Bookies Enemy

Good evening,

3:05 Ascot,

Rousing Encore - 0.5pts e/w @23 generally (4-5 places)

Our other ante-post bet 'Noble Style' is now a non-runner in this race (bad blood test) which is of course is very disappointing, but this fella is still in there whom we also had a small win bet with, and now that the bookies have included their place offers, I'm going to suggest another small bet each-way. His time figure when winning last time was very good, beating a very well-backed short-priced fav in 'Breege' when having his first run over the 6f trip, and although he got the uncontested lead that day, he still set good fractions and was pulling away again at the end to produce a very good time-figure. He'll need to improve on that again tomorrow to beat the front two in the market, but with 4/5 places on offer, he looks to have a great chance of running in to a place so long as he takes to the sandier Ascot track.

3:40 Ascot, Mooniesta - 1pt e/w @16 Coral/Hills/B365/Ladbrokes (4 places)

Irish raider that ran well here in the Commonwealth Cup last year over 6f on heavy ground, travelling as well as anything before not getting home in the testing ground. She's gone on to perform at a high level ever since that run, winning a group 2 on her subsequent outing as well as being placed in three races this year, with a career best effort last time when 2nd behind 'Brad The Brief' and a place ahead of group 1 winner 'A Case Of You. This quickly run 5f should suit her running style and with course form at a premium, she looks set to go well at a nice price.

3:40 Ascot, King's Lynn 1pt e/w @15 generally (4 places)

Unlucky not to win this race last year when finishing 7th before then running in the Wokingham handicap 4 days later where he ran a cracking race on ground that will have been a bit too testing for him, finishing 3rd behind the season's 'player of the year' 'Rohaan'. He's had just the two runs this year, beating the less exposed and re-opposing 'Twightlight Calls' last time and who also looks to have a good chance, but he's already been well backed and is almost half his odds, and with much more course form to his name (plus beating him last time), I'd rather be backing King's Lynn in the hope that he gets a trouble free race this year.

4:20 Ascot, Bayside Boy - 1pt e/w @67 B365/PP/BF/Coral (4 places B365)

Has some strong 2yo form to his name winning twice including a group 1, and finishing 3rd at Newmarket behind the smart 'Native Trail' plus 3rd at Doncaster in another G1, and although well beat on his return at three in a G1 at Longchamp, that was a big ask to win a group 1 on foreign land returning for a break. But despite only beating two horse's home, he was better than that as he had a wide draw and had to be held up but couldn't get cover as he had a wide trip for much of the race and also hung right, so he just didn't enjoy the experience at all. He should come on plenty for that run and although he'll need to improve to figure tomorrow, if a mile on quicker ground is more to his liking, then from a much kinder draw than last time, I think he should be able to outrun his huge odds.

4:20 Ascot, Maljoom - 1pt e/w @13 generally

'Coroebus' the short-priced fav has the beating of most of these if continuing his progression. But the one horse that might be able to cause a shock in Maljoom, who looks far from the finished article despite winning all three of his races thus far. He chalked his third victory in the German equivalent of the 2000 Guineas last time, and the way he won coming like an express train form the middle of the field was really impressive. The quality of that field won't compare to that of many in tomorrow's race, but the way he did it suggests that there might be much more to come, and if continuing improving with each race as he has been doing, then there's no telling just where this Willie Haggas trained son of Carravagio's improvement will end. Haggas has two in tomorrow's race and 'My Prospero' is also a lovely looking type who has the world at his hooves, but at more than twice his price, I'm happy to back the lesser polished Maljoom instead.

6:10 Ascot, Okita Soushi - 1pt e/w @10 B365/Hills/888 (5 places)

Aiden O'Brien trains two in this race with the other being the fav 'Cleveland' who impressed when winning the Chester Cup last time over 2m 4f, and although he may well win again, he'll have completely different conditions tomorrow over this much shorter trip on and racing on quick ground for the first time. So it's his other runner Okita Soushi that stands out for me as he ran well in a listed race at the Curragh last time on what was just his third start and his first for 303 days, staying on well behind another O'Brien runner 'Raise You' who's fancied for the Irish St Ledger. That was on easy ground, but he won his debut impressively on quick ground, and if he stays the extra 2f tomorrow, then he must go well back in handicap company.

News on two ante-post bets that are now non-runners.

As I mentioned above, Noble Style had blood issues and this was what his trainer said

"Noble Style pleased in his work yesterday but he has since had some unsatisfactory blood results back. As a result, he will not run in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot."

Our other n/r is Mashhoor, who's now running in the lesser Duke Of Edinburgh handicap instead of the listed Wolferton Stakes. He's around 10/1 right now and given the ever-quickening ground conditions, might not be value as I think he prefers cut. Plus he might not run so I'm just going to hang fire for now as that race isn't until Friday so if we go in again now and he doesn't run, then we will lose our stake.