Ascot, Carlisle and Pontefract

Today is the third and final day of Ascot´s July meeting and two valuable heritage handicaps top the card. The race at 15.,15 CET is over 1 1/2 miles and with 17 runners looks very tricky. Luberon (Mark Johnston/ Joe Fanning) has not run since winning a similar rade at the York May meeting, but just holds Pevensey (John Quinn/ Steve Drowne) on that form. Top-weight Sugar Ray (Sir Michael Stoute/ Seb Sanders) won a similar handicap at the Royal meeting, wit several of these behind, notably course specialist Young Mick (George Margarson/ Richard Quinn), who ran on well to be fourth then and has run another good race since; he won this event back in 2006. The big improver in the field is Andrew Balding´s Hatton Flight (Francis Norton), who has won his last 4 races but is now moving up in class and distance. Balding also holds a strong hand in the 5 furlongs handicap at 15.50 with 3 runners, all in good form: Holbeck Ghyll (David Probert), winner of the Epsom Dash on Derby Day, Siren´s Gift (Norton) and the 3yo Little Pete (Chris Catlin). However wth 28 runners (!) this is as wide open as a race can possibly be. The racing at Carlisle and Pontefract is of lower quality, but the latter track does stage a mile listed race at 16.50. The problem here is the firmish ground, and several of the 8 declared runners prefer it soft and may well be pulled out, including possible favourite Calming Influence (Saeed bin Suroor/ Daragh O´Donohoe). Richard Hannon´s Redolent (Pat Dobbs), runner-up to Wiesenpfad last time, looks the most reliable alternative. The sprint handicaps here are as always very difficult, but punters should take note of CD specialist Mr. Wolf (David Barker/ Greg Fairley) who has top-weight in the 6 furlongs race at 18.30.