ASCOT’S straight track can be a specialists’ track, and seven furlongs can be a specialists’ distance. Combine the two, like in today’s Tote Victoria Cup, and you have to start your search with horses who have good form at one or the other or, ideally, at both.

Fresh ticks both boxes. So, he hasn’t won over seven furlongs, but he has won at Ascot over six, and he finished second in the Wokingham last year over six, and he finished third in the Challenge Cup at Ascot last October over seven, when Aldaary and Symbolize skipped clear on the far side, and he did best by far of those who raced centre to near side.

James Fanshawe’s horse ran well on his debut this season too at Kempton, finishing off his race well on the far side and just failing to catch Soar Above. It may be that six furlongs is more his trip than seven, but he has to be on your shortlist.

So does Magical Morning. John and Thady Gosden’s horse put up the best performance of his career on his final run last season, on his only run to date at Ascot, when he finished third behind the same pair, Aldaary and Symbolize, in the Balmoral Handicap on British Champions’ Day.

However, that was over a mile, he hasn’t run over seven furlongs since he ran over that trip on his racecourse debut in October 2019, and he has a lot of weight to carry, and he hasn’t had a run yet this season.

Cox horses

The three Clive Cox horses Dance Fever and Aratus and last year’s winner River Nymph are all interesting, River Nymph just 2lb higher now than he was last year, but top of the shortlist is Dark Shift.

Charlie Hills’ colt won a Class 4 handicap over today’s course and distance last September off a handicap rating of 84, and he followed up a month later by winning over a mile back at Ascot on his final run of the season, coming with his run down the near side and just getting up to win by a head.

The fact that he was able to win over a mile is a positive to take into today’s race, given that he is so good over seven furlongs and that he had the pace to win a novice stakes over six.

That win in October brought his record at Ascot to three wins from four runs, all four runs on the straight track. This is a big step up in grade for him, but he continues to progress, and he still has the potential to go beyond today’s handicap rating of 91.

He has a lovely racing weight of 8st 8lb, and he will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni, who won the race in 2019 on Cape Byron.

Dark Shift hasn’t run yet this season, but he goes well fresh, he won on his debut as a two-year-old and he won on his debut as a three-year-old.

He will surely have been primed for today by Charlie Hills, whose horses have been in really good form so far this season.

He is high in the betting, but he has lots in his favour and he deserves his lofty position in the market.

Swinton Hurdle

Anna Bunina also deserves her position in the market for the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock, and you can argue that she should be shorter than she is. She is a bigger price than West Cork, whom she beat by a length last time in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr, despite not having a good run through the race.

John McConnell’s mare is 3lb worse off with West Cork for that run, but she did well to win.

She was squeezed out of it between horses on the run to the final flight, and she had to switch to the near side on the run-in. She showed an impressive turn of foot to get up and win by a length.

Not harsh

A 5lb hike for that win was not harsh. It takes her up to a mark of 135, which is still 2lb lower than her peak.

She loves this spring ground, and she has had a light campaign thus far after her trainer nursed her back from a significant setback last year, she was racing for just the fourth time this season in the Scottish Champion Hurdle.

And Mark McDonagh, who returned from injury at Tipperary on Thursday, is great value for his 5lb claim.

The greatest threat to Anna Bunina may come from Milkwood, who finished further behind her in the Scottish Champion Hurdle than West Cork did.

Neil Mulholland’s horse beat Anna Bunina in last year’s renewal of the Scottish Champion Hurdle, but he was making his 2022 debut back there last month, and the pace wasn’t as strong as he likes it to be.

He should get a stronger pace today, and, off a 2lb lower mark, he could get closer to Anna Bunina this time than he did last time at Ayr.

That said, Anna Bunina has lots in her favour, and John McConnell’s mare is the bet.

Recommended

Dark Shift, 1 point each-way, 4.05 Ascot, 15/2 (generally)

Anna Bunina, 1 point each-way, 3.00 Haydock, 8/1 (generally)