Fox looks a Fantastic bet in Porsche Handicap
ONLY the seven line up for the Porsche Handicap (2.25pm) where I fancy FANTASTIC FOX to bounce back from his disappointing no-show at Royal Ascot last month.
Roger Varian’s son of Frankel was sent off a well-backed 11/2 second favourite for the Golden Gates Handicap, but the combination of the soft ground and step up to 10 furlongs proved too much.
Aggressively ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, he never really settled and despite being four lengths clear with half a mile to travel, he ultimately paid for that early exuberance.
His two previous runs this season were on a sounder surface over this sort of trip and resulted in two really good performances.
His close-up third to Snow Lantern at Newbury on his reappearance is form right out of the top draw and he then went on to win his maiden at Hamilton in effortless fashion.
I am happy to forgive him that blip at the Royal meeting and he looks a decent betting opportunity at around 10/3.
Those playing on the World Pool could do a lot worse than throwing him in a Quinella with in-form Latest Generation who made the much-touted Royal Fleet pull out all the stops at Newmarket last time.
The Princess Margaret Keeneland Stakes (1.50pm) has a much more wide-open feel to it and a genuine case can be made for at least half a dozen of the two-year-old fillies.
System and Desert Dreamer lock horns again having finished first and second respectively in the Empress Fillies’ Stakes at Newmarket.
They looked sure to be in the mix again and are likely to battle it out for favouritism too.
Andrew Balding has his team in great nick and it would be no surprise to see his Nymphadora bounce back now stepped up in trip, while the unbeaten Nazanin could be anything.
However, there are a couple of fillies at monster prices who could easily outrun their odds with a few firms (like William Hill) offering four places.
Firstly, ATTAGIRL looked a really exciting prospect when winning her maiden at Haydock three weeks ago.
That form is well below what is required here but the 12/1 on offer about her may underestimate her potential talent and she looks a rock-solid each-way bet.
The other one at even bigger odds is James Tate’s EL HADEEYAHwho bounced back to form at Lingfield last time after a bit of a break.
Something obviously was amiss when she fluffed her lines at Thirsk back in May and she had previously shaped with real promise when second to Get Ahead at this track in May.
That filly ran well in the Queen Mary and the 16/1 about El Hadeeyah looks far too generous.
POINTERS
Attagirl ew 1.50pm Ascot
El Hadeeyah ew 1.50pm Ascot
Fantastic Fox 2.25pm Ascot