BETTING BOX |
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FIXED ODDS |
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 | 1pt win Global Village in 17.35 Ascot at 11/1 (General). | Won the Victoria Cup in very good style here and can defy 6lb rise. |
| 1pt win Decent Fella in 17.35 Ascot at 25/1 (General). | Goes well fresh, here and with cut in the ground. Overpriced. |
The rain at Royal Ascot changes things ahead of Friday's card and I was all set to side with Louis The Pious in the closing Buckingham Palace Stakes before the prolonged precipitation arrived.
He ran on well over six furlongs to take third in a handicap here last September and was just held over seven furlongs on fast ground at Chester this campaign.
With first-time blinkers on for top trainer Kevin Ryan he looks set for a big run but I'm not sure very soft ground is what he wants.
Instead my attentions turn primarily to GLOBAL VILLAGE, a horse I backed when he finished third in the Spring Cup at Newbury but then missed when he won the Victoria Cup in good style here.
It was pretty soft that day and he ran on very well under Tadgh O'Shea who dropped his whip just inside the final furlong.
A hell for leather stiff seven on soft ground looks absolutely ideal for him, and, just 6lbs higher in the weights and Kieren Fallon taking over in the saddle, he's worth backing at 11/1.
With 30 runners going to post I want another string to my bow and the 25/1 about DECENT FELLA makes plenty of appeal.
Andrew Balding's horse goes very well fresh, has form here thanks to his fourth in this race last year, and, crucially, he goes very well with give underfoot.
His absence isn't a concern, the recent rain is in his favour and judging by his win at Goodwood last September a strongly-run seven is right up his street.
25/1 looks fair.
