IT DONT COME EASY

Richard Fahey

Norfolk Stakes, Thursday

Winner of a Musselburgh novice contest which hasn’t worked out, It Dont Come Easy was originally ear-marked for Tuesday's Coventry Stakes but was not declared and apparently will wait for Thursday's five-furlong Norfolk.

While Musselburgh runner-up Rebel Assault let the form down in the Hilary Needler at Beverley last weekend, there can be no denying how impressively the pair came clear in a very fast time and it can assumed that the Beverley run came too soon for Mark Johnston’s filly.

That will at least make It Don’t Come Easy a backable price, and it’s encouraging that connections have eschewed the Windsor Castle Stakes, presumably confident that the colt is better than listed class.

ANOTHER BATT

George Scott

Windsor Castle Stakes, Tuesday

An eyecatcher on his debut for John Nicholson at the Curragh, Another Batt joined Newmarket handler George Scott after his second start and bolted up in an admittedly modest maiden at Ripon last time on his first try at five furlongs.

He looks to possess bags of speed, and while he might look more exposed than some of his shorter-priced opponents, he is not long with his current yard and looks certain to find further improvement.

He’s also been mooted as a possibility for the Norfolk Stakes, but this looks easier and he can go well at fancy odds.

ESCOBAR

Hugo Palmer

Jersey Stakes, Wednesday

Escobar, so named because of his white nostril, was something of a talking horse last year and looked destined for big things until disappointing in Newmarket’s Middle Park Stakes.

He clearly failed to give his running that day, and resumed his progress when an unlucky second in the Heron Stakes at Sandown on his return last month, travelling well in rear, but forced to challenge wide and never quite able to overhaul the winner, who had come in for an exceptional ride.

Trainer Hugo Palmer felt he lost the race in the stalls that day and he will have derived mental and physical benefit from that reappearance run.

He clearly stays a mile on the evidence of Sandown but dropping back to a strongly run seven furlongs at a stiff track like Ascot ought to suit him ideally.

ANOTHER TOUCH

Richard Fahey

Royal Hunt Cup, Wednesday

A win in handicap company at Nottingham has incurred him a penalty for the Hunt Cup, but Another Touch is officially ahead of his mark, if only narrowly, and clearly goes to Ascot in the form of his life.

The Nottingham performance was impressive but it was an unlucky effort at York on his previous start which marked him down as one to be interested in.

He finished fourth behind Here Comes When on the Knavesmire, but was the only one of the placed horses to come from off the pace, and is clearly better than the result, while a second place in the Spring Cup at Newbury represents some of the warmest handicap form of the season.

HARBOUR LAW

Laura Mongan

Gold Cup, Thursday

St Leger hero Harbour Law may have disappointed on his return to action in the Sagaro Stakes, but that race was something of a non-event as a test of stamina, things only taking shape from the home turn, and that sort of tactical affair is no good to this old-fashioned stayer.

There’s little doubt that the Sagaro can be written off, and as well as the Leger, Harbour Law also has an excellent effort in last year’s Queen’s Vase on his curriculum vitae. It’s somewhat surprising that he’s been so friendless in the market for the Gold Cup, which ought to see him in his best light and could well bring about further improvement.

FAS

Pia Brandt

Commonwealth Cup, Friday

There are some hugely talented performers in the Commonwealth Cup with Caravaggio grabbing most of the headlines and both Harry Angel and Blue Point having their own fan clubs.

That’s helped Fas slip unnoticed into the race, but Pia Brandt’s son of Fastnet Rock also has sound credentials having beaten the subsequent French 1000 Guineas winner Precieuse by a wide margin on his latest start at Chantilly in April, making all the running as he had when winning on his return.

He’s clearly much improved this year and a July Cup entry shows that he’s held in the highest esteem.

The ground was quick when he scored last time, and he’s clearly ideally suited by such conditions, for all he’s won on softer going.

INTERN

Ralph Beckett

King Edward VII Stakes, Friday

Originally entered in the Queen's Vase on the same day, Ralph Beckett’s charge has been taken out of that 14-furlong race in favour of this Group 2 event over a mile and a half.

Like dual-Guineas winner Winter, he spent his two-year-old season in the care of David Wachman, and looked a much-improved model when second in Sandown’s Classic Trial behind Cunco, travelling best and shaping as if just in need of the outing.

His future entries include the Curragh Cup and Irish St Leger, so stamina ought to be his forte, which is unsurprising given he’s out of a Darshaan mare.

DANZENO

Michael Appleby

Wokingham Stakes, Saturday

Danzeno failed to fire on his return to action at York, but that run was surely needed, and given he’s run his best two races over the Wokingham course and distance, including when third in the Group 1 Champions Sprint in October, it can be safely assumed that this race has been his target for some time.

His tendency to miss a beat at the start is often a handicap, but is a potential benefit at Ascot, which favours front-runners less than other tracks given how races usually develop.

Mick Appleby’s six-year-old gelding was as good as ever last season, and will presumably be the ride of the excellent Silvestre de Sousa, who has teamed up successfully with Appleby this term.

ERUPT

Francis-Henri Graffard

Hardwicke Stakes, Saturday

Erupt does need to prove that Ascot is his track having disappointed in the King George last summer, but he proved his mettle, and his liking for firm ground, when landing the Canadian International on his next outing.

He was only fourth in the Prix Ganay on his reappearance, but was staying on well and was beaten by only a length by a couple of race-fit rivals over a trip short of his best.

Faster ground and the longer trip of the Hardwicke will be in his favour, and he has much better form claims than his price would suggest.