Ascot selections Saturday 4th October
This is not one of the big weekends of action in the UK, with some big action taken across the channel at Paris Longchamp. However today’s card at Ascot is always very competitive and I think there might be an additional angle to use to our benefit today with a strong headwind up the straight likely to benefit horses from off the pace. I have selections from three contests on the straight track at Ascot. Fondo Blanco gave us a profitable weekend last Saturday with a 9/2 (advised) win.
Ascot 1.50: Beautiful Diamond
I was going with Cover Up for this sprint, but as that gelding has been taken out, preference is now for the progressive BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND.
The filly comes into this contest fresh after just two starts in 2025, and proved her well-being by winning a listed event at Ayr two weeks ago over an extended 5f. She is blessed with plenty of pace and all her wins have come on sharp, flat tracks. However the 5f here contains a lot of downhill, so I don’t think this more undulating track should be against her.
Indeed she was second in this race last year behind the classy Rumstar and on similar soft ground she will encounter today. Her Ayr success also showed that she can handle tough conditions, despite her natural pace. On ratings she comes out comfortably best at the weights and she will have a rail to race against with her high draw.
Ascot 3.00: Apollo One
Despite reaching the age of seven, APOLLO ONE is showing no signs of deterioration and can back up his win in this very race twelve months ago.
I think the gelding definitely has a preference these days for a bit of cut and yesterday’s rain ensures he will get that today, just as he did when beating Jarraaf by a length last year. He came into that race off the back of a second place off a big weight in the Portland at Doncaster, something he achieved again this year when just giving best to Eternal Sunshine from a mark just 1lb lower.
Whilst his early season form was not exceptional this term, he was seventh here in the Wokingham on fast ground and got something more appropriate ground wise when running that season’s best at Doncaster. His course record here is strong with a career profile reading 48217 taking in a heap of top level handicaps in the process.
Ascot 3.35: Tarkhan & Mirabeau
Two horses who will appreciate the soft going, and who ought to be able to get plenty of cover from the wind, are fancied here.
TARKHAN has done most of his racing in Germany, where he enjoyed a successful time in 2024 with three wins, including a soft ground listed win at Munich before finishing the season with a heavy ground win in a Group 2 in Italy. He was then bought to go into training with Jamie Osborne.
Early season he struggled on firm going, but since switched to a softer surface during the second half of the season he has strongly suggested his time is near. He was second at Sandown last month, since when cheekpieces have been fitted. He kept on OK for seventh over course and distance when the drying ground would not have helped but was then just touched off on proper soft ground at Newbury two weeks ago. Expect to see him delivered late today and the ground is going to be deeper than that last run here.
MIRABEAU was a good third in that same course and distance race last month – an eyecatching effort given he had been racing mainly over 3f further this season. He also took part in that Newbury race two weeks ago, but did less well, albeit not enjoying a clear run late on.
However I think this stiffer track will be more to his liking and he is only a pound higher than for that excellent effort here four weeks ago. He enjoyed two soft ground wins last autumn, including in a valuable sales race at York and those prevailing ground conditions today are definitely in his favour.
Recommended bets:
1pt win – Beautiful Diamond – 1.50 Ascot – 9/4 general
1pt each-way – Apollo One – 3.0 Ascot – 4/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Tarkhan – 3.35 Ascot – 16/1 Bet365, Paddy Power (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Mirabeau – 3.35 Ascot – 11/1 Bet365, Paddy Power (1/5 odds 1st 5)
