Ascot July meeting

The Ascot July meeting starts today, and while the best races will be run tomorrow, today´s card of two races for 2yo´s and 5 handicaps is better than average for a Friday. The best race is the 6 furlongs handicap at 16.55 CET and even with 2 non-runners this is still a wide open race. Mac´s Power (James Fanshawe/ Ryan Moore) was 13th of 28 in the Wokingham at the Royal meeting, but only beaten about 4 lengths.

This form must have him a good chance now, especially as he is drawn on the stands side rail, which is likely (though not certain!) to be a big advantage. Shropshire (Charlie Hills/ Matthew Lawson) was runner-up last time at Windsor and he is also in with good prospects. We also like bottom weight Elna Bright (Peter Crate/ Jimmy Quinn), at 7 the oldest horse in the field, but who likes it here and is a CD winner.

35 minutes later there is another 6 furlongs handicap with 19 runners, which looks even trickier, but again we like an oldtimer with a stands side draw- 10yo Beckermet (Ruth Carr/ Peter McDonald). Poole Harbour (Richard Hannon/ Richard Hughes) is going for a hat-trick here, but meets better opposition this time, while the lightly-.raced Ladyship (Sir Michael Stoute/ Ryan Moore) could well be a blot on the handicap, but is drawn on the far side. Of course this might be better, but we won´t know until after the race!

Ruth Carr and Peter Mcdonald could well foillow up with Dubai Dynamo, top-weight in the mile handicap at 18.05, who is penalised just 6 lbs for a very easy win at Ayr on Monday. The 2 mile handicap at 16.20 is another open race, in which several of the runners are moving up in trip while some of the others have been running over hurdles. We will take a chance on another top weight, Classic Vintage (Amanda Perrett/ Jim Crowley), who is up in trip and down in grade and whose stable is now comking into form.