three group races at Ascot today

an excellent card at Ascot today, with three Group Three races and some competitive handicaps. The opening Cornwallis Stakes at 15.15 CET over 5 furlongs for 2yo´s has 18 runners, with Taajub (William Haggas/ Richard Hills), never yet out of the first two, the likely favourite. However the no. 2 draw may not be ideal; main danger Our Jonathan (Kevin Ryan/ Jamie Spencer) is drawn 1, so those looking for a long-shot with an outside draw should consider Mick Channon´s Tawwaab (Ryan Moore). The Bengough Memorial over 6 furlongs at 15.55 also has a huge field. Haggas again has a fancied runner here in Triple Aspect (Liam Jones), now running over his best distance. Several of these ran last time in the Diadem Staks over this CD, where Tamagin (Jeff Pearce/ Stephen Donohoe) was second and Prime Defender (Barry and Michal Hills) fifth; we also like the chances of Palace Moon (Hughie Morrison/ Steve Drowne). The third group race is the Autumn Stakes for 2yo´s over a mile at 17.40, in which Azizi (Haggas/ Hills) and Frozen Power (Saeed bin Suroor/ Frankie Dettori), both winners of 3 of their 5 starts, hold the best chances. There is only a small field for the 2yo race over 7 furlongs at 17.05. Th Queen´s Quadrille (Richard Hannon/ Ryan Moore) has won both his starts and is moving up in grade, but his runner-up last time Circumvent won a listed race in France yesterday, giving the form a timely boost. The handicaps look too difficult to call, but we expect Mark Johnston´s two runners Record Braker (Richard Hikks) and Quai d´Orsay (Joe Fanning) to run well over 1 1/2 miles at 16.30, where CD specialist Young Mick (George Margarson/ John Egan) is also respected.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Taajub - Bould Mover - Our Jonathan
2. Race: Triple Aspect - Tamagin - Palace Moon
3. Race: Class Is Class - Record Breaker - Pevensey
4. Race: Corporal Maddox - Lamh Albasser - Quadrille
5. Race: Frozen Power - Dubawi Phantom - Simenon
6. Race: Wintercast - Mutamaashi - Mountain Pride
7. Race: Mythical Blue - Whiskey Junction - Sharpened Edge