Ascot Saturday

1.45 Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% British EBF Fillies’ Handicap 1m

The Andrew Balding stable has been in top form over the last week or so and he has strong claims here with Zgharta, who ran very well in the Sandringham Handicap here last year and remains very fairly weighted. She was below her best in listed company on her final start at Saint-Cloud but she was short of room at various stages there and the run is easy to put a line through. Track and ground suit this daughter of Ghaiyyath and if she’s at all like her sire, she will improve from three to four years.

2.20 Carey Group Victoria Cup (Heritage Handicap) 7f

I tend to favour those drawn high on the straight track here, and the jockeys certainly wanted to race on the stands side in Friday’s early races (three highest draws dominated the opening contest), while the obvious pace comes from a couple drawn close to that rail, which again suggests that’s where the race will unfold.

Hickory and Wizard Of Eye are the last two winners of this and two of only four in the field with winning form in Ascot handicaps, which tends to be an excellent guide. Both are drawn high of centre and must be considered, but preference is for Mudbir, who looked just the sort for this test last year, winning at Glorious Goodwood and at Sandown over today’s trip and was forgiven a defeat in a messy race when last seen.

He is a Kingman half-brother to Juddmonte International Stakes winner Mostahdaf and closely related to Sun Chariot and Falmouth heroine Nazeef, both of whom improved with age and he remains unexposed after just a handful of handicap starts. His draw in stall 19 looks to put him in a good position and he won on his return in 2025 so is expected to come to hand early again. I’d not be at all surprised to see him progress out of handicaps and he should give supporters a very good run for their money.

2.55 Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% Italy Handicap 1m 3f 211yd

Valedictory looks to have outstanding claims now upped to a mile and a half having run a cracker to finish second to Rathgar on his return to action at Newbury last month. Rathgar paid that form a compliment when dominating the City And Suburban next time, coming well clear with a well-treated rival, and the way Valedictory reduced the gap between the pair in the closing stages at Newbury strongly suggests he will relish the longer trip here.

That is backed up by his pedigree with dam Valiant Girl a winning sister to Hardwicke Stakes winner Bronze Cannon, who won six races for John Gosden between a mile and a mile and a half. Valedictory has plenty of scope for further progress, being a strong, lengthy gelding who is unexposed beyond a mile and a quarter and likely to prove ahead of the handicapper.

Lingfield Saturday

12.55 William Hill Epic Boosts Handicap 1m 2f

Morcar is most reliable at this trip and class on a sound surface, and excluding seasonal debuts, his Class 4 record in such conditions reads 233131233, including victory in this corresponding race 12 months ago.

He prepped for that win in the same handicap at Newbury that he ran in on this year’s return, again looking in need of the run behind Rathgar, who (as mentioned earlier) won in a higher grade on his next outing.

Morcar is back on the mark he scored off last year and it will be a surprise if he returns without some share of the prizemoney on offer for this televised contest.

1.28 William Hill Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes (Listed) 1m 3f 133yd

Ryan Moore rides Cameo but I thought Bloom had more realistic claims here having run well when third in the Salsabil Stakes at Navan on her reappearance, while Cameo was only fifth in the Park Express Stakes won by Celestial Orbit.

Both would need to improve again to enter the reckoning for the Oaks itself, but Wayne Lordan’s mount is a more attractive option here given the market has moved to favour Moore’s mount. Prizeland is feared most having proven her stamina with an eight-length romp on the Polytrack here last time.

1.58 William Hill Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes (Listed) 1m 3f 133yd

Neither this nor the fillies’ contest has a great recent record at supplying Epsom winners, although Anthony Van Dyck did the double in 2019 and Adayar was actually beaten here before winning at Epsom in 2021.

Maho Bay looks the best prospect in the race and impressed when making all at Newmarket, but he does show plenty of knee action, and I’d be slightly worried about how well he will come down the hill here, so preference is for Maltese Cross, who won what tends to be an informative novice at Newbury last month and looks likely to relish the step up from a mile and a quarter.

2.40 William Hill Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) 7f

Copacabana Sands is expected to take all the beating here as her main rivals are both hold-up sports who may find the race slipping away from them in the early stages.

The selection won the Barberstown Castle Stakes last term for Michael O’Callaghan and has the early toe to take a prominent pitch near the rail, a tactic which tends to be crucial on the straight track at Lingfield.

Conversely, both Royal Velvet and Dash Of Azure tend to come from off the gallop and this undulating course is not really set up for closers, suggesting that Copacabana Sands, now with Andrew Balding, will get first run.

Recommended

Zgharta 1.45 Ascot – 1pt win @ 7/2 (general)

Mudbir 2.20 Ascot – 1.5pts e/w @ 13/2 (Ladbrokes – 11/2 general – 5 places)

Valedictory 2.55 Ascot – 2pts win @ 7/4 (general)

Morcar 12.55 Lingfield – 1pt e/w @ 11/1 (Ladbrokes, Coral, BetVictor)

Maltese Cross 1.58 Lingfield – 1pt win @ 11/4 (general)

Copacabana Sands 2.40 Lingfield – 2pts win @ 15/8 (general)