Luke Morris fancies his strong filly at Ascot this Saturday

WE’RE moving into autumn and a crucial time in the Flat season as everyone prepares for the big races between now and the end of the season.

Hopefully I’ll have plenty of opportunities for big rides and good wins over the coming weeks and there’s no doubt that Marsha’s the horse I’m most looking forward to riding.

I ride her in all of her work at home and she feels in really top order at the moment. I think the plan is to either go for the Scarborough Stakes at Doncaster next week or the Flying Five at the Curragh next weekend. Wherever she goes she should be exciting.

I’ve got a busy time of things this weekend with a double-header at Ascot and Wolverhampton on Saturday and I’m hoping for a few winners on the day.

2.05 Ascot – Socrates
He’s not a horse I know much about and this looks a deep enough maiden to be running in first time out. I suspect he’ll probably be one to keep an eye on for next time or the race after that.

2.40 Ascot – Ghalib
I’ve always thought he was better when he had a bit of cut in the ground but he’s run some decent races when the ground has been firmer too, so he’s capable of performing on it. He wears blinkers for the first time and hopefully they can squeeze out a little more improvement as it looks like the handicapper might be in charge at the moment.

I won on him the other day over 1m2f at Chelmsford and all he felt like he was doing was staying on at the end, so this step up to 1m4f makes sense. This is a valuable race so it’s worth a go for the first time in something like this and he’s well drawn in stall two. The faster ground will be in his favour as well and I think he’s a rock solid each-way chance.

3.40 Ascot – Nastenka
Like my ride in the first race this is one I don’t know a huge amount about. The dam was a stayer and there are some others in here with experience so we’ll be looking for a nice start with an eye to the future.

I rode against him when he won last time and he was out of the stalls and gone in a flash. I thought that was a good win. He’s a course and distance winner at Ascot and a lot of horses with all-weather form like him run particularly well on straight course at Ascot. I wanted to be drawn away from others so he’s not hassled on the lead so I’m pleased with stall 16. He can prove a hard horse to pass on his day and he’s another who has a good each-way chance.

4.45 Ascot – Miss Carbonia
She’s one I’m really looking forward to. She’s looked a progressive filly and done little wrong so far with two wins and a good fourth in her three runs. She gets plenty of weight from some of the main rivals like Light And Shade and Aljuljalah. I think she’s got a really good chance.

5.20 Ascot – Pine Ridge
She comes into the race in top form having won her last two but this is a tougher race than what she’s run in so far. Fillies in form can be hard to stop sometimes so if she can carry that on then has a fair chance of completing hat-trick.

8.20 Wolverhampton – Sbraase
He’s a talented horse but one that is hard horse to win with. What’s in his favour is that the race looks like it should be run at a good pace which is what he wants to run at. I’ll try my best to steer him through and get his head in front where it matters.

8.50 Wolverhampton – Sunshineandbubbles
She’s been knocking on the door for some time now over shorter. Hopefully up in trip she’ll have enough to get her head in front.

Cheers,
Luke