2.10 Ascot Tips & Betting Preview 15/07/2017

A huge field over the flying five starts the Ascot coverage on ITV Racing. Read on for our expert tip and preview for this sprint worth £62,250 to winning connections.

IN SUMMARY: Lots in with a chance in a wide open looking contest, none more so than EDWARD LEWIS, for whom a stiff five furlongs should be perfect. He flew home in the ‘Dash’ on Derby Day before his challenged flattened out close home in the Wokingham over a furlong further. The admirably consistent Orion’s Bow heads the list of dangers, with both Yalta and Naadirr interesting at bigger prices.

1 DANZENO – Consistent sprinter hit the front a furlong out in the Wokingham over a furlong further at Royal Ascot, just run out of things close home. One could presume from that, that the step back to five furlongs would be in his favour, but the best of his form has all come over six with his only five furlong win coming when 4/9 favourite.

2 ORION’S BOW – One of the stories of the 2016 flat season, rattling off five handicap wins in a row, seeing the sequence halted when runner up in the Stewards’ Cup. Well punted last time out at Newcastle, he was unable to hold off the strong late finish from Line Of Reason. That was from the same mark as this, so is clearly capable from this perch but looks more of an each way contender again rather than a win bet.

3 SQUATS – All three wins came as a juvenile in 2014, including once over this course and distance. Placed five times in six trips to this track last season, he has struggled badly in a couple of visits back to the Berkshire venue in 2017. This will be his first run at the minimum trip since April 2015, looking doubtful that this is going to see improvement forthcoming.

4 POLYBIUS – All four wins have come over six furlongs, again showing the suitability of that trip when fourth in the Wokingham last time out. Both of his runs over this trip have been poor by comparison, so he is hard to support despite being on a workable mark.

5 KYLLANG ROCK – A genuine five furlong specialist, his handicap mark has taken a hammering with a pair of runner up efforts in Listed contests the last twice. Has won on good to firm, but both Listed runs came with cut in the ground so connections will be looking for whatever track retains the most juice for Saturday afternoon. Also entered in the 4.15pm at York.

6 PIPERS NOTE – In flying form in June, picking up six furlong handicaps at both Ripon and Doncaster. A stiff five furlongs is no issue for him, boasting a couple of wins at Beverley over this trip. He has gone up three pounds for the latest of those wins, but that mark still looks fair enough judged on his run behind Magical Memory at Haydock last weekend.

7 EDWARD LEWIS – Hugely adaptable sprinter, he was beaten just a length in the ‘Dash’ on Derby Day before double that behind Out Do in the Wokingham last time out. He is still progressing and with a strong pace likely in this big field, a stiff five might just be the answer, looks a big each way player.

8 HARRY HURRICANE –  Well beaten in the Wokingham, but that is easily excused as six furlongs isn’t his trip. His very best form has come on a flat five, running a huge race in defeat in the Scottish Stewards Cup at Musselburgh last month. A two pound rise for that isn’t going to make things easy for him, but he is at least a specialist at this trip.

9 GREEN DOOR – Dropped back to a workable mark when winning at Newmarket last June, but hasn’t been seen since. Is 0/15 in handicaps once his mark moves past 95 so tasked with 100 here on his first run for over a year looks too tough.

10 NAADIRR – Has raced just twice over this trip, both times at Meydan. He unsurprisingly struggled in Group 1 company, but performed admirably in a handicap from a ten pound higher mark that here. Is a strong traveller, but hasn’t always looked the most resolute in a finish. Perhaps a brutal gallop at the minimum is what he is needing with a visor added for the first time.

11 DOCTOR SARDONICUS – Struggles to perform to the same level away from Chelmsford as he does when running at the Essex track. The majority of his better form is there and while this trip is no concern, he is very difficult to support from a career high mark here.

12 LEXINGTON ABBEY – Has been creeping up the weights for finishing runner up of late. A big field and strong pace are going to suit his style, with the fitting of blinkers a plus the twice he has worn them. Another couple of pounds have been added to his burden but it would be folly to discount him in his current heart.

13 YALTA – Produced some very smart form as a juvenile, beating The Last Lion three lengths in the Molecomb at Glorious Goodwood the pick. He hasn’t come anywhere close to reproducing that so far as a three year old, but this is considerably easier than the tasks he has been set. Interesting getting weight from his elders back down to the minimum trip.

14 ROYAL BIRTH – Arguably a better horse on the all weather, but that didn’t stop him claiming this prize in 2016 from a three pound lower mark. This race has surely been in the forefront of connections minds for this season, given a little break after a busy spring, he needs respect in a bid to repeat.

15 ROBOT BOY – Very quick horse when he can get into a rhythm from the front. Was only denied by a head in this race last year from the same mark, that gives connections every hope of another big run if he can somehow get himself into an easy lead on the front end.

16 DOUGAN – A pound higher than when well seen off in this race last year, his turf record now stands at 0/11. He went close behind Pipers Rock at Doncaster a couple of starts ago, but it would be a surprise if this is the race that he breaks his grass maiden tag in.

17 LIGHTSCAMERACTION – Another who is better on the artificial surfaces, he went close at Leicester and Chester last season from similar marks to this. He has shown little signs of life this year so is easy to pass over.

18 SON OF AFRICA – Bounced back to form out of the blue at Sandown last August, retuning to that same mark now. That was a Class 3 contest, twice a scorer at this level but from much lower marks. Well behind Pipers Note at Doncaster two runs ago but showed more signs of life last time out, has a outside squeak if able to reproduce his last winning form.

19 EL ASTRONAUTE – Has come back stronger from a winter break, running his top three career RPR’s in his four runs this season. He has a little ground to make up with a couple of these on recent runs at Epsom and Musselburgh, but is only two pounds above his last winning mark, so isn’t handicapped out of things by any means.

20 STEPPER POINT – One of the likely pace angles into the contest, he is an admirable veteran who slipped far enough down the weights to score twice this season at a lower level. This is probably beyond his capabilities these days but is sure to give it a good go from the front.