Bookies Enemy

Ascot day 4

A few early bets as price is shifting on Ajero.

3:40 Ascot, Ajero - 1.5pts e/w @17 generally (6 places B365/Skybet/PP)

Has a run well behind some useful 3yo's giving them lumps of weight including the John Gosden unbeaten 'Francesco Clemente' who's entered in the ARC, and the promising debutante 'Sea The Casper' whom he should have beat last time despite giving him a stone in weight, leaving two 80-rated rivals in his wake including the Haggas trained fav 'King Of Ice'. He gets in here off bottom weight, and despite not having the sexy profile of some of his rivals, if this 5-time hurdle winner can continue his good form tomorrow, then I have no doubt that he'll be very well handicapped off an opening mark of 89.

3:40 Ascot, Trawlerman - 1pt win @6 generally (win only as he might have the class to trounce these)

One that does have a sexy profile and is worth a saver-bet is Trawlerman, who did well to win on his return last time after a slow start and racing keenly, as well as getting a wide passage throughout the race. He's got some strong 3yo form to his name from last year and looks pattern-class bound on the evidence of his last run, so competing in a handicap again tomorrow, if going the right way, then this could be the last time you'll see this son of 'Golden Horn' in this type of race.

3:40 Ascot, Mashhoor - 1pt win @11 generally (win only as he might not stay the trip)

And finally, we can't NOT have a bet on Mashhoor, who won so impressively on just his second start for Johnny Murtagh last time, producing a very good time in the process. As I mentioned earlier in the week he was taken out of the Wolferton Listed race for this, but I so wish he'd have stayed in that race over a trip he's guaranteed to stay at odds 33/1, rather than this 2f longer trip in a handicap at 10/1, as I'm just not convinced he will stay as Kingman's progeny are much more effective at up to a mile. But he was strong at the finish when winning at the Curragh, and with potentially not a great deal of pace in tomorrow's line-up, if the quicker ground doesn't hinder his chance, then I can see him going well also.