Andrew Asquith has the best bets for Wednesday with the Nap in action at Royal Ascot.
Wednesday selections
ALOBAYYAH – 17:35 Royal Ascot (NAP)
ALOBAYYAH looked an exciting prospect when winning her sole start as a two-year-old at Yarmouth and she was quietly fancied for the Oaks going into 2025.
However, a setback meant she didn’t return until August last season, pitched in at the deep end in the Atalanta Stakes after 10 months off where she was unable to make an impression, and then she was beaten at odds-on in a minor event at Newcastle.
There was much more promise to glean for her recent return and handicap debut over this course and distance last month, though, finishing third to the reopposing Radiant Beauty and Song N Dance, but you can argue she was an unlucky loser.
Alobayyah was given way too much to do in a race where the pacesetters didn’t come back to the pack, and she did incredibly well to finish as close as she did, while her performance is backed up by a very promising closing sectional. This should be run to suit better and, from just 1lb higher, she looks a major player, still totally unexposed and remaining with the potential to graduate out of handicaps.
KINGSTON NARCISSUS – 13:35 Worcester
KINGSTON NARCISSUS immediately surpassed his hurdles form when making a winning debut over fences at Hexham last month on his final start for Rebecca Menzies and he has interestingly joined Dan Skelton since for a sum of £25,000.
There was plenty to like about his latest win, too, taking to fences probably better than expected given his Flat pedigree, but his jumping largely stood up to the test and he stretched 17 lengths clear of the runner-up. The handicapper has reacted with an 8lb rise, but it could have easily been more, and he looks very interesting having joined this excellent outfit.
SOLAR ACLAIM – 15:25 Hamilton
SOLAR ACLAIM goes well if softer conditions and there should still be enough juice in the ground for him to build on a promising run at Epsom 11 days ago.
He was backed a long odds on that occasion and left the impression he’s on his way back to form, doing all he could from a poor position after early interference put him on the back foot.
The drop to five furlongs won’t be an issue, especially at this track which has an uphill finish, and he’s now operating from a mark 6lb lower than his last winning one. This is also an easier handicap and represents a yard going along nicely.
QUICK TURN – 19:45 Ffos Las
QUICK TURN has gone the right way since joining Ian Williams, winning with a fair bit in hand at Wolverhampton in March but not in the same form after eight weeks off at Kempton last month.
However, he showed the benefit of that run when proving better than ever returned to turf at Leicester on Saturday, travelling like a horse who is still on a good mark and only just failing to get in front of one who made all of the running.
Quick Turn is wisely turned out quickly from the same mark and, now tackling his elders for the first time, he can make the most of his weight-for-age allowance.
BAY DREAM BELIEVER – 20:00 Ripon
Jason Hart has a good record on BAY DREAM BELIEVER and she duly resumed winning ways with him back in the saddle under a power-packed ride at Pontefract earlier this month.
That looked a fair race for the grade and she looked on excellent terms with herself. Given all of her wins have tended to come in clusters – she completed a quick-fire hat-trick last summer, including two wins over this course and distance – she’s one to remain positive about in the near future, while Jason Hart is once again in the plate.
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Recent winners (Naps competition from April 26)
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