3.30pm Ascot Tips & Betting Preview 21/07/2016

Our race preview focuses on an intriguing listed race at Ascot. See our betting tips below to find a horse who finished well in a very big race at Newmarket who can provide a big run here today.

IN SUMMARY: Irish Rookie commands a huge amount of respect with some great runs in defeat but it’s probably worth siding with MIX AND MINGLE. She finished a good 7th in the 1,000 Guineas and has bags of potential to fill, so has a big run coming. Black Cherry can snatch a place.

1 BLACK CHERRY – 2nd in a listed race at Pontefract latest (8f, Good) and had been running with credit before that in recent times. Will most likely need more to take this though, and looks set for a support role again.

2 IRISH ROOKIE – Hasn’t won since her 2yo campaign but that doesn’t tell the full story. Finished a creditable 4th in the Falmouth at Newmarket (8f, Good to Firm) well outrunning her 50/1 odds and had been running very well in defeat before that to. Moore jumps abroad and there is a lot to fear here for her rivals.

3 LIGHT AND SHADE – Has been in good form lately, most recently when winning at Yarmouth (8f, Good) to complete a double. However its highly unlikely she will make it a hat-trick, as she is up a few grades and will need to really find an extra gear, or two, or three..

4 MUFFRI’HA – Has been off since finishing midfield at Newmarket in a listed race (6f, Good). This isn’t the easiest of seasonal debuts, coupled by the fact none of her previous efforts are up to the standard needed to win this race.

5 NAMHROODAH – Was dropped back to 7f last time out and it clearly worked as she narrowly managed to beat Dutch Law at Newmarket in June. That was a solid effort which warrants respect, and if this extra furlong helps eek out a bit more she can fight out for a place.

6 DELVE – Lightly raced filly who is a potential improver, and although she won last time out at Doncaster (7f, Soft), she will need to find a lot on that effort to be able to fight out the finish here.

7 MIX AND MINGLE – Finished 7th in the 1000 Guineas on latest start at Newmarket (8f, Good) and that run warrants respect as she had no through road towards the end of that race. Chris Wall’s filly has potential in abundance and if this break has sharpened her up further, she will be a tough nut to crack.

8 RAAQY – Was improving run after run until taking a giant leap backwards at Sandown latest (8f, Soft). It’s possible she got stuck in the mud that day but she also pulled very hard which is a worry. Problem for her is she needs to return to form, and then still improve a lot on previous efforts to figure here.

9 RED BOX – Lightly raced and seems to be improving well as of late when winning at Lingfield latest (7.5f, Good to Firm). All things considered though, she will need a giant leap forward, so most likely her day will come, just not today.