Ascot Saturday Preview
Published:The team competition will attract plenty of interest as the Girls team led by Rosie Napravnik take on teams from GB & Ireland, Europe and The Rest of the World. The draw certainly seems to have given the girls a couple of good opportunities to get among the winners and they could give the boys a run for their money!
Sam Sharp must have excellent prospects under Cathy Gannon in the Mile at 12.55. The seven-year-old ran a fine race to chase home Snowboarder last time out. The ROTW team seem to have the strongest draw in the opener with Roserrow and Famous Poet both having decent chances.
Trainer Mark Johnston is a great supporter of this event and New Zealand’s Lisa Allpress must have a great chance of winning the Stayers race at 1.30 on the progressive Broxbourne. The filly is fresh from victory in the Goodwood Handicap and had previously slammed Homeric at Ascot.
The Dash looks wide open at 2.05 with Racy and Andrasch Starke possibly just the form choice on his excellent fourth in the Stewards’ Cup last week. Steps could also run well under James Doyle.
Johnston is responsible for half of the field in the handicap at 2.40 with Broughton possibly the best of his runners under ROTW skipper Gary Stevens. There are some less exposed types lower down the handicap including Chesterfield, the mount of Kevin Manning (GB & Ireland).
Cathy Gannon partners top weight Haylaman in the 3.15, a good second here last month. Ustura (Yasunari Iwata) could strike a blow here for ROTW at the expense of Old Newton Cup winner Star Lahib (Ioritz Mendizabal).
Rosie Napravnik may have to save her best until last when she partners the favourite Noble Deed for William Haggas. The three-year-old won well at Newcastle and could still be a step ahead of the handicapper. Kieren Fallon will probably be her biggest danger aboard Shahdaroba.
Selections: 12.55 Roserrow (ROTW), 1.30 Broxbourne (Girls), 2.05 Racy (EUR), 2.40 Chesterfield (GB & IRE), 3.15 Ustura (ROTW), 3.50 Noble Deed (Girls)
