Ascot today

The only flat racing this afternoon comes from Ascot, which has a good card for a Friday, while there is also jumping at Fontwell and Hexham, with the usual small fields, as well as all-weather racing this evening at Wolverhampton and Dundalk (Ireland).

We shall concentrate on Ascot, which has some very competitive handicaps as well as a listed race for 3yo´s over1 3/4 miles at 16.40 CET. This looks straightforward for Marzocco (John Gosden/ William Buick), who has only ever won once - a maiden on the all-weather last October- but has been running well in top races and finished an excellent 5th in the St. Leger. This easily the best form in the race and we shall be very surprised if Big Orange (Michael Bell/ Tom Queally), who won a listed handicap at Chester last time, can give him 3 lbs. More danger in our view comes from Odeon (James Given/ Graham Lee)- behind him at York- and the much imoroved Mizzou (Luca Ciumani/ Andrea Atzeni), up in grade here.

The handicaps look very tricky, but we have unearthed two outsiders who are now very nicely handicapped on their old form and have a good CD record: Smarty Socks (David O´Meara/ Danny Tudhope) at 15.00 and Excellent Guest (George Margarson/ Queally) half an hour later. They coulod repay an each-way interest, as could Buckland (Charlie Fellowes/ Martin Lane) in the 2-miler at 17.50.