UK Horse Racing Tips: Ascot

Tim Easterby has yet to hit full stride since the season began, but ART POWER proved a clear highlight for the Yorkshire-based handler when making a winning return to action at Newcastle earlier this month and this looks to be a nice opportunity for the Dark Angel colt. The three-year-old confirmed his pace for the minimum trip when scoring in a novice event at York last year and, off a mark of 97, he can prove himself to be a group horse in a handicap. Will To Win has won five of his last six starts on the all-weather, while Keep Busy showed plenty when second in the Scurry at Sandown last week and could build on that for John Quinn.
Prediction : 1st Art Power 2nd Will To Win 3rd Keep Busy

Many of the home team faced a rush to get in their prep run, given the short turnaround between the resumption of UK racing and this meeting, so Wes Ward's US raider Flying Aletha is afforded plenty of respect, having had a 29-day break after opening her account at Gulfstream. With ante-post favourite More Beautiful seemingly defecting to the Queen Mary tomorrow, Mother Earth merits consideration as the sole Ballydoyle representative in the line-up. However, it might be worth supporting DANDALLA, who has bagged a stands' side draw and showed bundles of early speed when making a winning debut at Newcastle. Karl Burke's speedball is bred to improve for this extra furlong, given she's out of a winning miler, and has had a fraction longer than most of her UK-based rivals to recover from her debut exertions on the second day of the new Flat season. The likes of Setarhe and Golden Melody add further spice to the contest and although she was beaten at Yarmouth on debut, Willabell still ran to a decent level of form and could figure under Frankie Dettori.
Prediction : 1st Dandalla 2nd Flying Aletha 3rd Setarhe

The Lir Jet left a nice visual impression when successful at Yarmouth earlier this month and has since been purchased by Qatar Racing to contest this in their silks for Michael Bell, while Lipizzaner has bumped into a couple of smart winners in his career so far and should be getting off the mark soon. Imperial Force chased home a smart prospect trained by Charlie Appleby at Newmarket last time and should build on that, while Wesley Ward has been bullish about Golden Pal in a number of recent stable tours. However, Mark Johnston's EYE OF HEAVEN justified strong market support at Newmarket on debut last time, winning with greater ease than the half-length margin of success suggested, and it is interesting that Frankie Dettori rides him again. A big horse, he should be better suited by Ascot and could take some stopping.
Prediction : 1st Eye Of Heaven 2nd The Lir Jet 3rd Golden Pal

Last year's Derby hero Anthony Van Dyck returned with a fine effort when finishing second to Ghaiyyath in the rearranged Coronation Cup at Newmarket, with Defoe (fifth) a disappointment on that occasion. However, the four-year-old has a few questions to answer bouncing back quickly from a hard race on ground that may not see him to best effect. With that in mind, the vote goes to ELARQAM. The son of Frankel has shaped for a while as though he could improve for the step up to 1m4f and there may yet be further progression to come with him being lightly raced for a Mark Johnston inmate. Fanny Logan proved her stamina for an extended 1m3f at Haydock earlier in the month when given a fair bit to do and she can enter the reckoning along with Spanish Mission, who can leave behind his latest outing at Meydan in February.
Prediction : 1st Elarqam 2nd Fanny Logan 3rd Spanish Mission

Pierre Lapin won both his starts as a juvenile and followed in the footsteps of his half-brother Harry Angel when taking the Mill Reef at Newbury in September. Roger Varian's colt looked a work in progress which makes him an exciting proposition for this season, but he may not be streetwise enough against more battle-hardened opponents. Preference, therefore, is for GOLDEN HORDE as he mixed it with the top juvenile sprinters last season, placing twice behind Earthlight at the highest level, and he appeals as having the scope for further improvement as a three-year-old. Wooded impressed when dropped back to this trip at Chantilly last month and he warrants plenty of respect, along with Millisle, who is likely to be happier back sprinting, and Royal Crusade.
Prediction : 1st Golden Horde 2nd Pierre Lapin 3rd Wooded

BERKSHIRE ROCCO looked to have a bright future when third in the Zetland Stakes on his final start as a juvenile. He confirmed that promise when only finding the exciting English King too good in the Lingfield Derby Trial and he should have no problem handling this step up in trip. Al Dabaran ran well in a pair of Group races in France last September and the son of Dubawi is entitled to go close here, while he is another who should be suited by this distance. Santiago, who won a Listowel maiden on his final start as a two-year-old, and Nobel Prize both merit respect given that Aidan O'Brien has trained five of the last 10 winners of this contest.
Prediction : 1st Berkshire Rocco 2nd Al Dabaran 3rd Santiago

DURSTON was highly progressive last year and he was last seen finishing third in the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury in August. Prior to that the son of Sea The Moon only found the subsequent St Leger second Sir Ron Priestley too good in a handicap at Goodwood. Both of those performances suggest that a mark of 100 should be workable, especially as he may improve for a gelding operation over the winter. West End Charmer made a winning return to action at Newmarket 12 days ago and he is an obvious threat to the selection. Le Don De Vie is much better than what he showed in the Cambridgeshire but he does have to prove himself over this trip, having looked a weak finisher behind the selection at Goodwood.
Prediction : 1st Durston 2nd West End Charmer 3rd Le Don De Vie