UK Horse Racing Tips: Ascot

DAKOTA GOLD has been a huge success story this season, winning four races on the spin before being touched off in Group 3 company at Newbury last time. Five furlongs on forecast soft ground should be ideal for Michael Dods' in-form gelding and he is very much the one to beat. Both of Maygold's victories this year have come on a soft surface, including in a valuable Haydock handicap four weeks ago, so she warrants respect, while Danzeno and Tis Marvellous also have solid place credentials.
Prediction : 1st Dakota Gold 2nd Maygold 3rd Danzeno

This represents a fantastic opportunity for MORANDO to regain the winning thread. An impressive winner of the Ormonde Stakes on soft ground at the beginning of the season, he produced his best effort since when back on a slow surface at Newbury last time, losing out by three-parts of a length in the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes, and can power through the mud to see off these rivals. Sextant has two wins from three starts here and was back on song in Listed company at Chester last time. He rates the biggest threat ahead of improving three-year-old Faylaq.
Prediction : 1st Morando 2nd Sextant 3rd Faylaq

RAISING SAND landed this prize last year off 12lb lower and showed his liking for the place when successful again here in July. Jamie Osborne's charge saves his best for this track with cut in the ground and could take advantage with those factors in his favour once again. Ripp Orf is another course specialist who deserves plenty of respect, though he did finish two lengths behind the selection in this event 12 months ago, while Bedouin's Story was an unlucky loser at Chelmsford 23 days ago and doesn't mind a soft terrain either.
Prediction : 1st Raising Sand 2nd Ripp Orf 3rd Bedouins Story

CAPE BYRON won this year's Wokingham on fast ground but he's also won over 1m on soft here earlier in his career and could thus take plenty of beating under these conditions. Tabdeed remains open to further improvement and might play a supporting role if building on his conditions victory at Doncaster in August. The main danger to the selection, however, may be Donjuan Triumphant, who hasn't been at his best this term but has his ideal ground here and drops in grade.
Prediction : 1st Cape Byron 2nd Donjuan Triumphant 3rd Tabdeed

DANDHU has been off the track since finishing 10th in the 1000 Guineas and is entitled to improve for this drop in grade. David Elsworth's charge won the Fred Darling on good to soft ground in the spring and may have more to offer before the year is out. William Haggas saddles a pair of interesting runners in Tapisserie and Beauty Filly. Both need to step up on their latest runs but are Listed winners who are effective on a slow surface.
Prediction : 1st Dandhu 2nd Beauty Filly 3rd Tapisserie

CELSIUS has had a break since his gutsy Glorious Goodwood success at the beginning of August and can enhance his reputation as one of the most progressive sprint handicappers in training. Up 7lb in the ratings, the son of Dragon Pulse is proven on soft ground and has a nice racing weight. Pendleton is a model of consistency and will be winning one of these sooner rather than later, while stable companion Camacho Chief warrants respect along with 2017 and 2018 winner Erissimus Maximus.
Prediction : 1st Celsius 2nd Pendleton 3rd Camacho Chief