3.50pm Ascot Tips & Betting Preview 08/09/2017

A field of five go to post for this maiden contest at Ascot on Friday afternoon. See our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: This should be sixth time lucky for REVEREND JACOBS, who has finished second on his last three runs, but those were in much more competitive races than this. He was behind a promising Godolphin horse at Newbury when last seen and now that he’s pitched into an easier race, he should get off the mark under Ryan Moore with conditions fine. There are question marks about all his rivals, with the solid forecast option being Count Simon, who has been mainly consistent since debut but will be playing second fiddle again.

1 COUNT SIMON – Son of Rip Van Winkle who is ground versatile which is an immediate plus, but he’s beginning to look exposed and he certainly isn’t improving. He again ran well without threatening when third at Newbury on his latest start and further improvement is needed. Andrew Balding’s string remains in good nick but he’s likely to miss out here with others having more room for improvement.

2 HANG MAN – Three year old son of Windsor Knot who has a decent enough flat pedigree for Ed Vaughan, but the fact he is a brother to a 2m 3f chase winner does temper enthusiasm. He’s more than likely to need this run and should come into his own at the marathon trips later down the line. Best watched under Adam Beschizza who has drawn eighteen blanks from his last eighteen rides, which is further off putting.

3 REVEREND JACOBS – Sets a very clear form standard for William Haggas, finishing second on his last three runs, with those in races tougher than this. He was last seen finishing second to the promising Gold Star at Newbury in August and he was clear of the third, so the form stands up well. This is an easier race and with Ryan Moore up, he looks very tough to beat with conditions perfectly fine.

4 UPTOWN FUNK – Son of Galileo who has an eye-catching pedigree and surely he can do better for top connections after four fair runs thus far. John Gosden’s inmate made his fourth start at Leicester in July, keeping on well to finish second after racing lazily early on. On that evidence, he can surely do better if he can get interested earlier on, with Gosden gelding him since that latest start. Hard to rule him out but cannot be given more than each way claims.

5 WAR BRIGADE – Improving for every run, with excuses on debut before a disappointing run at Doncaster where he got the message far too late. He was last seen at Ffos Las on heavy ground over the 1m 4f trip, hampered in the home straight before having his path blocked late on. The slightly better ground should suit him and he’s a type to keep on improving, so he couldn’t be discounted for the placings.