UK Horse Racing Tips: Ascot

Wesley Ward has won this race twice in the last six years and Maven will be popular in the betting after scoring at Aqueduct on debut in April, while Mount Fuji made a winning start to his career at Cork last month despite doing plenty wrong in the early stages. Expressionist scored over course and distance on debut after costing connections 300,000gns at the Craven breeze-up sales, but this can go the way of King Power Racing's SUNDAY SOVEREIGN. Impressive on debut when fourth in a hot Naas contest before beating the likes of Arizona at the Curragh a few weeks later, the two-year-old didn't mind soft ground when scoring on his third career start at Tipperary 16 days ago and can put his experience to good use here with no concerns over the trip or ground.
Prediction : 1st Sunday Sovereign 2nd Expressionist 3rd Maven

Cape Of Good Hope bids to follow in the hoofprints of his full brothers, Highland Reel and Idaho, in winning at the Royal meeting and he arrives on the back of a solid fourth in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly. Fox Chairman's inexperience got the better of him at Chester but he remains with significant potential and the return to a more conventional track is definitely in his favour. Andrew Balding's colt, along with London Gold Cup winner Headman, Heron Stakes runner-up Roseman and the third from that contest, SANGARIUS, represent a strong team for the sire Kingman and it is the latter-named who gets the vote. Sir Michael Stoute has won this contest twice in the last 10 years, most recently with Cannock Chase (2014), and his comeback at Sandown was a solid performance when shaping as though he would benefit from the outing. The step up to 1m2f and the booking of Frankie Dettori could both eke out further improvement. Others to consider include King Ottokar, who travelled powerfully before not staying in the Chester Vase over an extended 1m4f, and Kick On, who will appreciate softer underfoot conditions to what he encountered in France earlier in the month.
Prediction : 1st Sangarius 2nd Cape Of Good Hope 3rd Fox Chairman

QUEEN POWER was denied by a short-head over 1m here on her seasonal bow but she was making up plenty of ground late on and it was no surprise to see her improve for the step up to 1m2f when landing a Listed contest at Newbury last time (with Star Catcher back in third third). Sir Michael Stoute's charge was again putting in her best work in the finish last time and could progress again now granted this stiffer test. Oaks third Fleeting could be tough to keep out of the frame for a trainer who has won three of the last five runnings of this contest, while the pick of the John Gosden quartet may be Fanny Logan, who finished an outpaced third in the Cheshire Oaks and could appreciate this extra yardage.
Prediction : 1st Queen Power 2nd Fleeting 3rd Fanny Logan

STRADIVARIUS has swept all before him in the staying division and returns to defend his crown from 12 months ago. John Gosden's star performer made a satisfactory beginning to his season in the Yorkshire Cup, beating Southern France by three quarters of a length, and is expected to improve plenty from that outing. Melbourne Cup hero Cross Counter won on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan and boasts obvious claims if seeing out the extra half mile, while similar comments apply to last year's Derby runner-up Dee Ex Bee, who has won both his starts over 2m this season. Flag Of Honour has chased home Magical on all three outings this season over 1m2f and the marked step up in distance could see him improve a fair amount, while 2017 St Leger winner Capri could bounce back to form after two average displays so far this campaign.
Prediction : 1st Stradivarius 2nd Cross Counter 3rd Flag Of Honour

KING ADEMAR only found the subsequent 2000 Guineas second King Of Change too good in a novice race at Nottingham on his seasonal return back in April. The son of Scat Daddy then returned from a short break with a narrow defeat in a handicap at the same venue two weeks ago. That appears to be very strong form, with the winner following up under a penalty and the fourth has also won since, and first-time cheekpieces can bring about enough improvement in this colt to see him get off the mark. Beatboxer accounted for some of these when winning the Silver Bowl at Haydock last month and he should go well once again. Velorum looks to have a bright future based on his two recent novice wins but this is a much stiffer test and most of the pace appears to be drawn high, which has to be a concern for his supporters. Turgenev ran well considering he was used as a pacemaker in the Dante and he should not be underestimated dropped into handicap company. Awe, Masaru and Motafaawit are others who can be expected to go well.
Prediction : 1st King Ademar 2nd Beatboxer 3rd Turgenev