4.20pm Ascot Tips & Betting Preview 06/10/2017

4.20pm Ascot tips for Friday’s Class 3 event. Another fiercely competitive handicap on Ascot’s card on Friday is contested over the specialist seven furlong distance. Read on for our free betting tips, predictions and analysis.

IN SUMMARY: TRIBUTE ACT‘s run at Glorious Goodwood was too bad to be true and, judging by how impressive she was the time before, she can get back on track here to gain a fourth career success. She won with plenty in hand two starts ago and a mark of 87 isn’t going to be enough to stop her going in again with George Wood claiming three pounds. The main danger is Graphite Storm who arrives here on the back of a win at Leicester and he’s a leading contender up five pounds.

1 GRAPHITE STORM – Improved form this season for Clive Cox, posting a career best to win at Leicester in comfortable style. He’s now five pounds higher but has scope for further progress and he’ll enjoy the cut in the ground. Leading player and has to be respected.

2 MUKALAL – Front-runner for Marcus Tregoning who was far from disgraced when fourth in a Class 2 at Goodwood when last seen. This is easier and he remains on the same mark, so if he handles the cut in the ground he’s a leading contender.

3 SEA FOX – Placed at Group level as a juvenile, but has found life tough this season for David Evans, well held at Newbury when last seen over the 1m 4f trip. A drop back to seven furlongs should suit but it’s hard to be confident on his chances.

4 MEDICI BANCHIERE – Has been struggling to take advantage of his sliding mark this season, only sixth of seven at Doncaster two weeks ago. He now drops another two pounds and in class, but softer ground isn’t ideal and should prove his undoing again.

5 TRIBUTE ACT – Made it two from three in handicaps when taking a race at Doncaster in July, highly impressive in doing so and she didn’t handle the track at Goodwood on her latest start. She is capable of much better and, with George Wood claiming three, she can get back on track here.

6 BERKSHIRE BOY – Goes well fresh for Andrew Balding, as proven by his win at Chepstow when last seen after a three month break. He’s now back up in class and five pounds higher so does need more, but he’s an each way player if in similar form here.

7 BENGAL LANCER – Beaten by a runaway winner at Doncaster when last seen, bidding for a hat-trick on that occasion and he’s only a pound higher here. He drops back in class and if continuing his progressive curve he’s sure to play a key role with Manuel Fernandes claiming five.

8 MATHS PRIZE – Softer surfaces don’t look ideal for this three-year-old who has taken two backwards steps on the surface after looking progressive previously. A drop back to seven furlongs is a curious move and he looks up against it here.