Saturday Tote Placepot Tips for Ascot from Architect

Leg 1 Selections: Trueshan, Trawlerman

With more and more rain falling across Berkshire by the second, conditions will certainly be ideal for defending champion TRUESHAN to prompt a remarkable fourth straight win in the Long Distance Cup.
Alan King’s brilliant stayer was winning this for a third consecutive year when marginally denying Coltrane twelve months ago and has looked as good as ever this year, winning his last two starts, including the Prix du Cadran by four lengths at Longchamp three weeks ago. 

I think Kyprios will struggle to beat the former under these conditions, while TRAWLERMAN ran well to finish third behind the former last year and is unbeaten in two starts this term. Frankie Dettori maintains the partnership. 

Leg 2 Selections: Vadream, Art Power, Sense Of Duty

Ralph Beckett’s Kinross has proved a revelation in the sprinting ranks over the years and conditions are looking firmly in his favour under Frankie as the pair bid to follow-up last year’s win in this race, the Champions Sprint Stakes. 

However, he is certainly no shoo-in after being turned over last-time-out and he will do well to get the better of VADREAM who could finally gain her first top-tier success. She is capable on her day and could get involved. 

SENSE OF DUTY should strip fitter from her return third and was extremely progressive last year, winning five on the trot, including an easy Group 3 win over subsequent Group 3 winner Annaf which reads well. She is very interesting now pitched into her first Group 1 task. 

ART POWER has a mixed profile but does go well in testing ground and this multiple Group 1-placed horse whose won various Group 2 events, often runs this course well. He is the third-highest rated horse in the field. 

Leg 3 Selections: Bluestocking 

Despite being turned over at a short price at Chester last time at a lower level, when narrowly denied in second, BLUESTOCKING is still of interest here as the return to soft ground, which had previously yielded her best performance this season when second in the Irish Oaks, will suit her well. 

She was unlucky to have had the race snatched from her grasp by Savethelastdance in the closing stages in the Irish Oaks and that piece of form is amongst the best on offer. Her form and rating puts her right in contention, so she is the only pick for the race as I’m confident she goes close. 

Leg 4 Selections: Tahiyra, Chaldean

The Irish 1,000 Guineas winner TAHIYRA is really well-favoured on these terms and probably has more come than most. She has already bagged four Group 1 wins from just six starts and her second in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, her only defeat to date, reads well. She is a class act, who won’t be hindered by conditions, and should be hard to beat. 

The 2,000 Guineas winner CHALDEAN is reunited with Frankie Dettori and although he disappointed in France last time, he has been given time to recover. He is seemingly the forgotten horse in the field and has more to come over a mile, so he can also be included. 

Leg 5 Selections: King Of Steel, Dubai Honour 

KING OF STEEL won on soft ground on his debut and has progressed rapidly since finishing down the field at Doncaster with a second in a Derby, before winning the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. He has since placed in two more Group 1s and must have leading claims under the services of Frankie Dettori.  

DUBAI HONOUR handles soft ground and came very close to winning this two years ago when beaten under a length by Sealiway in second and that looked a deep renewal. He was last of four in the Eclipse last time but that was a tough task and this dual Group 1 winner could be set to outrun his odds again under James Doyle. 

Leg 6 Selections: Dancing Magic, Bennetot, Raadobarg 

DANCING MAGIC’s only previous time he ran in the mud was when fourth in the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes. All of his last eight runs have been in Listed/Group level and he has undergone wind surgery since last time which could bring about improvement. 

An opening mark of 98 could prove lenient and he is also Roger’s only runner on the card. He ran well in his only previous visit here when midfield in the Hampton Court Stakes at the Royal meeting and Oisin Murphy will take the ride this time. Drawn high, he is a standout pick to at least place. 

BENNETOT didn’t offer much encouragement on stable debut at Haydock but that was a tough starting point off top-weight and his handler David O’Meara tends to do well with similar types. 

He has solid French form in the book, which includes a soft ground win and a second in a Listed event and is on a nice-low weight for this race with Neil Callan booked to ride. He could represent a bit of value at the odds. 

RAADOBARG has continued to run solid races in defeat for these connections and has his ground as well. He has plenty of course form and should appreciate the return to a handicap. He looks sure to be thereabouts.