Ascot selections Saturday 8th August
The Shergar Cup is the centrepiece of today’s racing action. Not a meeting that I am greatly enthused about in truth given unfamiliar jockeys riding horses they don’t usually ride. However that said 10 runner handicaps are definitely of interest to me, so I will have a stab at the four races open to older horses. Far Above Dream was placed for the each-way bet in the Stewards Cup last week (advised 7/1).
Ascot 1.35: All Ways Glamorous
We start with the fastest race of the day over 5f and the fastest horse in the race is likely to be ALL WAYS GLAMOROUS.
In a race where several of the entrants are definitely better at 6f, here is a 5f specialist at the top of his game. He has been progressive all season apart from one run when fitted with cheekpieces that he appeared to resent. Two of those runs have been here, looking likely to win on his comeback before the lack of a recent run took its toll and he was caught close home.
He made no mistake in a small race at Ffos Las next time, but back here last time, he beat a competitive field, making all and running right through the line. Yes he is up 5lbs and this is probably a stronger contest, but given his natural pace against 6f rivals, he could prove difficult to peg back.
Ascot 2.10: Hermetic
Ian Williams targets this meeting and runs three this year in the Stayers. HERMETIC looks the likeliest.
Already a winner in his native France last season, he started his new career with Williams running over just 12f at York in May. His run there was full of promise, staying on into a solid fourth following a six month absence from the track.
It looked like he was all at sea on soft ground at Goodwood next time, but he ran a cracker to be fourth on the All Weather in the Northumberland Vase last time, proving his stamina once more for 2m in the process. Whilst he does have to prove himself on rattling fast ground, a handicap mark of 81 looks fully exploitable and this horse has plenty of pace for a stayer in a race where there is no guaranteed early pace.
Ascot 2.45: Night Breeze
It looks diffficult to look past the obvious here and go with the in form NIGHT BREEZE who also bids to back up a win in this same race in 2025.
This horse is improving year on year and in fact won twice over course and distance last season. He has thrived on his racing this season, winning the Great Metropolitan at Epsom with ease in April, just two days after running at Musselburgh. Whilst he has been beaten on his last three starts, he has run with considerable credit in all.
He coped really well with unsuitably soft ground on Derby Day back at Epsom when second to mudlover Too Soon. He was then third in the Old Newton Cup at Newmarket before coming from a long way back to take third at Goodwood last week dropped back to 10f. A return to 12f will help, a smaller field will allow this hold up horse to be closer to the pace and in Dylan Browne McMonagle he has a jockey who should be a positive to his chances.
Ascot 4.30: Ebt’s Guard
The finale to the day looks best left to perhaps the most consistent horse in training in EBTS GUARD.
Of course this horse is handicapped to the hilt, but always runs his race having placed in massive handicaps at Newbury, Sandown and in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot this summer. He had plenty of excuses at Goodwood last week when stuck on the rail with nowhere to go in the final 2f.
All tracks come alike to him, but he runs particularly well here as he won this race last year from a 5lbs lower mark and then went on to place second in the Balmoral on Champions Day. He has dropped to his lowest mark of 103 this season, just a pound higher than that Balmoral run and is tactically versatile so it is difficult to see him out of the frame however this race is run.
Recommended bets:
1pt win – All Ways Glamorous – 1.35 Ascot –7/2 general
1pt each-way – Hermetic – 2.10 Ascot – 6/1 Unibet (1/5 odds 1st 3)
1pt win – Night Breeze – 2.45 Ascot – 5/2 Bet365
1pt each-way – Ebt’s Guard – 4.30 Ascot – 11/2 William Hill (¼ odds 1st 3)
