2.45pm Ascot Tips & Betting Preview 28/07/2017

A competitive two mile handicap, named for a horse who won the Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot six years in a row. We have a runner by preview and expert tip for the 2.45pm at Ascot below.

IN SUMMARY: UAE King is likely to be popular, a son of Frankel and ridden by Silvestre De Sousa. This is a deeper level for him to compete at and despite further progression looking likely, he may come up a little short. Cosmelli would be interesting if there is enough cut in the ground after a solid run in the Northumberland Plate last time out. MISTER MANDURO has been keeping warm company on quick ground so far this season. This softer ground should see an improved performance on his pedigree with a repeat of his Queen’s Vase run likely to be good enough in any case.

1 COSMELLI – Very smart in Italy, rattling off five wins in a row last season, concluding with a Listed triumph. He has found things tougher since moving to the U.K, but showed more last time when only beaten three lengths in the Northumberland Plate. His Italian wins all came with plenty of cut, so connections will be hoping the ground doesn’t dry out too much. Looks well enough handicapped to play a part if he gets his ground.

2 DESERT GOD – 8/8 last season when trained in India, he is another who has struggled a little since leaving his native land. He kept on at one pace on his sole start in the U.K at Windsor over half a mile shorter. His best form in India was with plenty of cut over a mile and six furlongs, but he is hard to support until we know a little more about him.

3 ISHARAH – Yet to win on turf in seven attempts, his two best efforts on grass have both come this season. He is two pounds lower than that pair of runs which gives him a squeak at the weights, but he is yet to shake the belief that he is quite simply a better horse on an artificial surface.

4 GAVLAR – Half a length in front of Isharah at Ripon and now seven pounds better off, if Callum Shepherd’s claim is taken into account. He is another who has shown his best on sand, a winner just once in twenty races on turf. Three of his top four RPR’s on grass have come at Goodwood and still two pounds above his highest winning mark, he would make more appeal on the south coast than here.

5 WOLFCATCHER – Hasn’t won on the flat since May 2015 when trained in France, his last two starts in this discipline both coming in the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting. This ground will be more to his liking than the very quick surface he ran on in June, his mark dropping to a workable one on his old form if he is able to find his best once more.

6 MARK HOPKINS – A Jekyll and Hyde character. he impressively made all the running from four pounds lower at Salisbury in May. He backpedalled rapidly under pressure when running at this track last time and is yet to race over this far. He is the likely pace angle in the contest which affords him respect but he’s hard to support at this level.

7 MISTER MANDURO – Shown smart form within his own age group this season, only beaten four and a half lengths in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. He was bitterly disappointing at Haydock last time, always finding things happening a little too quick for him. He is yet to run on ground softer than good, but his dam performed at her best in France on soft ground so this surface may just allow him to improve further and come home in front.

8 UAE KING – Took him four starts to break his maiden, getting his own way in front to score at Haydock. He took a while to pick up off the bridle when making a successful handicap debut, staying on to good effect over a mile and six furlongs. That was only a Class 4 event so is going to have to continue his progression, but by Frankel and ridden by Silvestre De Sousa, he is likely to be popular in the betting.