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.
Thursday selections
GOLDEN KNIGHT - 15:05 Royal Ascot (NAP)
A deep handicap where a chance is taken with GOLDEN KNIGHT. It presumably hasn't been plain sailing for the son of Camelot who took a long time to come to hand, scuppering his trainer's plans to run in the Craven Stakes and then in a Derby trial. Given those targets and his pedigree, it's no surprise he struggled over a mile in a race won by Talk Of New York but hopefully that spin will have served its purpose with this race in mind. The four that followed him home in a Newmarket novice have all won at least once (including Arc Ole Ole who runs here) suggesting there's mileage in his opening mark, although that will also be true of any number of his rivals. His draw in 22 may be no bad thing with the last three winners breaking from 20, 18 and 21.
ROC DE FER - 14:50 Ripon
It will come as no surprise that Sir Mark Prescott has a decent course strike rate nor that the level stakes profit is negligible but ROC DE FER looks a typical Heath House project with three all-weather runs in around three weeks at up to a mile in the winter. Related to several middle distance winners, he should improve for this trip (and beyond) and his trainer has elected to run here rather than take up (at this juncture) any of the four other entries he holds between now and Monday.
INFLUENTIAL - 16:25 Yarmouth
Just the three runs on turf without success for INFLUENTIAL but he improved for handicapping on the all-weather and can continue that progress returned to turf having showed promise here on his racecourse debut. His powerful yard continues in good form and Influential only got a small bump in the weights for beating an in-form rival at Kempton and this well-bred four-year-old can double his tally.
MOSTAAN - 16:41 Lingfield
This looks trappy with a number of potential improvers from leading stables going to post for this 0-75. Preference is for MOSTAAN who improved on his first two runs when fifth - beaten three and a quarter lengths - in a Southwell novice over a mile. That looks like being useful form with the winner rated 97 and the fourth 82 and the sixth 73. Mostaan has been allotted 74 and should improve for the trip with Callum Rodriguez (five from 17 for the stable this season) riding for the first time.
SARAFINA MSHAIRI - 18:30 Southwell
With a run under her belt and returning to Southwell, SARAFINA MSHAIRI can show herself in a better light than at Windsor. Two visits to Southwell have yielded a debut fourth and a win over six furlongs in October to take her all-weather record to two wins and two thirds from six attempts. She's only 2 lb higher than for her win and has the speed to cope with this trip having won over five furlongs at Wolverhampton in February while Harry Vigors' claim can only help her chance.
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Recent winners (Naps competition from April 26)
- Solar Aclaim 7/2
- Rockafella Skank 4/5
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- Shipbourne 6/5
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