Get the most interesting trends and statistics for today's racing with the free Stat Selector.
Maljoom – 13:40 Ascot
Smart Stat: £18.48 - William Haggas's profit to a £1 level stake with horses running after a break
Smart Stat: 21% - William Haggas's strike rate with horses running in races between 7f and up to 10f
Smart Stat: 23% - William Haggas's strike rate in early season
A trio of Smart Stats support the claims of Maljoom in this competitive listed contest, with William Haggas doing well with horses running after a break perhaps the most notable. Maljoom has a touch of class, this very smart performer having won the Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen (German 2000 Guineas) at Cologne in 2022 before looking unlucky when ¼-length fourth to Coroebus in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on his final start that season. He shaped as if needing the run when fifth to Mutasaabeq in the Joel Stakes at Newmarket on his only outing in 2023 but has a much shorter absence to overcome here and a big run is expected.
Francisco’s Piece – 14:40 Pontefract
Smart Stat: £26.75 - Adrian Keatley's profit to a £1 level stake with debutants
The market suggests that Invincible Annice – who is from the family of Muhaarar – has been pleasing in her work at home, but Francisco's Piece is a half-brother to several (four) winners himself, including useful winner up to 6f Windstormblack (by Brazen Beau) and 1m winner Azahara Palace (by Adaay). His dam was a 5f winner so there is plenty of pace there and this 58,000 guineas purchase is fancied to further improve his trainer’s profitable record with debutants.
Marie Ellen – 16:25 Pontefract
Smart Stat: £27.17 - Marco Botti's profit to a £1 level stake when having one runner at a flat meeting
Marco Botti has only had seven runners at the track over the last five seasons and the in-form Newmarket handler sends Marie Ellen a fair distance today for his northern-based owners. Though still a maiden, she is a half-sister to several winners, including 7f winner Rainbow Fire and 5f/6f winner Dhahmaan (both useful and by Kodiac), and her best run last season came under similar conditions at Leicester. She could get an easy lead here and better is expected than when mid-field at Windsor on her reappearance last month.
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.