3:25 Ascot Tips

Field Of Gold has had a break since flopping badly at Goodwood last time and should prefer the straight mile at Ascot to bounce back with Colin Keane back on board.

Things didn't go Rosallion's way in the Prix du Moulin on Arc day, coming from a wide draw & on ground softer than ideal, but still managed to run the winner to a short-head. Back at the scene of his St James Palace victory at the Royal meeting, he can make amends.

Never So Brave has continued to improve with each race this season. Although this is his biggest test yet, he looks likely to be competitive.

Group 1 winner over a mile when winning the Sun Chariot two weeks ago. That was just fillies and mares, but she won comfortably and in a really good time. Question marks against the others.

Field Of Gold sets a clear standard on adjusted RPRs, but after a disappointing effort at Goodwood, despite an excuse found post-race, with a high draw, I have to take him on at the odds. A chance is taken with the ex-US trained Carl Spackler having his first run for the Gosden yard. He has had 2 runs in the country, where he was not disgraced over CD in June, where he raced too keenly off a moderate pace. He should get a better pace to run at on yard debut, and the fast ground will suit. Nicely drawn in stall 5, he has been backed at huge odds this week and remains a sporting each-way bet at around 12/1.

Docklands has only won four races in his career, but three of those victories have been at Ascot. His form at the track is excellent, finishing 1, 1, 3, 2, 2, 2, 1 in his seven races at Ascot. This is a very competitive race, but with a record like that at Ascot, Docklands could be good for a place at least at good odds.

With four places up for grabs, the value could well lie in the each-way angle into this contest with Factor Cheval at 18/1. She's been runner-up in the last two runnings of this race. Not had the greatest of seasons, but on her day, she's very good. One imagines this has been her seasonal goal. She has gone well here before, which is a significant positive. This trip is by far more suitable than last time. Unless she loses a leg, she's a certainty to be placed. 11/2 took this race last season and nearly three times the price this time around.

I'm torn between Tamfana and Carl Spackler. However, I have had Tamfana in my tracker for a while, and it has won some good races. Rossa's only ride wasn't great when he was 7/8 and lost to Lead Artist, but I think he has a chance to make the frame with 4 places on. This is a high-class affair, and there are plenty of good chances here. Small EW.

This could just be Rosallion finally having his day, though Docklands could still be the way to go on that line back at Ascot. Field Of Gold clearly is the one to beat on earlier season exploits, but is clearly priced as such. As it is, I was minded to have Alakazi as an interesting outsider and one that should appreciate this stiff mile. Murtagh hasn’t been shy about the fact that he will want good ground, and he’ll get just that here assuming they don’t water too much. He won in a not too dissimilar time to Fallen Angel at Leopardstown, so the fact he is over double the price looks a touch wrong for all this is clearly a big step up for him. Steadily progressive all season, he’s entitled to take his chance here, and being alongside Fallen Angel can only help him get dragged out of the stalls in a race that lacks obvious pace otherwise. Added stamina in his pedigree can serve him well late on if he can break well.

The apple of his trainer's eye and has had a few of these behind at various points in his career. A win does look a remote chance but he has plenty of form in the book to validate a placed effort.

This 2 time winner has made a remarkable comeback, finishing a close 2nd by a short head to Kidari in a Longchamp Group 2 just 14 days ago. However, the competition is tougher this time. And the 5-year-old was well beaten in this race last year. Still, at 66/1 odds, an each-way bet could yield a profit if managing to secure one of the 4 available places.