Donn McClean

YOU can understand why Mojito and Makzeem dominate the market for this afternoon’s Totescoop6 Challenge Cup at Ascot. Mojito has won his last three, and he was impressive in winning a good handicap at York’s Ebor meeting last time off a mark of 95, while Makzeem was also impressive in winning a handicap at Newmarket last Saturday, and he is 2lb well-in today, racing, as he is, under a 6lb penalty.

Mojito is very short, however, and there are imponderables. He is 9lb higher than he was for his York win, which is significant, and he is unproven at Ascot. Makzeem is a bigger price, but there is a chance that he was flattered by his Newmarket win, given that he raced down the stands side under Ryan Moore, probably on the best of the ground. He is progressive, but he is going to have to improve from that run to win today under his 6lb penalty, and he does not have Ryan Moore for company.

Mjjack had Makzeem two lengths behind him in sixth place when he finished second to Stamp Hill in the Gigaset International Handicap run over today’s course and distance on King George day. Karl Burke’s horse is actually 1lb better off with Makzeem today, without taking into account the natural progression of the younger horse, and he is a bigger price. He also had Withernsea, Johnny Barnes, Firmament, Flaming Spear and Burnt Sugar behind him that day.

More than that, however, Mjjack was keener than ideal through the early stages of that Gigaset International race and he did well to keep on as well as he did to take second place.

He did better when he settled better although again racing prominently in the Cunard Handicap, won by Remarkable, again over today’s course and distance, four weeks ago. He had no answer to Remarkable’s finishing surge that day, but he kept on well again to finish second, over a length clear of the third horse Heaven’s Guest, with Raising Sand and Firmament and Birchwood behind him. And Shady McCoy, who finished 10th that day, came out and won an admittedly lower-grade handicap at Ascot yesterday.

The handicapper raised Mjjack by 2lb for that last run, and that was more than fair. It was his first run since July, so there is every chance that he can progress from it. As well as that, he is only three, that was just his ninth run ever and his second in a big-field handicap, so he has plenty of scope for progression.

We know that he goes well at Ascot and that he can handle easy ground, and that seven furlongs is a good trip for him. As well as that, Clifford Lee is back on board today. Not only is the young rider good value for his 3lb claim, but he is two for two on Mjjack, he won on him twice earlier in the season when he was claiming 5lb.

Karl Burke’s horses continue to be in top form, and Mjjack has plenty in his favour.

SUN CHARIOT STAKES

Over at Newmarket, Usherette could out-run odds of 8/1 in the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes.

Andre Fabre’s mare only got home by a short-neck in a listed race at Maisons-Laffitte last time, but she was still impressive in winning. Well back in the field at the top of the home straight, she showed a fine turn of foot to pick up on the near side, and it always looked like she was going to get there and beat Game Theory.

The Godolphin mare is a top-class mare. Winner of the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot last year, she again ran a big race in that contest this year when she finished a one-length third behind Qemah and Aljazzi, when she didn’t have a lot of luck in-running.

Aljazzi has progressed significantly since then, and all three fillies have had nice mid-season breaks, but Aljazzi under-performed in her last two runs on the Rowley Mile, and Qemah was disappointing in the Matron Stakes on her comeback run. Usherette won on her return, she is proven on the Rowley Mile and she is a bigger price than her compatriot.

The Shamardal mare won the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes last year on her only run on the Rowley Mile, so we know that she goes well at the track. And Mickael Barzalona rides the Newmarket tracks well. Although he was more prolific on the July Course than on the Rowley Mile when he was based in Britain, he still has a strike rate of 18% on the Rowley Mile for a level stakes profit of €9.98.

Persuasive and Roly Poly are obvious dangers, but Usherette may be the value of the race.

Recommended

1 point each-way, Mjjack, 12/1 (generally)

1 point win, Usherette, 8/1 (generally)