Ascot today

Ascot also stages a strong card today, headed by two group races and two listeds. There is a strong German interest in the Bengough Stakes over 6 furlongs at 16.15 CET, as the large field includes Signs of Blessing (Francois Rohaut/ FX Bertras), winner of the Goldene Peitsche, and Caspar Netscher (David Simcock/ Martin Harley), winner of the German 2000 Guineas in 2012. We were impressed with the former when he won at Baden-Baden and think he must have a chance in this stronger race. The main dangers are 2013 winner Tropics (Dean Ivory/ Robert Winston), also runner-up in the July Cup, Reckless Abandon (Charlie Appleby/ Kevin Manning), Europe´s top 2yo in 2012 and now back from a fruitless period at stud, and the unbeaten Lightning Moon (Ed Walker/ George Baker), full of promise but now sharply up in grade.

There are only 5 runners in the Cumberland Lodge over 1 1/2 miles at 15.40.With Charlie Appleby now in such good form, we hope that his Encke (Paul Hanagan) can reverse earlier form with Pethers Moon (Richard Hannon/ Pat Dobbs) on 5 lbs better terms.

Hanagan can also take the listed 5 furlongs race that opens the card at 15.05 on William Haggas´ Muthmir, winner of the Portland Cup last time. He runs here in preference to the Abbaye tomorrow at Longchamp, and obviously this loks much easier, although last year´s winner Steps (Roger Vrian/ Andrea Atzeni) could be a problem.

The other listed race is for fillies over 7 furlongs at 17.25 and should lie between Al Thakhira (Marco Botti/ Martin Harley) and Queen Catrine (Charlie Hills/ Oisin Murphy). They flopped in the Irish and French 10900 Guineas respectively, but still have by far the best form in this company.

There is plenty more racing today and we must mention the Irish N.H. Meeting at Gowran Park, where the admirable Sizing Europe (Henry de Bromhead/ Jonathan Burke) attempts to win the PWC Champion Chase at 17.45 for the fourth time. We hope he succeeeds, although the opposition this time looks stronger than usual.