Rest of Ascot

The rest of the Ascot card is also very hot, with the ante-post favourites for the 2011 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas among other stars in action. Frankel (Henry Cecil/ Tom Queally) will start at a very short price for the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes for 2yo´s at 15.30 CET after winning his first 2 races very impressively. He is named after the unforgotten U.S. trainer Bobby, who was so successful for owner Khalid Abdullah and could be a fitting memorial. He has scared off much of the opposition, but Aidan O´ Brien saddles two of the 4 remaining runners, and Treasure Beach (Murtagh) may follow him home.

There are only 6 runners in the Group One Fillies Mile at 16.05, where the unbeaten White Moonstone /Saeed bin Suroor/ Frankie Dettori) is the obvious favourite. The O´Brien/ Murtagh candidate Together could run well, but the main danger is undoubtedly Theysken´s Theory (Brian Meehan/ Ryan Moore), an easy Goodwood winner last time. However White Moonstone looked very smart when winning at Doncaster and is the selection.

There are two listed races for fillies which have predictably attractd large fields, but Dettori has good chances with Long Lashes over a mile at 14.55 -Michael Jarvis´ Sajjhaa is the danger here - and Rainfall for Mark Johnston at 17.50 over 7 furlongs. The latter is clear top-rated, but Mosquera (Marco Botti/ Murtagh), runner-up all 3 starts so far in 2010, could run her close.

The big betting race is the Challenge Cup handicap over 7 furlongs at 16.40 with 29 runners. Frankie rides the likely favourite Redford for David Nicholls, last week´s Ayr Gold Cup winner, but this is a wide-open race with dozens of chances. Frankie does not ride in the Royal Lodge, so cannot go through the card - but he could still have a profitable afternoon and a hat-trick is by no means out of the question.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Sajjhaa - Long Lashes - I`M A Dreamer
2. Race: Frankel - Treasure Beach - Happy Today
3. Race: White Moonstone - Theyskens` Theory - Together
4. Race: Redford - Axiom - Kakatosi
5. Race: Makfi - Rip Van Winkle - Poet`S Voice
6. Race: Rainfall - Mosqueras Romance - First City
7. Race: Keenes Day - Aaim To Prosper - Woolfall Treasure