It’s a Group 1 weekend with the Sprint Cup at Haydock being the highlight.
We begin on Friday at Ascot however with two solid bets to kick off the fun.
Friday 2nd September 2022
2.35 Ascot (Maiden Stakes) - CITY OF KINGS
There are some newcomers to the game who will need to be watched carefully in the market for this race, so we need to keep that in mind.
Burnish is a Kingman trained by William Haggas, Lion Tamer is the latest Roaring Lion to hit the track trained by the Gosdens, while Paddington represents Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore.
There are others too, but City Of Kings has crucial racetrack experience now and could be too strong.
His debut was solid enough at Sandown, his run in fact was interrupted, he stayed on well and was favourite to win. He can go in this time.
4.20 Ascot (Handicap) - GREATGADIAN
An interesting handicap over the mile. Positive can improve for his comeback run at Goodwood in late July, though even if he gets back to previous levels then he may not be the best handicapped horse in the race.
Of more interest is Saeed bin Suroor’s Dubai Image, a three-time winner who is in fine form. Having been rated 97 for 10 of his last 15 runs going back to 2020 and now to have to run off 102 means he may also not have anything in hand however.
The door could be left open then for Greatgadian, a four-year-old with improvement to come. Roger Varian’s gelding has done well this season, winning twice at Chelmsford and looking a tad unlucky in third at Ascot last time.
The handicapper most likely hasn’t got to him yet and he looks the best prospect under Ray Dawson.
Saturday 3rd September 2022
2.20 Haydock (Handicap) - OPEN CHAMPION
Tamilla will be popular once again for the increasingly powerful William Haggas yard having won her last two, though off a mark of 85 she needs to improve again.
Both Adjuvant and Inverness also make the list, however it’s Roger Varian’s Open Champion who is most appealing.
Improving in lumps, Open Champion’s debut was nothing to write home about but he’s since run second at Newmarket and won with plenty to spare last time. His mark looks reasonable and this should bring out the best in him.
2.35 Ascot (Nursery Handicap) - COURAGEOUS KNIGHT
Despite starting the day at around 10/1 and having the second choice jockey on board, Courteous Knight was well fancied and very well backed at York last time out.
Having missed the start there, the experienced and improving Dubawi colt got into the race nicely and was only pushed out for third place after James Doyle dropped his whip.
This chap evokes memories of Modern Games for the same team, who went through the handicap route and ended up winning Group 1’s. He may not reach that level of course, but he looks to be ahead of the handicapper and can be backed.
3.15 Kempton (Sirenia Stakes - Group 3) - MISCHIEF MAGIC
Flag Flying is interesting in this six furlong Group 3 event after a very nice debut performance for the Juddmonte team.
Harry & Roger Charlton’s filly got to an extremely impressive level for her first start when winning at Goodwood in June, but it could be that a lack of experience just holds her back in this higher grade.
Mischief Magic made a less auspicious start to racing life when third on debut in May, but came on a ton to win next time out back at Goodwood under a smart William Buick ride.
He improved again to win a novice race at Newmarket in mid-August and did it so easily as to suggest he has so very much more to come. If he reaches the level expected of him in this race then he should prove to be hard to beat.
3.30 Haydock (Sprint Cup - Group 1) - NAVAL CROWN
Some good sprinters have come and gone this season, but this still looks like a particularly competitive Group 1 event.
Go Bears Go is improving nicely and is very close now to the level required, while Art Power has had just the one run this season and will be much sharper now.
Kinross looked very smart when winning last time at York, though that was over his favoured seven furlongs.
Brad The Brief is on a hat-trick and is now a Group 2 scorer, while last year’s winner Emaraaty Ana ran on beautifully in the Nunthorpe and was named right then and there as the likely winner of this race by many.
For me however there are two classy horses who stand out and who are reaching their peak.
Minzaal first of all was a taking Gimcrack winner two years ago, ran third in the British Champions Sprint last October, won the Hackwood this season and was unsuited by things when runner-up in the Prix Maurice de Gheest.
He has a great chance, but Naval Crown has achieved more this season and gets the vote.
Charlie Appleby’s four year old was just learning to sprint in Dubai during the spring, but put it all together at Royal Ascot when winning the Platinum Jubilee. He was a solid second in the July Cup too, and can reverse placings with Minzaal from France.
3.45 Ascot (Handicap) - FIRST RULER
This is an incredibly competitive 1m4f handicap and one in which Charlie Appleby holds a very strong hand.
His First Ruler, Al Nafir, Wild Crusade and Blue Trail are all strong but are ably challenged by La Yakel, Mandobi and Frantastic.
Whatever happens, keep an eye on the form as it’s bound to be strong, though the one with more wiggle room in the weights and who looks the best bet is First Ruler, ridden by Ryan Moore.
4.20 Ascot (Handicap) - TARRABB
Two horses on hat-tricks, Crystal Caprice and Tarrabb, are the ones to watch here and I’m hoping the first named takes the bigger chunk out of the market.
The latter is better placed to win for my money howrver, Owen Burrows’ filly being the best value proposition.
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