Wednesday Tote Placepot Tips for Ascot

Leg 1 Selections: Chasing Aphrodite, Repertoire, Fantasy Believer, Yaanaas

Not the easiest of handicaps to solve to start the card at the Berkshire venue but CHASING APHRODITE won his first two starts and sandwiched in between two below-par efforts was a good third at Southwell on the all-weather. 

He has undergone wind surgery since he was last seen and goes well fresh, so Harry Eustace's charge could be set to make an impact with more to come. 

REPERTOIRE is only two pounds higher than when winning this last year by six lengths. He goes well fresh, will benefit from a strong pace and will try to follow-up last year’s success. 

I’ll also add in FANTASY BELIEVER, who won over course-and-distance last July from a two pounds higher mark, while Roger Varian’s unbeaten YAANAAS could make a bold effort in order to retain his unbeaten record on turf/handicap debut. 

Leg 2 Selections: Action Point, Balagh

Maximum Effect won by 12 lengths on debut but conditions will be completely different here and the vote goes to ACTION POINT. 

Archie Watson’s charge displayed plenty of professionalism to make a winning debut at Kempton three weeks ago. That form has been boosted since, so with more to come, he could be capable of retaining his undefeated record. 

Andrew Balding won this race last year with a newcomer and he could have another smart one on his hands in BALAGH, an expensive yearling who is related to top-class sprinter Librisa Breeze. 

Oisin Murphy is a positive jockey booking as well, so a big performance could be forthcoming, especially if the market speaks in his favour. 

Leg 3 Selections: Orchid Bloom, Queen For You

ORCHID BLOOM returned a very impressive winner on debut at Newmarket, where she defied weak market support to score by over three lengths. 

That wasn’t a strong race but she is promising and the step up in trip could unlock further improvement judged on the evidence. I think she will give the favourite the most to think about. 

In the hope the favourite doesn’t place, debutant QUEEN FOR YOU could offer some value. She is closely related to classy miler Glorious Journey and her trainer won this last year with a newcomer. 

She is of certain interest, especially as her connections enjoyed a nice debutant winner at Newcastle last night. 

Leg 4 Selections: Trueshan

TRUESHAN couldn’t get past Rajinsky at Nottingham three weeks ago but he still remains the one to beat, who is one of the best stayers of the modern era and beat Coltrane over course-and-distance last year. 

Alan King’s charge is unbeaten in three starts at this course and it will take a good one to topple him back at his favourite hunting ground with that run under his belt. He should be extremely hard to beat. 

Leg 5 Selections: Cold Case, Magical Sunset 

Not a lot to separate these but COLD CASE was rock solid throughout the whole of last year, winning three of his six starts and making the frame in the other three. 

His season culminated with an easy success in the William Hill Two Year Old Trophy at Redcar. He is up in grade for his reappearance but he hasn’t finished improving by any means and is the solid option to at least reach the frame. 

MAGICAL SUNSET returned a beaten favourite on her return in a Group 3 at Newbury but did travel well before a lack of fitness told and she will be even stronger here with that run under her belt. 

She won three times last year, including an easy win in a Listed race and the form of her debut success looks really strong as she beat one of the 2000 Guineas leading candidates, Sakheer. She should give a good account of herself. 

Leg 6 Selections: Chindit

CHINDIT ended last season on a low-key note but he returns to the Berkshire venue for the first time since winning a Group 2 here last July.

He is two-from-two at the course outside of Group 1 level, with his only other outing here seeing him finish fifth of 13 in the 2021 St James's Palace Stakes. 

His best form is first-time-out with a record of three wins from three starts, so he must have a good chance with My Prospero a non-runner.