Ascot today

there are 4 flat meetings in the U.K. today, but the only one of consequence is at Ascot, which stages its first flat fixture of 2014 today, featuring the Group Three Sagaro Stakes over 2 miles at 16.45 CET as the main feature. Estimate won this year en route to taking the Gold Cup, and Simenon (Willie Mullins/ Ryan Moore) will be hoping for a similar development. After running Estimate to a neck at the Royal Meeting, he embarked on an interational campaign which saw him run 4th in the Melbourne Cup and also take part in top races in Hong Kong and Dubai. If this tough programme has not taken too much out of him, he must get involved, and fellow Irish raider Missunited (Mikey Winters/ Richard Hughes) is also dangerous. The bookmakers make Harris Tweed (William Haggas/ George Baker) favourite after his short head defeat over this CD in the Long Distance Cup last October. The soft ground will favour Tac de Boitron (Marco Botti/ Frankie Dettori), who is top-rated here after winning a French Group One last year, but also has to concede weight as a result. The tough German-bred Oriental Fox (Mark Johnston/ Joe Fanning) has excellent handicap form and is also not out of it.

There are also 2 listed races on the card, and Richard Hannon has a strong hand in the 6 furlongs race for 3yo´s at 15.35 with two runners, Expert (Richard Hughes) and Musical Comedy (Ryan Moore); victory for the latter would be popular, as his owner also owns the racecourse.The mile race for older horses at 17.15 is much more tricky, with several of these moving up from the handicap ranks, such as easy Lincoln winner Ocean Tempest (John Ryan/ Adam Kirby). French Navy (Charlie Appleby/ Mikael Barzalona) is top-rated here and very consistent at this level; he is the selection.

There is also jumping this evening at Cheltenham, but this a hunter chase card and far removed from the quality normally associated with this track - or for that matter, with today´s card at Punchestown. Best bet here is CD specialist Doctor Kingsley (Pauline Harkin/ Peter Mann) at 19.50, who won the race last year and was 7th of 24 in the Foxhunters at the big meeting here, easily the best form on offer.