Ascot Saturday

12.50 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash (Handicap) 5f

It’s tempting to side with course specialist Tis Marvellous, but I don’t think a draw on the far side is a great help to him, and he was a tad disappointing in a small field here last time.

He still merits close consideration, but preference is for Tone The Barone, who is best granted a stiff five furlongs, and tends to produce his form when fresh. His record after a break of six weeks or more is an impressive 1111, and he was better than ever in the spring.

He’s not been seen since shaping much better than the bare result in the All-Weather Sprint Final on Good Friday, where the step up to 6f did not suit, but he shaped as if in top form for the majority of that race, and he can defy a career-high mark as long as the ground doesn’t deteriorate.

In that respect, it’s a positive that his race comes first on a card which starts early.

1.25 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Stayers (Handicap) 1m 7f 209yds

Cleonte is hard to catch right these days, but he needs an end-to-end gallop to show his form these days, and quite a lot of races at this trip turn out to be falsely run. That’s rarely the case at Ascot, and he has won this race, and the Queen Alexandra Stakes here in the past.

It’s not that long ago that he was trying his hand in Group 1 company, so to be getting weight all round in a race of this nature puts his claims in some perspective. His recent efforts have been disappointing, but a winoff today’s mark at Kempton in March shows that he’s still capable when getting things set up for him, and I don’t think he should be the rank outsider here, for all others are more reliable.

2.00 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Challenge (Handicap) 1m 3f 211yds

Plenty of pace on in the Challenge, and that should suit C’Est No Mour, who has run really well on both starts this season, and represents a yard which has been punching above its weight.

Simon Hodgson has done well since taking over from the retired Peter Hedger, and the fact that he has improved a number of Hedger’s exposed handicappers is proof that he knows what he’s doing.

At around this trip, and away from very soft ground, C’Est No Mour has a record in turf handicaps of 134131, and despite his age, his form remains largely progressive. A downpour would be a negative, but he’s fully effective on good to soft, and looks to offer some value.

2.35 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile (Handicap) 7f 213yds

Ouzo hasn’t really had the run of things since an excellent fourth in the Royal Hunt Cup, but nor has he been disgraced, and he can line up here on a 2lb lower mark.

He’s often running in more competitive races thin this, and has been shaping up better than his form figures imply.

He won’t mind more rain, but is versatile in terms of the going, and he seems likely to have a strong pace to run at, which wasn’t the case at Goodwood last week.

Haydock Saturday

3.00 MansionBet Beaten By A Head Handicap 7f 37yds

Key consideration at Haydock on Saturday is that the ground has already eased considerably from the good to firm given out at the time of declarations, and will likely be soft after racing on Friday.

Cold Stare isn’t the easiest to catch right, but he relishes testing ground, and is a dual winner on such a surface here from higher marks.

The ground was too quick for him when bombing out at Ascot last time, and it’s worth noting that all three of his handicap wins have come on the back of a poor run, so that flop is not a concern in the wider context.

3.35 British Stallion Studs EBF Dick Hern Stakes (Listed) 1m 37yds

Waliyak seems oblivious to the ground, and should have no trouble reversing Kensington Palace form with Lola Showgirl, who had the run of the race from the front, and is much worse off out of handicap company.

After a below-par effort at Pontefract, she bounced right back in the Valiant Stakes at Ascot last time, and with favourite Popatova one of a few with questions to answer on a soft surface, she looks the value proposition in the race.

4.10 Mansionbet Rose Of Lancaster Stakes (Group 3) 1m 2f 100yds

Real World has looked very much at home on quick ground and a switch to a much slower surface is going to ask something new of him. He may be up to the task, but with some classy opposition proven in the ground, he makes little appeal at the early odds.

Euchen Glen is respected, but Stormy Antarctic is the one to be with at the early prices. This extended 1¼m will be as far as he’s gone, but he threw in his best run for a while when upped to a similar trip at Goodwood last time, and he saw the trip out well there.

He hasn’t always seen things out, but a return to form following pre-season wind surgery suggests that lack of stamina has not been the problem. His very best efforts have come on a soft surface, so the more rain the better for his chances.

Recommended

Tone The Barone 12.50 Ascot - 1pt win @ 8/1 (BetVictor, 15/2 888Sport)

C’Est No Mour 2.00 Ascot - 1pt win @ 14/1 (BetVictor, 11/1 SkyBet, 888Sport)

Waliyak 3.35 Haydock - 1pt win @ 13/2 (general)

Stormy Antarctic 4.10 Haydock - 1pt e/w @ 10/1 (general)