Ascot today

May Day is not a holiday in the U.K. - instead we have the May Bank Holiday on Monday- but there is still good racing today, notably at Ascot, which stages its first flat meeting of the year. The main feature is the Group Three Sagaro Stakes over 2 miles at 16.35 CET, where the field includes German-trained Tres Rock Danon (Gerald Geisler/ Freddie Tylicki), one of the best German stayers of recent years.

This is his first start for Geisler as he was previously with Waldemar Hickst. This is his first run since running second to Joshua Tree (a Group One winner afterwards) at Deauville in August, and he is probably best watched today, though undoubtedly good enough if in top form. Another one to watch is the Queen´s lightly-raced Estimate (Sir Michael Stoute/ Ryan Moore), a daughter of Monsun who won the Queens Vase over this CD at the Royal Meeting, but is also coming off a break. Drying ground would help the chances of Askar Tau (Marcus Tregoning/ George Baker), who is out of a German mare by Acatenango, and won this in 2011. Earth Amber (Nicky Henderson/ Jamie Spencer) ran well on her first British start to finish second at Nottingham, with Handazan (Alan King/ Tom Queally) third and Sir Graham Wade (Mark Johnston/ Kieren Fallon) a disappointing fifth. Steps to Freedom (Jessica Harrington/ Richard Hughes), a good hurdler, is a challenger from Ireland but his form does not con vince us. This is a very tricky race with question marks over all the runners, but if forced to have a bet, we would go for Askar Tau each-way.

Harrington also has a runner in the listed race for 3yo´s over 6 furlongs at 17.10 - Liberating, ridden by Luke Morris, who has twice run respectably in Ireland this spring but probably needs to improve to figure here..Zanetto (Andrew Balding/ Liam Keniry) won a valuable sales race last time at Newmarket, with Graphic Guest (Mick Channon/ Franny Norton) a close third after not getting a clear run, and both could get involved, but the interesting one is the very well-bred but very lightly-raced Snow King (John Gosden/ William Buick). Gosden´s runners often need their first race, so we shall choose Ninjago (Richarrd Hannon/ Richard Hughes), whose team is currently firing on all fronts.

The other listed race is for older horses over a straight mile at 16.00. The question here is whether Pastoral Player (Hughie Morrison/ George Baker) really gets the trip. He gets seven furlongs really well and has also run well here over the round mile, so we shall give him the benefit of the doubt. If he fails, the alternative is Stipulate (Sir Henry Cecil/ Queally), who was runner-up to Schlenderhan´s Energizer over ten furlongs at the Royal Meeting and has already rin a good race this season, over 9 furlongs at Newmarket.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Justice Day - Anticipated - Montaigne
2. Race: Cruck Realta - Chat - Typhoon Lily
3. Race: Stipulate - Pastoral Player - Fencing
4. Race: Estimate - Steps To Freedom - Askar Tau
5. Race: Snow King - Ahern - Sandreamer
6. Race: Rockalong - Twenty One Choice - Toga Tiger