lowly weight in the context of the race.