4.35pm Ascot Tips & Betting Preview 14/07/2017

Competitive six furlong sprint, a 0-95 offering for three year olds and upwards. Read on for our expert tip and runner by runner preview for the race.

IN SUMMARY: Patchwork looks the best of the three year olds in the contest, with a step down to a stiff six furlongs an interesting one. Boy In The Bar is likely to go close, he has gone close in Class 2 company this season so it would be no surprise to see him get his head back in front for the excellent Ian Williams. STELLARTA appears to have been overlooked by the bookies, she ran as well as she has ever done on turf last  time out in a deeper contest than this, she holds strong each way claims.

1 HAKAM – Progressive earlier in the year, including taking a better contest than this over this trip at Kempton. He is a better horse on the all weather though, very disappointing when last seen on turf at Newmarket. He has snippets of form from his younger days on grass, but nothing to get excited about in the context of this race.

2 JORDAN SPORT – A wayward sort in his youth, a gelding operation and switch to front running tactics have reaped the rewards since moving to David Simcock. Like Hakam, he is better on the sand, but he ran well enough from a two pound higher mark at Windsor in June to suggest that he has an each way chance here, with that race featuring a massive bias to the one runner who stayed stands side.

3 STELLARTA – Ran a huge race in third last time in a slightly better contest at Windsor, shaping as if a stiffer test at the trip would suit. Her best turf form has come on quicker ground and with dry weather forecast the ground should dry out to her liking. If she can repeat that Windsor form, she is a huge each way player on this stiffer track.

4 LITTLE PALAVER – Inconsistent type, he ran a corker over this course and distance in May from a one pound higher mark, but followed it with a dismal run at Windsor, finishing stone cold last. Such has been the story for the majority of his career. He has an each way squeak if he turns up on a going day, but that is far from guaranteed.

5 BOY IN THE BAR – Another fine example for the training talents of Ian Williams, he has won three of his last nine starts. This is a slight ease in grade, stepped down from Class 2’s the last three races. He is still improving and with no ground preference, he can get a decent tow into the race and looks to have a solid chance.

6 ATLETICO – Five year old has had just the six career runs so has evidently had more than his fair share of problems. Made a smart return at Ripon in June, his first start since August 2015, when staying on in eye-catching fashion into third. If thirty seven days is enough of a break for him to avoid the bounce factor, he has a big chance from the same mark.

7 MOONRAKER – Hasn’t won since August 2015, when landing a course and distance handicap from a mark of 98. Has a bit to find with Boy In The Bar on their running at Goodwood, but he ran a huge race when behind Unabated at Newcastle last time out, the bare form of that would give him an each way squeak now.

8 LIGHTNING CHARLIE – is 0/15 on turf, but that has not stopped him running up a string of consistent efforts. Has a bit to find with Boy In The Bar and Little Palaver on meetings in the last year and his general profile suggests that he is no more than an each way prospect in this strong field.

9 MAJOR PUSEY – Acts on any surface, but connections will be disappointed that it hasn’t stayed on the soft side as his very best has come when he is able to get his toe in. Still three pounds above his highest winning mark, he has struggled from this perch in the past and the same is expected here.

10 HYPERFOCUS – One of two three year olds in the field, he went close over five furlongs at Sandown last time. He has won over this trip, but he was far too keen last time he ran over it at Kempton and can’t afford to do that again on this much more stamina sapping course.

11 PATCHWORK – Broke the maiden tag at the third time of asking in a mile maiden at Redcar. He travelled smoothly back at seven last time but the good to soft ground possibly wasn’t ideal, so will be happier on better ground. The drop back to a stiff six is interesting, especially given how well he moved last time, especially with the weight for age allowance in his favour.