Tote Victoria Cup preview and tips including Hayley Turner on Ripp Orf

What the trainers say

Hayley Turner will team up with Ripp Orf again as the pair go for back-to-back wins in the Tote Victoria Cup at Ascot on Saturday.

The seven-furlong contest carries a first prize of £65,363 and last year saw the David Elsworth-trained gelding run out a length winner from Burnt Sugar.

He has never been out of the first three at the Berkshire track, with two wins from four starts, and is just 3lb higher than 12 months ago.

Turner, who was aboard for the five-year-old's reappearance in the Lincoln at Doncaster, said: "I think the strong seven furlongs will suit him. He was a little bit keen over the straight mile when I rode him in the Lincoln.

"He wasn't beaten too far in that and it was good to get that run under his belt. I think the ground was against him next time out at Newbury.

"He takes his busy schedule quite well and we've got a nice draw in the middle, so fingers crossed he'll go well again."

She added: "His improvement last year was amazing - David and his team do an amazing job with him. I think what he loves about Ascot is the big field, strong pace and stiff finish."

The Jamie Osborne-trained Raising Sand is another with a distinct liking for Ascot, with three victories to his name from nine visits.

He makes his first start of the campaign, having last been seen when a creditable sixth to Sharja Bridge in the Balmoral Handicap on Champions Day.

Syndicate boss Nick Bradley said: "Obviously Raising Sand goes well at the track. We had him in last week at Newmarket, but he runs his best races at Ascot.

"He'll appreciate the rain we've had this week. I think on heavy ground he'd be a good thing, on soft or good to soft ground he'd be in the mix.

"Jamie tells me he's in great form at home. He's stronger this year. This is probably one of three or four Derbies he'll have this year."

Roger Fell's Presidential also runs in the white and black colours associated with Bradley, who added: "He made his seasonal debut at Newmarket this year. He wasn't 100 per cent fit for that. We think he'll come on a lot for that run.

"I think both horses go there with big chances if you want to be drawn high. They are drawn 25 and 26."

Green Power struck at the Shergar Cup meeting last year and has run two solid races this term since being gelded.

His trainer John Gallagher said: "He's very well. He ran very well last time at Newmarket over six and the form is solid enough.

"I thought last year when he won the Shergar Cup he might get seven, and when Ryan (Moore) came back in after Newmarket he suggested seven as well.

"He said he never let the winner get away from him. He just galloped all the way to the line, so we thought it's early enough in the season to give him a crack over seven.

"I think he'll get it and this rain will have certainly helped him a little bit as well. He's in great form and he does like Ascot. I think he's got a good each-way chance."

Man On The Spot preview

Not an easy race to win once let alone twice but another bold bid is expected from last year’s winner Ripp Orf. He won again over track and trip in September, when beating Cape Byron, and also takes on Raising Sand on better terms than when second to the latter over a mile here in October. Remarkable had Raising Sand back in fourth when landing a valuable handicap over course and distance in 2017. He missed the whole of last year but will be sharper today after debuting for new connections at Doncaster on the same day KYNREN finished runner-up in the Lincoln. David Barron’s charge finished in front of Ripp Orf on that occasion and can race off the same mark today with any further rain helping his cause. Blue Mist and Glorious Journey return to action for powerful yards though neither looks particularly well handicapped but Presidential is one that could go well from a high draw. Lake Volta will likely attempt to take them along from the front while Via Serendipity finished a creditable fifth last year and novice winner Caradoc has been gelded since last in action.