listed races at Ascot and York

8 meetings again today, but some decent racing, especially at Ascot and York, both of whom stage some top races tomorrow. Both courses have a listed race for fillies on the card, and these events are usually easy to fill with everybody on the lookout for black type. So we have 10 runners at 16.45 CET at Ascot, where they go over a mile, and 7 over a quarter of a mile further at 20.30 at York. Richard fahjey has clearly targeted the latter race for Ladys First (Tony Hamilton), runner-up the last twice including an excellent performance at Royal Ascot, but she faces strong opposition from Albasharah (Saeed bin Suroor/ Silvestre de Sousa), whose close third in the Lancashire Oaks is the best form on offer here. With the Godolphin horses all running well at present, Albasharah has to be the selection.
Royal Ascot form is also well represented at Ascot, with the much-improved Annecdote (Johnny Portman/ Richard Kingscote) winning the Sandringham Handicap by a neck from Auction (Ed Dunlop/ Paul Hanagan) with Light Up My Life (Richard Hannon/ Richard Hughes) seventh of 26; as she is now 9 lbs better off, there should be little in it this time. Ultrasonic (Sir Michael Stoute/ Ryan Moore) is the likely favourite and an obvious danger, but it is possible that she might prefer easier going, and we expect another Godolphin victory here; Saeed bin Suroor has 3 runners, and on jockey bookings Falls of Lara (Mickael Barzalona) should be the one. The 2 mile handicap here at 16.10 is another good race and all 6 runners are in with a chance. Mysterious Man (Andrew Balding/ David Probert) and Homeric (Ed Dunlop/ Moore) were 5th and 7th in the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting and could fight out the finish this time.
The most interesting event at the other 6 meetings is the conditions race over 1 mile 5 furlongs at 21.50 at Down Royal. Some useful horses entered here, including the Aga Khan´s Dabadiyan (Mike Halford/ Declan McDonogh), who is regarded as a St. Leger prospect. If that is the case he should win, but the very lightly-raced Royal Irish Hussar (Aidan and Joseoh O´Brien) who made all to easily win a maiden at Killarney only 9 days ago - landing some big bets in the process- is an obvious threat.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Psychometry - Heartstrings - Likelihood
2. Race: Banaadeer - Mr Matthews - Stormy Paradise
3. Race: Mawaqeet - Mysterious Man - Broxbourne
4. Race: Ultrasonic - Zibelina - Auction
5. Race: Sennockian Star - Viewpoint - Vasily
6. Race: Gabbiano - Gladiatrix - Langley Vale