Ascot 1.45

 

I'm not too blinkered by the draw here as I think they have time to sort themselves out and as Ascot handicaps go I think there are a fair number that you can discount on form, fitness or simply not good enough to win in this company criteria.

 

I looked closely at around 10 of them and think that Protected Guest may need more time) , Screaming Petrus (unexposed possible later in season), Just Hubert (may need the run and certainly need further) ; Juan De Montalban (hard to quantify form as yet in UK) ; Mascat (bits of form but not value for me at the price) and Flying Solo (lot to take on trust on seasonal debut at the price), can win races and possibly run well here but not for me today for the reasons stated. 

 

I'm most keen on BOSS POWER who has been patiently handled by the Stoute yard only now just getting into gear. Its very unexposed on turf and not highly tried and it will be disappointing if its not bang in contention. HMS PRESIDENT needed its seasonal debut and has developed from that to good form before. It runs off a very nice handicap mark and I can't find any negatives on the terms of today's race.

 

A couple jumped off the page too at BIG odds and with some enhanced places deserve a bit of shrapnel. BARN OWL for Gary Moore with the excellent Hector Crouch up has had 2 very quiet AW runs, almost too quiet, certainly its going to be fitter for them and it lurks on a very nice potential mark as a result. THRONE HALL has also had 2 runs, it's main problem is that it can completely miss the break but if starting just on level terms is a very well handicapped horse in here and can use fitness advantage a few dont have.