Ascot -
12:45 - COUP DE GRACE - 0.5 Point Win @ 12/1 & 1.5 Points Place @ 3/1 = LOST (4th)
Pat Phelan's gelding comes into this off the back of two respectable efforts the pick of which would be last time out around here at Ascot over 2m 4f, where despite having no chance with the winner who has since gone on to win at a higher level, he stayed on really well up the straight to take a clear second. In terms of strength that race looked similar contest to this one on paper. The step up to 3 miles today looks as though it should suit given the manner in which he finished off his race last time out. He has improved with each of his runs so far this term & stepping up once again to what looks should be a more suitable trip, further improvement could be on the cards. With this relatively big field there are of course plenty of opposition who could have a case made for them but for me COUP DE GRACE stands out considering he still looks unexposed as a hurdler. The fact he is very low in the weights & ridden by handy 3lb conditional Joshua Moore looks to be a big positive & having shown some form on the forecast soft ground there shouldn't be too much worry there. All in all COUP DE GRACE looks to have conditions set for him to run another big race if showing the same sort of form as last time out.
15:35 - WILLOWS SAVIOUR - 1 Point EW @ 12/1 = WON
No less than 20 runners go to post for this one & these are generally the races where you can just pick one out at a nice price & hope for the best. As so many of the big field handicaps the race looks wide open & you could make a solid case for plenty in this field but with this race probably being one of the highlights of the day i have decided to go for just a point EW on a horse who looks to be on the up & may not have finished improving just yet. I am not usually taken by horses who come into races off the back of recent wins as i feel they are usually overbet & face tough tasks but Dan Skelton's gelding has been very impressive in winning his last 2 races that he has given the impression that he might not be done just yet. Two runs back he made his seasonal reappearance around here at Ascot over 2m 4f & won in great style pulling well clear in straight to be heavily eased towards the finish, following that he was able to take a step up in grade to win a decent handicap at Musselburgh last time out having dropped back to 2 miles. The trainer has said after that first Ascot win that the target was to come back here for this race so preparations would appear to have gone well. Will get weight all round today which adds to the appeal of this one. There is no doubt that this is WILLOWS SAVIOUR's hardest task so far but he has been impressive in both outings this season & could continue his upward curve. Most bookies paying 5 places for this one.
Lingfield -
15:10 - MODERNSTONE - 3 Point Win @ 3/1 (4/1 SP BOG*) = WON
Probably the best race on the card here today despite the small field & again a case could be made for the majority but one who does catch the eye is William Knight's filly MODERNSTONE who ran a respectable race last time out in listed company to finish fourth after staying on from the rear. That was her first try t the trip of 12f & it looked to suit. Dropping into a less competitive race than that here could be what is required for her to continue going forward. This filly is easily the least exposed in this field & makes only her 6th racecourse appearance today. Two runs back she posted a decent finish when a head second over 10f here in a class 3 event which admittedly is a weaker race than this one today but she looks much better off over 12f & that performance last time out in listed company would suggest she is on the up. The booking of Andrea Atzeni is a big plus & overall this filly is unexposed & if showing similar form to that of last time out she can go close here & what looks a nice price.
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