Fran Berry feels Choosey is among his best chances of the weekend as the top jockey guides us through his Friday and Saturday rides.
Best chances
Leader Writer (Friday, 3.50 Ascot)
Choosey (Saturday, 5.05 Ascot)
It was great to bag another Saturday winner last weekend with Dragons Voice, who made a winning start for David Menuisier having joined from Philip Hide, who sadly had to pack in.
David was quite hopeful but didn't know a lot about the horse and to be fair to him he battled on bravely.
I'd say he got away with the Good ground at Sandown and will be more suited to when there's a bit of rain around, which should help his chances of defying a 4lb rise. Hopefully he could be rated a bit higher than 84 by the end of the year.
As for History Writer in the big 10-furlong handicap, we were a bit disappointed that he didn't seem to stay. He got a bit too far back and travelled ok but he faded when faced with the climb to the line and I'd say we'll come back to a stiff mile or maybe nine furlongs next time. He gave me a reasonable feel to suggest he's still on good terms with himself, anyway.
It was also nice to get another winner for David with Psychotic in the week at Leicester on Tuesday, while Lucy Wadham's Dance To Paris is one from last weekend that didn't win but should be worth following when back on a bit of soft ground. Her comeback run at Lingfield will have put her straight physically.
I've another busy weekend to look forward to with rides at Ascot and Kempton and I start at the former venue with a couple of Martyn Meade-trained newcomers.
Lyzbeth is a daughter of Zoffany and cost 45,000 euros ahead of her debut in the Italian Tourist Board British EBF Novice Auction Stakes.
Martyn has had a couple of first time out winners this year but it's fair to say some have needed a run and it's a case of watch and see with her. Similar comments apply with Fox Vardy in the Charbonnel Et Walker British EBF Maiden Stakes.
He's a Frankel colt and a January foal so obviously reads well on paper and could be an exciting one for the future.
Great Hall has top weight in the Victory Racing Club Handicap and he showed a bit more of the old zest when third at Yarmouth last time over 10 furlongs. He'll appreciate the step back up in trip but really needs plenty of rain which I'm not sure sure they're going to get.
Leader Writer returns from a 71-day break in the Chapel Down Classified Stakes and does look realistically handicapped.
Things haven't gone his way since a quite promising start to the year but he's come down the weights - now 2lb lower than when winning over course and distance last September - and he's another who could be interesting if the rain arrives.
It's a competitive race but it'd be nice to see Leader Writer get some confidence back.
Examiner won at the Craven Meeting at the start of the season but then burst a blood vessel and was pulled up the following month.
He's been given loads of time to recover and could definitely be one to watch in the Weatherbys Handicap given how well he goes when he's fresh.
Daschas lines up in the concluding Sodexo Handicap and has been quite consistent all year. He won over this course and distance on his penultimate start and I think we can ignore his last run at Windsor when he was wide throughout.
The rail was a big help to some that day as the ground towards the centre of the track was a bit chewed up and if he returns to his previous form he could have a squeak in what is clearly a trappy handicap.
It's onto Kempton on Friday evening and Power Link in the 32Red Casino/British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes.
He ran a good race when staying on well from the rear despite running green at Wolverhampton. We've a good draw in stall one and the step up to seven furlongs is a positive on what we've seen so far.
I've ridden Rainbow Rising once before when she was third over this course and distance and perhaps the fast ground and undulating track just didn't help her at Lingfield last time.
She's probably due her turn to emerge in front although she's pretty well known by the handicapper now and doesn't have masses in hand from a mark of 69 in the 100% Profit Boost At 32Redsport.com Handicap.
I'm back to Ascot on Saturday to ride another Meade newcomer - Thermal - in the Royal Foresters British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes. Hopefully she shapes with some promise at the first time of asking.
Mubtasim was in cracking form last year and it's just a case of whether he's coming back to hand on the back of his Chelmsford run behind Cenotaph. That looked a seriously good race for the grade and it wouldn't be a surprise if it produced a few winners. With any luck this fella will be among them in the Cunard Handicap.
Stall 10 is slap bang in the centre and we'll just have to gauge which way to go following the races on the straight course there on Friday and earlier on Saturday.
Polybius is similar in that he shaped quite well in fifth last time, staying on quite well at Goodwood, and he's come down another 3lb following that run. He's not without hope in the Fever-Tree Handicap.
The Hallgarten Wines Handicap looks a good opportunity for Choosey, who will relish the return to five furlongs. He was just undone by a little bit of a lack of fitness at Newmarket last time as the stiff finish did for him.
He'd gone up a lot in the weights for winning so well previously but there's some confidence in the camp that his new mark of 85 isn't beyond him. He looks one of my better chances of the weekend and would be a lovely way to sign off for Saturday.
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