Ascot Tips: Friday Best Bets from Architect

Fairy Godmother, 1.5pts WIN, 7/4

FAIRY GODMOTHER (tipped at 7/4) wasn’t able to get to grips with Sparkling Sea when finishing second on her debut, but this daughter of Night Of Thunder reversed that form in a Group 3 race next time out and is fancied to continue her upward trajectory in this higher-class race. 

I thought she did very well to overcome traffic problems to win quite comfortably last time out, which was a big step forward from her debut effort. She’s the pick of Ryan Moore and can provide Aidan O’Brien with a third win in the race at the expense of Mountain Breeze. 

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Ramatuelle, 1pt WIN, 4/1

The Coronation Stakes looks a belter, with the first three home in the 1000 Guineas renewing rivalry. However, I am really strong on the chances of French raider RAMATUELLE (tipped at 4/1), who finished an unlucky third in that Classic race at Newmarket. 

Having won Group 2 and Group 3 races over shorter distances, she then went very close to winning the Prix Morny at Deauville. She reappeared with a fine second in the Prix Imprudence on reappearance before raising her game to finish a close-third in the 1000 Guineas. 

It looked for all the world like she was going to win that race comfortably as she cruised into the lead and went a few lengths clear but was collared in the final few strides. This flatter course and shorter trip should allow her to maintain her position when she gets to the front.

I’m confident she can reverse the form with the front pair and win this race. 

Epic Poet, 0.5 pts E/W, 25/1, 5 places 

As expected, a wide-open field will contest the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes, but it would come as no surprise to see the David O’Meara-trained EPIC POET (tipped at 25/1) make an impact, having shaped promisingly when sixth last time out.

This six-year-old achieved a smart level of form in France, placing in various listed/Group races, and turned in his best effort for this stable when a keeping on sixth of 16 at York last time out, carrying a pretty big weight behind impressive winner Botanical.

The first five home were all up with the pace throughout, and he was the only horse to do best of those that were held up in rear.

The handicapper has dropped his mark by a pound, and Danny Tudhope keeps the partnership intact, so being open to improvement after just four starts in the UK, he could run well at double-figure odds. 

Five places are generally available.

Hard To Resist, 0.5 pts E/W, 16/1, 6 places

HARD TO RESIST (tipped at 16/1) has an absence of 238 days to overcome, but I suspect she has been trained for the Sandringham Stakes and could be well-handicapped on her handicap debut here for team Haggas and Marquand. 

This filly took a big step forward from her debut sixth to open her account at Newmarket before contesting a hot Group 3 race at Goodwood and running well to finish third. The first two home are now rated 109 and 110, and she was right on the heels of Carla’s Way at the line. 

Based on that evidence, she looks thrown in here off a mark of 95, and following that showing, she shaped quite well to finish fourth behind the same horse who beat her previously (Darnation) in a Group 2 race at Doncaster. That form looks strong when put in context here.

She’s not been since finishing fourth in the Group 3 Prix Miesque Stakes, when she was not beaten far behind subsequent 1000 Guineas fourth Tamfana, whose form is again solid. The better ground and bigger field could bring about significant improvement, and I can see her running well. 

Most bookmakers are paying six places.

Space Legend, 1pt WIN, 4/1

In the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes, SPACE LEGEND (tipped at 4/1) could be a serious player for William Haggas and James Doyle on the back of an unlucky second in a listed race at Goodwood. 

He made a promising start to her career when second to the now 105-rated Bold Style before going one place better at Leicester on testing ground when scoring by an easy five and a half lengths. 

He then showed improved form to finish a neck-second in a listed contest at Goodwood, where he didn’t enjoy the smoothest of passages before finishing his race with a rattle. I have no doubt he would have won with a clear run. 

This is another step up in grade, but he’s improving run-by-run, and the ground will be in his favour. This son of Sea The Stars will have more room to manoeuvre than last time, and with potential for better, he must be respected.

Chief Little Rock, 0.5 pts E/W, 9/1, 4 places

From an each-way perspective in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes, CHIEF LITTLE ROCK (tipped at 9/1) must have a decent chance despite Ryan Moore seemingly preferring Diego Velasquez, who I think has plenty to prove at present. 

This consistent three-year-old registered a second win of his career when powering to victory in a Group 3 race at the Curragh last time out from the front, taking his career record to two wins and four placed efforts from six starts.

His second in the Autumn Stakes last year is a serious piece of form as he split Ancient Wisdom and Ambiente Friendly, and we know what the latter has done since. That is among the best form on offer, and breeding suggests he will have no issue with this extra furlong from last time. 

His form and rating put him right in the mix against these, and he’s done very little wrong in all of his career starts. With further improvement anticipated and most firms paying four places, this son of Galileo should not be underestimated in the slightest and is overpriced.

Toca Madera, 0.5 pts E/W, 50/1, 6 places

Like Racing Lee, I quite like Brian Meehan’s TOCA MADERA (tipped at 50/1) each-way in the Palace Of Holyrood House Stakes, with various firms paying six places. 

His trainer enjoyed success at this meeting earlier in the week, and this three-year-old is a very alluring handicap debutant on his return to action here, with Joe Leavy taking off a valuable 5lb to help his burden. 

I’m surprised he’s so big in the betting when you consider that he concluded last season with a couple of third-placed efforts in Group 2 company. 

After five starts, he must have more to offer, and his experience of this course will help, having contested the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at this meeting 12 months ago.

Dark Vintage, 0.5 pts E/W, 25/1, 6 places 

Richard Fahey’s DARK VINTAGE (tipped at 25/1) makes plenty of each-way appeal in the Palace Of Holyrood House Stakes, with six places widely available and more to come. 

Having displayed useful form when trained in America, he took a major step forward from his stable/UK debut sixth at Sandown when third to Big Evs in a listed race at York. 

He meets the runner-up Sommelier on 4Ib better terms in this race, and the stiff finish should play to his strengths. I think he’s pretty well treated off a mark of 95 and must be backed.