1.50pm Ascot - Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes (6f)
Ollie Sangster is a trainer to note, especially with his two-year-old runners, and he showed why during the week when landing a Listed contest at Sandown, a race which he also won last season. Ollie's runner in the third contest on Saturday is Simmering, who race experience includes a 2nd in the Albany last time out, in which he was actually unlucky to get swallowed up late on by Fairy Godmother.
She has since been purchased by Al Shaqab Racing, so she will obviously be of note heading into this, but I am going to side with a runner who is slightly less exposed and could easily improve a tremendous amount after just one run so far in her career.
Handcuffed, for the in-form Oisin Murphy and Andrew Balding, was a winner on just her first ever start at Newbury last time. The form of that novice contest has not exactly been franked as there have been a few horses in behind who have since run, and although they did place next time out, they have not won as yet.
One thing that really caught my eye with this daughter of Dark Angel was how well she travelled into the contest last time, as she was prominent throughout and waited patiently at around the 2-furlong mark to find the gap, and when it didn't come she was soon switched left by Oisin and as soon as she saw daylight, she went on to win the race with ease.
She just looked very professional, not really looking too green throughout the contest, which is something I like to look for in these young two-year-old horses. Simmering might just end up being the best horse in the race and she has the Group form to boot, but I am always a little sceptical when it comes to a horse who is a maiden but ran well in a Group race last time, as they don't always seem to back it up. I have gone with potential over experience with this selection.
- Selection - Handcuffed (6/1 Each Way)
2.25pm Ascot - Group 3 Valiant Stakes (1m)
In this intriguing race, we have the unbeaten Devoted Queen who was an eye-catching winner of the Sky Bet Fillies Stakes at York last time, beating the field by an easy couple of lengths. The one main thing that does concern me with her is the in-and-out nature of the Godolphin horses this season - just look at Notable Speech and Diamond Rain, who both went to Ascot unbeaten, and they were both beaten out of sight, and while I have reservations with the Appleby horses at Ascot these days, I could be wrong with this filly.
However I am going to side with one who will look to bounce back from a disappointing run in the Musidora at York last time, and that is the very talented looking Friendly Soul for John & Thady Gosden, with Kieran Shoemark set to ride.
She looked a potential Classic prospect heading into the Musidora, where she was sent off the market leader, but she was far too keen throughout and did not appear to enjoy the York track, suggesting that going left-handed at this stage in her career does not suit her at all.
I would suggest drawing a line through that run, as it was too bad to be true, and before that she did look a potential Group class performer in her only novice run as a two-year-old, before going on to win at Listed level at Newmarket next time. There she beat Kampala, who has since come out and placed 3rd in the Ribblesdale and won a Listed contest at Hamilton in fabulous style, so the form of that Listed race is pretty good and that will be shown in the long run.
Obviously the memory of that disappointing York run remains, but the track just did not suit her that day and she did hang very badly right throughout the whole race and was far too keen. So back down to Group 3 company here from the Group 2 last time, and going back right handed in a field where there might be a bit of pace should really suit her strengths here on Saturday.
She clearly has the talent to go off the favourite for this and I don't say that lightly. She is a very talented animal if getting the keenness out of her game, but she will no doubt not go off the favourite as there is an unbeaten Godolphin runner in the field. She is a huge price at the moment and is the one to side with for me at those prices.
- Selection - Friendly Soul (5/1 Win)
3.15pm York - Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes (1m2f)
I am really looking forward to seeing this reappearance of Passenger for Sir Michael Stoute, and I am torn between him and King's Gambit, who was very unlucky not to win at Royal Ascot last time, and he could easily improve into a Group 2 animal here.
However, if all is ok with Passenger after his little injury issue, he could well win this contest going away. The Sir Michael Stoute horse is obviously pretty fragile, just like former stablemate, the late great Desert Crown, who did miss quite a bit of racing due to injury. The yard deserves a change of fortunes, so hopefully he can go on and land this Group 2 race before maybe trying Group 1 company next time.
The highest-rated runner in the field, Passenger was absolutely awesome in the Group 2 Huxley Stakes at Chester last time, at a course that probably does not suit him at all, but his class really shone through as he blitzed the field to win the contest by a little under 2 lengths.
He has since missed Royal Ascot due to injury, and it seems slightly mad to think we are already half way through the season, and the four-year-old has only had five career runs, given the fact he is four, but it just goes to show how fragile he really is, so hopefully as he gets older and older he will put that behind him and we can see his true potential come through.
Of those five outings, he has won three, including a Group 3 and Group 2 contest, so it does go to show how good this lad really is when he is on the track. He does have a 78-day break to overcome here, but the 258-day break before the Chester win did not stop him, and although he has once again had his injury troubles this season, I think he will have far too much ability here and blitz this field with ease.
I really hope he can land this contest before going on to be aimed at Group 1 level later on in the season, maybe for Champions Day in October, a meeting Sir Michael likes to target. Speaking of Sir Michael Stoute, the stable form could be a little concerning, but I just don't think Michael has as many horses as he once did, therefore when it comes to these really good horses, the yard form should pose no issues for us punters.
- Selection - Passenger (7/4 Win)
All previews and tips provided by @ Jake Russell