ROYAL ASCOT SATURDAY

3.05 WOLFERTON HANDICAP (1M2F)

This contest has a habit of throwing up a shock result, but four-year-olds have a fine record, and it’s very hard to get away from the claims of Mahsoob, who is unbeaten in three starts and holds entries in the Eclipse and King George later in the summer. He’s very much been learning on the job so far, and the style of his wins at Newbury and York suggest strongly that he has plenty more improvement left to unlock. On both occasions he’s been forced to overcome an adverse draw, and has done so in breathtaking style, most notably on the Knavesmire when he had almost all his rivals ahead of him with just over a furlong to run. Only a pattern-class animal could have made up the ground he did that day, and this ought to be his last chance to race in handicap country. Provenance represents the Stoute/Moore combination so feared by the layers, and this Galileo filly is selected as the main danger. She did well to make late headway faced with an inadequate test of stamina on her return at Goodwood last month, and ought to get back on track at this trip. She is drawn wide in stall 15, but that is no hindrance whatsoever on Ascot’s round course.

3.40 HARDWICKE STAKES (1M4F)

He can hardly be described as a punters’ pal having been a beaten favourite on four occasions in his career, but last year’s winner Telescope will likely score again if putting his best foot forward. He slammed the reliable Hillstar by no less than seven lengths a year ago, and rattling fast ground is ideal for Sir Michael Stoute’s powerhouse. He has most to fear from Eagle Top, who won the King Edward VII here in 2014, and it’s easy enough to draw direct comparisons between the pair based on those course and distance efforts. John Gosden’s charge needed the run quite badly when only fourth to Western Hymn in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown, and he’s expected to do much better with that run under his belt. He does have a bit to find with Postponed on the Sandown form, but just shades Luca Cumani’s Great Voltigeur winner on overall form.

4.20 DIAMOND JUBILEE STAKES (6F)

If there is one constant in flat racing these days, it’s that you need to take results at Haydock Park with a large pinch of salt. That was demonstrated when Goldream won the King’s Stand on Tuesday after failing to trouble the judge in the Temple Stakes when a selection here a few weeks ago. Another to run appallingly when carrying my seal of approval at Haydock was Music Master, who was barely able to raise a gallop in the closing stages there, and is much better judged on his excellent fourth in this race last year, when he wasn’t helped by being drawn away from the main action. Henry Candy has done well with the son of Piccolo, and he remains capable of hitting the frame at least. He’s drawn alongside another speedy sort in Due Diligence, and just a couple of stalls away from big-race favourite Brazen Beau. He merits an each-way bet at the prices, but I’d definitely want to hedge my bets on the draw by backing Mustajeeb, who was enormously impressive when winning the Greenlands Stakes on his first attempt at six furlongs since his racecourse debut. The son of Nayef has a high cruising speed, and while not having the bulky physique typical of many top-notch sprinters, he looked a natural in his new role, and ought to be favourite based on the deep impression he created at the Curragh.

5.00 WOKINGHAM STAKES (6F)

The Wokingham isn’t a race marked for export on a regular basis, but there must be a chance it’s heading to France courtesy of Robert Le Diable, who has been beaten into second in a pair of Group 3 races on his last two starts. The first of those came when he was the only one to make a race of it with the explosive Mecca’s Angel. That effort proved he was fully effective over a fast five furlongs, and he again demonstrated that he stays seven furlongs well when headed on the post in the Prix du Palais-Royal less than three weeks later. Even a conservative estimate of those formlines would suggest that his official mark of 104 is very fair, and if Mecca’s Angel is the superstar that I believe her to be, then Robert Le Diable has got in lightly here.

AYR SATURDAY

4.10 SCOTTISH SUN/BRITISH STALLION STUDS EBF LAND O’BURNS FILLIES’ STAKES (5F)

Online Alexander was an unlucky loser in the Scottish Sprint Cup at Musselburgh last week, and should be backed to make amends here. Kevin Ryan’s filly reared just as the stalls opened on that occasion, and did tremendously well to finish sixth as a result. She’s clearly capable of making her mark in listed company, as her last two runs testify, and if she can keep her composure in the boxes, she’s certain to go well. A draw in stall 12 may appear a hindrance, but high numbers have dominated this race in recent years, and that berth may well be a blessing in disguise.

NEWMARKET SATURDAY

4.40 DIAMOND DASH HANDICAP

Son Of Africa has yet to add to his win in a Goodwood nursery last August, but the form of that defeat of the smart Markaz is unimpeachable, and he fared better than the bare result suggests when a close fourth at Leicester on his return, having been gelded in the interim. The son of Equiano dived right from the widest stall and did well to recover to take the field along. He was entitled to get a little tired on that first run in over six month, and has the natural pace to cope with a drop to the minimum trip. Eased again in the weights since his latest outing, he is worth backing at the best morning odds for his in-form Henry Candy yard.

RECOMMENDED

MUSTAJEEB 4.20 Ascot - 2pts win @ 5/1 (Coral)

MUSIC MASTER 4.20 Ascot - 1pt e/w @ 25/1 (general)

ROBERT LE DIABLE 5.00 Ascot - 1pt e/w @ 14/1 (Coral)

ONLINE ALEXANDER 4.10 Ayr - 1pt win

SON OF AFRICA 4.40 Newmarket - 1pt win