2.35pm Ascot Tips & Betting Preview 03/05/2017

A field of eight go to post for the second race of the day at Ascot on Wednesday, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Icespire is likely to be popular as a Frankel filly who made a taking debut so has to be respected, but perhaps the value lies in taking her on with PROSPER. She won on debut at Kempton and ran perfectly well on seasonal debut at Chelmsford last month, finishing second and she can do better now switched on to turf. She was bought for 240,000 euros and is related to some useful performers including Pallasator and Elas Diamond, so is likely to make a useful filly as she continues to improve, with connections agreeing as she’s entered into the Oaks. Another to note is Glitter Girl who sets the standard on her two year old form, but didn’t particularly shine on seasonal debut and is exposed compared to some of these.

1 GLITTER GIRL – Sets the standard on her two year old form which included two good seconds in pattern company, filling out that position in the Oh So Sharp Stakes and the Radley Stakes at Newbury in October. She didn’t however shine on reappearance when weakening out of things when asked for an effort, though she should improve for the run this time around. She is exposed compared to some but does set a decent standard and if matching her group runs she should be going close in this. Each way claims at the least.

2 BLENDING – Ran well on her second start when improving on her debut to win at Newmarket in July, though she hasn’t really improved since and has been performing at the same level. Her forth at Kempton on reappearance was reasonable disappointing and she does have something to prove in this for John Gosden, with Frankie Dettori preferring Icespire who is the more fancied from the pair of Gosden/Kalid Abdullah runners. Each way claims but needs something extra to be winning this.

3 CIRENCESTER – Well bred sort by Sea The Stars for Henry Candy who showed some ability on debut over C&D, though her latest win at Pontefract in September has taken some quite sizeable form knocks which tempers enthusiasm for her. She did make most in good style but an uncontested lead seems unlikely in this and she needs another big jolt of progress to be featuring in this. If given a soft lead with conditions to suit she has each way claims, but she wouldn’t be up on the short list for win purposes.

4 FLEETING MOON – Didn’t show much on debut when well beaten at Newbury in June but she did leave that form well behind when staying on strongly to land a Doncaster maiden in good style in similar conditions. Richard Hannon yard are going well at present and she seems a likely type to keep on progressing, with Jim Crowley an obviously good jockey booking for her. Unexposed and impossible to rule out, so market support would be interesting on seasonal debut.

5 ICESPIRE – By Frankel with a top class pedigree for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori, winning in the style of a potentially useful filly when coming home at her leisure at Salisbury in October. Makes her seasonal debut and if building upon that win she is likely the one to beat, as that debut was taking and the step up in trip will only help eek out further improvement from the potentially classy three year old. Has to be respected as a big danger.

7 PROSPER – 240,000 euro purchase by the China Horse Club as a yearling and she has a very nice pedigree to match, showing ability on both her runs so far for Roger Varian. She won well on debut when picking up the leader in the final 100 yards and she ran perfectly well when finishing second a Chelmsford, not knocked about on seasonal debut. She seems a likely type to do better on turf and her pedigree suggests she can do a good deal better, with the benefit of a run making her appealing under the champ Silverstre De Sousa. She looks likely to throw down a strong challenge and is our selection today.

9 REACHFORTHESTARS – Four races under belt and a clear career best was her forth in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster in September on her third start, though she was unable to match that when brushed aside in the Silver Tankard Stakes at Pontefract in October. Something to prove as a result and her pedigree suggests she’s going to improve when stepped up in trip, so perhaps she’ll find this too sharp on her first three year old start. Place claims only if back at her very best.

10 SOLDIER’S GIRL – Ran well on all her starts last season, winning once on her second start at Kempton in August after making all easily. She capped off the year with a good forth in a handicap at Doncaster but the odds are firmly against her on seasonal debut as she’s likely to struggle on these terms. Should find most of these too good unless sh’s improved drastically over the winter and is passed over in this.