Ascot selections Saturday 3rd October
Definitely one of those days where there is something for everyone who enjoys racing. Gowran stages one of the bigger fixtures of the early jumps season, Longchamp stages top class flat racing, Newmarket has a Group 1 contest and Redcar stages its two biggest races of the season. However Ascot’s card has plenty to recommend it from a punting perspective, so that is where I am looking for today’s best bets. We had a good day last Saturday with Un Sens A La Vie winning (advised 11/4), however it would have been even better if Crest of Fire had held on in the Cambridgeshire, however we were paid out each-way (SP 25/1).
Ascot 1.50: Regional
Whilst he might not be quite in the form of old, REGIONAL won’t need to be quite at his best to win at listed level and this race offers a decent opportunity to get back to winning ways.
This perennial fast starter landed the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock back in 2023, but since then finished second and third in the 2024/2025 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot, where his fast starts could be put to maximum use over 5f. He was only tenth at the Royal meeting this year, but that was over 6f where his stamina potentially ran out.
He probably did not enjoy softer ground at York last time where he led to 1f out before fading. However there will be no excuses on account of the ground today and this is a slightly lower grade contest than he has been used to compete in.
Ascot 3.00: Prince of India
A thoroughly progressive colt representing the resurgent Marco Botti team, PRINCE OF INDIA can build on a recent listed success at Newmarket.
Whilst that was not the greatest race for the grade, he was not winning out of term that day and proved his second in the Group 2 Hungerford at Newbury was no fluke. The application of headgear has definitely brought him forward as he was appearing to lack early pace in his races prior to that.
Blinkers were therefore put on when contesting the July Cup at Newmarket and he raced greatly above market expectation that day in being beaten only 2l. He has maintained that form since, but it is interesting that blinkers are replaced by cheekpieces today which will hopefully have a further positive effect.
Ascot 3.35: Arctic Dawn & Moonfall
Two against the field for another of Ascot’s Heritage handicaps on the straight course.
ARCTIC DAWN has been overlooked in the betting, presumably on the basis that being beaten on his two most recent outings seems to have him at a rating beyond his ceiling. However I thought he ran well at Newmarket last week, coming from too far off the pace, but rattling home for fourth. I am hoping similar tactics are adopted today as they work much better on this track. It might also account for two below par runs here earlier this season when ridden much more positively.
He has been largely progressive on fast ground this summer, winning at Newmarket last month and he is only 3lbs higher today, so this is not an unsurmountable rise. He looks a real 7f specialist and he could be in the ideal draw right up against the near side rail.
Preference though has to be for MOONFALL, the winner of the Britannia at the Royal meeting here over a mile, but on recent evidence this drop back to a stiff 7f should not inconvenience him.
If anything he was beaten here by a lack of stamina earlier this month, looking in command a furlong out only to find Hickory charging past him late on. A drop of a furlong here will help him more than that rival. He produced a very eyecatching run on his last attempt at 7f at Chester back in May when getting stuck in traffic, before finishing strongly. We know he handles this track well, and there may be more improvement to come on his favoured fast ground.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Regional – 1.50 Ascot – 10/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 3)
1pt win – Prince of India – 3.00 Ascot – 7/2 general
0.5pts each-way – Arctic Dawn – 3.35 Ascot– 33/1 general (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Moonfall – 3.35 Ascot – 5/1 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)
