BETTING BOX |
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FIXED ODDS |
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 | 1pt win Trader Jack in 16.25 Ascot at 12/1 (General). | Has plenty to offer over a strongly-run mile and form working out well. |
| 1pt win Switzerland in 16.25 Ascot at 25/1 (General). | Twice the price of Frog Hollow on same terms as he beat him latest and another who will relish this test. |
| 1pt win Commitment in 17.35 Ascot at 16/1 (General). | Son of Motivator who promises much over this trip if you forgive his latest run. |
We've been treated to some exceptional star quality so far this week with Frankel on Tuesday, So You Think on Wednesday and now Fame And Glory bids to stamp his class on the staying division in Thursday's Gold Cup.
He could well oblige at around even money and though I don't think he's as far clear of his rivals as the odds suggest I do think he's the most likely winner and I'm loathe to take him on.
Once again, then, it's the handicaps that appeal most to me and the Britannia Stakes is as competitive as ever with 30 three-year-olds going to post.
The one I want on my side more than any other horse in the race is Roger Charlton's TRADER JACK as he's a lightly-raced, progressive horse who has loads of untapped potential in a strongly-run mile race.
He flopped in very heavy ground on his seasonal reappearance at Sandown but left that form miles behind when running a good second to Grandeur over 10 furlongs at Goodwood next time.
He led three out but had no answer to Jeremy Noseda's charge late on, and that horse was obviously thrown in seen as he went close to following up off an 8lb-higher mark in a competitive handicap at Epsom's Derby meeting.
The drop back in trip looks a good move here for Trader Jack and on better ground than he encountered at Sandown with a strong gallop to run off he should go close.
Back him at 12s and throw a few quid at SWITZERLAND in the same race as it's hard to see why he's priced up at 25/1.
Mark Johnston's charge is another one who will appreciate a strong end-to-end gallop and he ran a cracking race behind Gabrial in the Betfred Silver Bowl at Haydock last time.
He finished ahead of Frog Hollow that day but is twice the price of him here off the same terms.
He should race prominently up the stands' side and I'd expect him to keep galloping to the line when others have cried off.
Finally, COMMITMENT looks overpriced in the closing King George V Stakes at 16/1.
You have to forgive him a poor run at Musselburgh last time but he was too keen in that race and you can be sure Luca Cumani will have been working on settling him ahead of this mission.
If he does settle for useful claimer Darren Egan then he could put up a bold show as he looked a useful tool at Newbury when just failing to beat Pilgrims Rest giving him half a stone.
If you include Egan's claim he's got a 9lb-pull with that rival here, a rival who followed up at Leicester off a 9lb-higher mark on his next start.
Commitment has plenty to offer at this trip on this ground and he's so unexposed and potentially useful I have to have a little bit of the 16s.
