Rory Delargy

ASCOT SATURDAY

2:30 CHESHAM STAKES (7F)

Frankel was always expected to make a big splash as a sire, but he’s already exceeding expectations, with four of his first five offspring to grace the track winning at the first time of asking, and two of them clash here as they bid to give the stallion his first blacktype winner.

Frankuus looks like he will make into a decent horse when strengthening up, but Cunco is the one who looks most forward, and he looked to be crying out for this trip when putting in a searing late burst to score at Newbury, giving Frankel his first winner in the process. His trainer has a tremendous record at this meeting, and never rushes a juvenile for the sake of it.

He gets the nod over Churchill, who ran on well when third to Van der Decken on his debut at the Curragh, and that form looks better in light of the winner’s fine effort in the Coventry. If there is a concern with Aidan O’Brien’s colt, it’s that his pedigree doesn’t scream stamina, with his granddam being the flying Airwave. His big-race entries in the future are over six furlongs, and that looks a more obvious trip for him on paper, notwithstanding the fact that he was staying on stoutly on his racecourse bow.

3:05 WOLFERTON HANDICAP (1M2F)

This represents by far her toughest task to date, but it could pay to side with Maleficent Queen, who has been tremendously impressive in rising through the grades in Scotland and the north of England in the past year. She looked much better than the average Hamilton maiden winner when scoring last May, and has gone unbeaten in four starts since, showing improved form on each occasion. Last time, she landed a listed race at Ayr a month ago in typical fashion, travelling powerfully in touch and quickening to put the issue beyond doubt with a ready turn of foot. She’s clearly a group filly in the making (was entered in Group 1 Filly & Mare Stakes on Champions’ Day last autumn), and gives every indication that she will raise her game further if required. Her unorthodox route to this contest ensures that she will start a backable price, and she makes plenty of appeal at around 9/1.

Best Of Times seemed to catch plenty of eyes despite finishing in the ruck at Chester last month, but looks short enough on balance, and Pacify is feared more. The son of Paco Boy didn’t need to improve when gaining his only handicap win, that coming in a two-runner race, but he’s run well in defeat since, and may well be the type to benefit from the fitting of a visor as he attempts to give Prince Charles a fitting win at the meeting.

3:40 HARDWICKE STAKES (1M4F)

On paper, this looks a very strong running of the Hardwicke, with Exosphere likely to be favourite after slamming Simple Verse in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket last month, but it’s possible Sir Michael Stoute’s runner didn’t improve as much as it looked there, with the runner-up looking ring rusty and favourite Jack Hobbs pulling up with an injury. Exosphere may well step forward again, as has so often been the case with older horses from his yard, but I’m inclined to take a chance on Simple Verse reversing the form, especially now returned to the scene of her career-best performance. She found the Coronation Cup unfolding in a way that didn’t suit her last time, while also giving the impression that she was uncomfortable on Epsom’s gradients. That run is easy to forgive, and her form last autumn entitles her to come out best of this bunch. I’ve always thought she would thrive in a four-year-old campaign, and while her season has yet to catch fire, that can’t be said about Ralph Beckett’s fortunes in recent week, and it’s a case of now or never for the St Leger heroine.

4:20 DIAMOND JUBILEE STAKES (6F)

There is not a great deal to choose between the trio at the head of the market here, but while Twilight Son finished ahead of The Tin Man in the British Champions Sprint over course and distance in September, the latter is arguably the more progressive, and looked an improved model when slamming his rivals in the Leisure Stakes at Windsor in May. He was having his first crack at the top level when fourth to Muhaarar here, and that experience can only have benefited his development. He’s taken to make the breakthrough now, although the margins are likely to be fine.

5:00 WOKINGHAM STAKES (6F)

Not many have explored the stands-rail route at Ascot this week, but the evidence suggests that there is no disadvantage in doing so, and it’s possible that by Saturday, the turf on the near side of the track will be less poached than the centre to far side. If so, Toofi could be ideally berthed, and Robert Cowell’s charge went close to landing us a touch in the Stewards’ Cup last summer. He was again beaten less than a length in the Ayr Gold Cup, to prove that he is ideally suited by big-field handicaps at this trip, and he was racing over an inadequate five furlongs on his return to action at York, having left Roger Varian in the meantime.

A move away from Varian is rarely a positive, but Cowell is his equal at least as a trainer of top-notch sprinters, and Toofi is expected to arrive at concert pitch. Cowell tasted success in the Norfolk Stakes on Thursday, and there are no obvious drawbacks with supporting him in a race lacking unexposed runners. He looks overpriced at 20/1, and could well go off at much shorter odds given his profile.

5:35 QUEEN ALEXANDRA STAKES (2M5F159Y)

Simenon disappointed on the whole last season, but he may benefit from coming here fresh, and his record at this meeting is exceptional for one racing at this level, hitting the frame in the last three runnings of the Gold Cup, and winning both this race and the Ascot Stakes in 2012.

If anyone is able to coax him back to form for another Royal Ascot tilt, it’s Willie Mullins, and the fact that the nine-year-old gelding is entered in the Curragh Cup next weekend suggests his masterful handler believes he’s no lost cause. This is hardly the classiest event at the meeting, and even a semi-revival could be enough to see Simenon home in front.

RECOMMENDED

MALEFICENT QUEEN 3.05 Ascot - 1pt win @ 8/1 (general)

SIMPLE VERSE 3.40 Ascot - 1pt win @ 10/1 (general)

TOOFI 5.00 Ascot - 1.5pts e/w @ 20/1 (general)