Racing & Sports expert selections.
RACE 1 - Racing returns to Ascot with the first juvenile race of the season kicking off proceedings. KINGS COURT (4) was very impressive in his only trial over 400m at Belmont, bolting clear to win by 3.1L. He maps to be prominent from an inside alley and he looks a consummate professional. Will jump, run and take plenty of beating. WRITING SONGS (11) was doing a bit wrong in her trials leading in, though there's no doubt there's a motor there. Pike sticking from the recent trial is a big tick and the Winkers being applied appears a smart play by connections. Ticks a few boxes and is sure to be prominent. HAGRID (3) showed enough in his only trial when hitting the line locked together with Writing Songs. Should appreciate drawing the rail and can play a major role on debut. STATEWIDE (5) is a sibling to two winners and he ran on strongly between horses in his only public outing. Live chance. CAPITOLA (1) was behind Kings Court recently and Chris Parnham sticking is a positive big tick.
RACE 2 - AIN'T NO OTHER MAN (1) has been right in the market and running well in much stronger events recently, finishing just 2.3L off the winner in Bm66+ company. He maps to be prominent from the draw and he boasts a strong record at this track and trip. Looks set to return to the winner's stall. NORICH (5) resumed in fine order over this trip at Belmont, beaten just 0.2L by an in-form galloper. He may need some luck from the wide draw, but his figures stack up in this event and a repeat effort will see him go close. LET'S TALK (7) was a strong maiden winner as favourite at Northam, sitting on the speed and getting the job done. This is obviously tougher, but he has plenty of upside and with improvement likely, he can find himself in the finish. OREGON HIKER (2) is looking for the hat-trick and the form out of his last start has been good. Key player. COCKTAIL PARTY (6) bounced back last start and has claims if he can build on that effort.
RACE 3 - SIMPLY (4) looks to have found his groove this time in, scoring by 0.2L in a very similar race as favourite most recently. Pike remains in the saddle, and he should get every chance again from the draw. Up in weight but he continues to improve and looks the one to beat again. MANAVENDRA (3) looks ready to explode getting out to this trip now after running some strong races over the unsuitable mile trip lately. Parnham remaining in the saddle is a big tick and with him expected to go to another level now, he'll take plenty of beating. I LOVE YOUR SMILE (6) was well held by Simply last start but turned in a better effort two back. Watch for her running on late. HEMLOCK STONE (2) won impressively at Belmont last start and can repeat the dose.
RACE 4 - ROYAL TORONADO (2) draws a nice gate today and should appreciate getting out to this trip again today. CJP knows him well and he has improved his figures with every run this time in. Looks poised to strike now and can run right over the top of his rivals. BE BARDOT (8) looks a classy mare on the way up, winning impressively by 1.4L at Belmont most recently. This is tougher, but she's untapped and Pike riding her is a big tick. Wide draw is an issue but trust the Wizard to get it right. GREAT FORTUNE (6) is looking for the hat-trick after a dominant win over the mile at Belmont most recently. He's up in weight and in tougher grade today, but his recent performances are hard to knock and if he can repeat those efforts, he'll go close to winning. DECORATION (1) was gutsy from the front at Kalgoorlie last week and will take catching again. DARK MISSILE (9) showed good improvement last start and can do so again stepping out in trip.
RACE 5 - MISS SKYHIGH (9) looks ready to peak now third-up into the campaign following a solid effort over this trip at Belmont. Pike remains in the saddle and the tongue tie goes on for the first time. Will likely be back in the run, but she can storm over the top with a strong tempo expected. PEARL KING (15) gets the blinkers on first time today following a strong effort in Open 3YO company last start at Belmont. The slight rise in trip doesn't appear an issue and while he is still a maiden, he produced a competitive figure last time out. Can put his best foot forward with no weight on his back. AMJAAD (12) just missed first-up over this trip at Belmont when sitting on the speed. She's likely to surge across from the wide alley and she is a second-up winner in the past. Can make her presence felt. ARCADIA KNIGHT (14) is racing in good order of late and draws ideally with no weight on his back. Include. JELLY CAN RUN (8) is racing well and warrants plenty of respect.
RACE 6 - ROPE THEM IN (5) resumed from a break where he left off last campaign and it doesn't look like he's stopping anytime soon. He was just too good last start in BM72+ grade and drops 1kg for the rise in grade today. He maps to get every chance once again and with improvement likely, he should be winning again. RUSTY DREAMS (8) boasts a strong first-up record and should be fitter for two trials coming in. She should appreciate running over this distance first-up and Brad Parnham sticks from her lead-up trials. Expecting her to turn in a bold effort on resumption. POMPEY (3) closed off well over the mile at Belmont a fortnight ago and drops back to this trip today. Pike getting in the saddle is a big tick and he is a track and trip winner previously. Fitter again now and can put his best foot forward. FRIGID (7) will appreciate the step out in distance and can feature if she's at her best. WANGO AWARD (12) is worth including at the bottom of the weights.
RACE 7 - Fascinating race. ESPRIT GARCON (5) was a revelation last campaign as he rocketed through the grades as a red-hot favourite. His recent trial was superb and while he is drawn wide, he'll be back in the run anyway. There looks to be good tempo up front and with his untapped talent, he can storm home over the top. BRAVE SPIRIT (3) won the Raconteur at Listed level just two starts ago before a good effort in the Belmont Guineas. He too may end up back in the run, but he boasts a nice fresh record and he's sure to be strong to the line. Has plenty of class and can show that today. FLY WITH CAUTION (6) showed plenty of ability last campaign when winning three on-end. He was better over further, though he's got plenty of upside and the form from behind him stood up. Can play a major role. SENTIMENTAL BELLE (7) draws a great barrier today and shouldn't be too far away. Live chance. KEEP ATTACKING (9) got the job done impressively last start and has to be included.
RACE 8 - The feature of the day and SINFUL LIVING (8) goes on top. She's a race fit mare who was too good from the front last time out at Belmont over this trip. She has the speed to get across from out wide for Pike who remains in the saddle today. Can roll along in front and take plenty of catching. MADHI GIRL (12) resumed with a good win at Belmont 42 days ago and has been freshened since. She was 20-1 there, but the form out of that has stacked up nicely. Draws a better gate today and with no weight on her back she's bound to be in the finish. GOLDEN KATHLEEN (14) hasn't been sighted since going under by 0.9L as favourite at Belmont following a huge run in the WA Sires Produce behind Bustling. The inside draw may be a niggle, but she's nicely weighted and she'll be flashing home late. WEST STAR (4) put his name up in lights with a dominant win to end last campaign. Has trialled well coming into this and is right in the mix. SIR DREAMALOT (1) can feature following a good fresh effort.
RACE 9 - ALMIGHTY CLASS (6) was well fancied first and second-up last campaign and only just missed before contesting The Quokka. He looks in fine form judging by his recent trials and he still has plenty of upside to come. Can be prominent in the run and bounce back to winning ways. GENEROSITY (11) rocketed home from the back first-up last campaign over this track and trip to be beaten 1.4L. She trialled well coming into this and Chris Parnham sticks from that trial. She may need some luck from the draw, but she's definitely good enough to win a race like this. LIVE TO TELL (5) has had some issues since her bold run in the Karrakatta Plate in 2023 and was solid in her only run last campaign. She was tipped out after that and will be fitter for two trials coming in. Still has plenty of untapped ability and can be flashing home late.
