Ascot selections Saturday 18th October
The official end of the flat season in Britain sees a star studded cast of equine talent for an unusually fast ground Champions Day. I have selections from three races on the card and this looks a day to take on some of the market leaders at the end of a long season. We had a strong day last Saturday with Rambo T taking the feature race over jumps at Chepstow (advised 16/1), whilst both our selections for the Cesarewitch were placed each-way – Ndaawi (advised 12/1) and Reverend Hubert (advised 9/2).
Ascot 2.05.: Kind of Blue
Plenty of the usual sprinting suspects in opposition once more here. Whilst Lazzat’s win here at the Royal meeting surely represents the best form on offer, he has not repeated that in two runs since and he could be vulnerable as a front-runner taking on plenty of other pacesetters. Instead I prefer the chances of owner-mate KIND OF BLUE in his attempt to repeat last year’s win in this race.
This horse is totally versatile regarding both ground conditions and tactics and produced his very best form in the autumn last season. He ran well all season, but was beaten in three group races before finishing a strong second in the Sprint Cup at Haydock and then winning this contest with a strong finishing burst.
This season started badly with two very poor runs in the first half of the year, but he showed signs of a return to form when third at the Curragh in August and then repeated his second placing at Haydock behind Big Mojo. Last year high draws were significantly favoured on this card, so stall 18 will be a good place to be if that is repeated here.
Ascot 3.25: Rosallion
It has been a very frustrating season for both connections and backers of ROSALLION this year, but those who have kept the faith could finally be rewarded in this Group 1.
Everything should set up perfectly for this 4yo, a likely strong pace with the likes of Fallen Angel in the race, a good sized field to get plenty of cover, and fast ground to allow the colt to produce his strong finishing burst he showed so impressively in 2024. On two occasions he has failed in photo-finishes to gain a further Group 1 success, including here in the Queen Anne at the Royal meeting.
His last run at Longchamp showed the ability was still there, but he just needed another stride to peg back Sahlan. I think he will be best suited by a straight mile which he gets here and is another who might be able to benefit from a wide draw.
Ascot 4.40: Arisaig & Fifth Column
Two horses at slightly bigger odds are favoured for the one handicap on the card.
ARISAIG has run plenty of good races here, without winning, and has shown here very best form in handicap company this season. That included a second place when coming from the back at Sandown in July and she was second over this course and distance back in the spring.
Her third place in a listed race at Newmarket was as good an effort as she has ever produced and her hold up style complements perfectly her jockey Jamie Spencer’s riding style. Very much a top of the ground specialist, she will enjoy this faster ground more than many.
FIFTH COLUMN is given another chance having disappointed in the Cambridgeshire. Perhaps the undulations might have been against him and a wide draw was not ideal, though not a total explanation for the distance he was beaten by.
Prior to that though he has battled to success in a good handicap on fast ground at the Ebor meeting, needing every yard of the mile trip to get on top. A stiff track here should be just what he needs to get going and a middle draw will allow William Buick to follow the pace as he sees fit.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Kind of Blue – 2.05 Ascot – 12/1 Betway (1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Rosallion – 3.25 Ascot – 5/1 William Hill, Unibet (1/4 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Arisaig – 4.40 Ascot – 14/1 Betfred (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Fifth Column – 4.40 Ascot – 14/1 Skybet, Paddy Power (1/5 odds 1st 6)
