4:20 Ascot Tips

Went second close to home over a furlong further at Wolverhampton last time out and will improve for that run following an absence of 160 days.

Combustion is a 5yo gelding trained by Chelsea Banham. He finished 11/11 in his last and only run on turf in 2024 at 200-1 and was beaten a huge 37.75L. He has been a revelation since making his handicap debut on AW off a lowly 47 and has won 7/10 races, rising some 30 lb in the weights. He returns to turf today for a yard who landed a wholesale gamble on Wednesday with Law of Average, 11-2 into 7-2, which bodes well for the likely wellbeing of Combustion. He comes here on the back of a defeat by Gold Star Hero (79) at Chelmsford last time out, but that form can be upgraded given Gold Star Hero has won his next two starts and is now rated 96, some 17 lb higher. Combustion is just 1 lb higher today on 77, but this rapidly improving sprinter could potentially still be well handicapped now reverting to turf. It could be a big day for this small yard, who will all be hoping their flagship horse can make it a memorable day at Ascot.

This race could be run to suit Pixie Diva, who arrives here in excellent form after already winning at Newcastle in March. Given plenty to do last time out by Oisin Murphy, she could not reach the winner at Yarmouth but finished her race off strongly. With the pace forecast looking very strong, I suspect she will be ridden patiently to pick up the pieces late on, and we know she should stay 6f based on her previous runs. Ryan Moore is an eye-catching jockey booking and 10/1 looks a fair price for an each-way bet with bookies going 5 places.