Catching Pigeons: Dreamloper thriving ahead of Ascot assignment

Dreamloper can strike for Ed Walker in the Betfred British EBF Premier Fillies Handicap at Ascot on Saturday. The Upper Lambourn trainer has not concealed his high regard for this daughter of Lope de Vega, who could not have been more impressive when breaking her duck at Recar in July.

Strongly fancied by her trainer to follow up at Kempton 18 days ago, she ran well below expectations in finishing third to 33-1 winner Delilah Park. Connections hope to get her back on the right track with a return to the turf here, and the move up to a mile could also aid her cause.

Wise Counsel merits each-way consideration in the Porsche Handicap over seven furlongs. A winner twice over this trip from four starts last season, she has again been lightly raced this term with just the one outing so far, a solid fourth to the smart Lyzbeth in a Listed event at Goodwood in June.

That performance was better than it looks as he missed the break and then met with some minor interference when delivering his challenge, and he should have no problem with this extra furlong.

Dillydingdillydong looks worth an each-way interest in the Try Our New Super Boosts At Unibet Nursery Handicap at Kempton. There was plenty to like about his debut effort behind well regarded newcomer Francesco Guardi at Salisbury in July, but he ran below that form last time at Windsor, where the ground may have been too tacky.

The form of the Salisbury race has worked out pretty well with the winner landing a Listed race and the runner-up winning two nurseries, and he looks worth taking a chance on in his first appearance on this surface. The return to seven furlongs should also aid his cause.

William Haggas' Jahbath has not shown his all-weather form in two runs on softish ground this season, but he returns to a course that he has shown a real liking for in the past, and he should give the fancied Bullfinch plenty to think about in the Unibet Instant Roulette Handicap.

Saglawy should go well on his first outing for Paul Nicholls in the Old Burrough Cup Handicap at Haydock. The six year old was a useful performer for Willie Mullins, but he had lost his way a little and looks the type to benefit from a change of scenery.

The prevailing testing ground will suit him well and the booking of Kevin Stott makes him an interesting each-way proposition.

Alenquer, a stablemate of Jahbath, proved much too good for the more experienced and well touted Tasfeeq on his debut at Newbury, and should take a successful step up in class in the Betfair Ascendant Stakes.

Despite running out an emphatic winner, he gave the impression that the step up to a mile would suit. He handled the soft ground well, and it is interesting to see him tackle a Listed race on only his second outing.

Count D'Orsay has not been at his most effective so far this season, but he has been given a decent break by Tim Easterby and is just preferred to Ed Walker's course specialist Came From The Dark in the Betfair Be Friendly Handicap.

Although he did produce a decent effort on his comeback at Newmarket in early June, he has raced on ground much faster than he prefers, and should greatly appreciate this much more demanding ground.

Kim Bailey has his jumpers in great nick and Shantou Express should go well on his hurdling bow in the raceday Past And Present Novices Hurdle at Stratford. An emphatic winner over subsequent Grade 2 novice hurdle winner Highway One O Two, he has not seen action since finishing third to Israel Champ in another good class bumper at Ascot last December.

Bailey looks to have found a good opportunity for him on his first public look at the smaller obstacles, and he is expected to take plenty of beating.

Crooks Peak has shown plenty of talent over hurdles and looks worth siding with on his first appearance over fences in the Grundon Waste Management Novices Chase.

Philip Hobbs' gelding numbered a Kempton novice success over the smart Danny Kirwan and a Newbury handicap among his five wins in bumpers and hurdle races so far, and he recieves a handy 6lb from Cartmel winner Seddon.

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