Ascot hosts an exciting card of six races on Friday, including the 1m6f Listed Noel Murless Stakes.
William Haggas' Naqeeb will be attempting to complete a hat-trick in the 1m6f Listed Noel Murless Stakes (3:57) and steps up into Listed company for the first time. Beaten a nose by the re-opposing Middle Earth on seasonal reappearance, the son of Nathaniel has gone from strength to strength since, recording a ten length success over twelve furlongs on the all-weather before a handicap victory over this trip at Haydock Park. A half-brother to Baaeed and Hukum, the colt is expected to get better with age and will continue to improve.
Winner of the valuable Melrose Handicap at York's Ebor Festival in late August, Middle Earth was given a big task in the Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster subsequently and failed to get involved on soft ground, finishing seventh of nine. The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt beat the re-opposing Naqeeb in a novice stakes when the pair met over twelve furlongs and it will be interesting to see if he can uphold the form over a longer trip.
Godolphin's Chesspiece has been a great servant for the Simon and Ed Crisford yard this season, winning the Listed Glasgow Stakes at Hamilton Park and placing in some good Group events including a narrow second behind Desert Hero in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. He didn't appear to stay when stepped up in trip for the first time in the Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster, but connections may feel that the soft ground may have been the contributing factor to his defeat rather than the distance.
The top four in the market is rounded off with John and Thady Gosden's second runner Lmay, who will benefit from an eight pound weight allowance as a three-year-old filly. Although she is yet to prove herself capable at Listed level, the daughter of Frankel appeared to relish the step up to 1m6f when finishing third on soft ground behind Sumo Sam in the Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster. A return to a sounder surface is undoubtedly a positive and the filly may prove better than her official rating of 97 would suggest.
WIN: NAQEEB
Experience appears to be key in the 1m4f Class 3 Heros Novice Stakes (2:47) with Syllabus and Scenic expected to be at the fore. William Haggas' Syllabus is yet to break his maiden after five racecourse starts but has produced two commendable placings since a gelding operation in late June. He ran into a good winner when beaten four-and-a-quarter lengths in a twelve-furlong novice stakes at Ffos Las and looked to benefit from the application of a tongue-tie and cheekpieces. This distance seems to bring out the best in the son of Sea The Stars and another big effort is expected.
Scenic will benefit from a five pound weight allowance as a filly and trainer Ed Walker is in excellent form with a 24% strike rate from the last fourteen days. She seemed to benefit from a change of tactics when second in a ten furlong novice stakes from the front and was only beaten by a head at the line. The return to twelve furlongs is expected to be an advantage and the allowance could give her the edge over rivals.
WIN: SCENIC
RACING & SPORTS SELECTIONS
RACE 1: KIMNKATE
RACE 2: SCENIC
RACE 3: DAYSOFOURLIVES
RACE 4: NAQEEB
