Sam King returns with three wagers on this fine Friday including two from Ascot.
The opening Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Amateur Jockeys' Handicap at Ascot (2.12) looks like a typically competitive renewal on paper. It's easy to see why support has come for last year's Final Watch and in all truth, I wouldn't put people off backing him at all. However, with firms paying up to five places I prefer to take a chance on something at a bigger price.
Dylan Cuhna has hit the ground running in the training ranks and Faro De San Juan looks interesting now stepping back up to seven furlongs on better ground this afternoon.
The Dylan Cuhna-trained French import has won once in his nine starts for new connections and it's probably fair to say his form's been patchy at best. However, he showed signs of life when fourth, albeit last of four, on soft ground at Ripon last time, shaping as though stepping up to seven furlongs for the first time in the UK would suit when staying on late after being outpaced.
The second and third that day have both scored subsequently and a 2lb drop in the weights puts him just 1lb above his winning mark at Chester in June. Mr Fletcher Yarham is good value for his 3lb claim in these amateur contests and at general odds of around 14/1, he looks well worth an each-way bet.
Selection: Faro De San Juan – General 14/1
Later on the card, I'm expecting Rohaan to take advantage of his falling mark in the concluding Ascot Iron Stand Membership Handicap at 5.05.
David Evans' stable star certainly hasn't scaled the heights connections would have hoped he could this season, but as a result, his handicap mark has tumbled 11lb since making his season reappearance at Salisbury in May.
You only have to go back to this time last year to see him winning the Group 3 Bengough Stakes over course and distance before finishing fourth in the Group 1 Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes a fortnight later.
The gelded son of Mayson is clearly well handicapped off a current rating of 102 and shaped as though he'd be winning in handicap company soon when a close-up seventh in the Ayr Gold Cup last time. The five-year-old is four from seven over course and distance and could prove handily positioned out in stall eighteen. A lack of pace on paper is a slight concern, but nevertheless, these big-field Ascot sprints tend to be evenly run and with Neil Callan a positive booking, he can get back in the winners' enclosure for the first time in just over a year.
Selection: Rohaan – General 11/4
Away from Ascot, Newcastle hosts nine races on the Tapeta this evening. There's no doubt Eleven Eleven is a bit of a tricky customer when it comes to getting his head in front, but everything looks in place for a massive run tonight in the QuinnBet Acca Bonus Handicap at 6.15.
Jessica Macey is 2-5 from four with her select runners over the last fortnight and this gelded five-year-old is back down to a very favourable mark.
The return to Gosforth Park saw him bounce right back to form when runner-up over tonight's course and distance ten days ago and it's no shock to see connections turn him out quickly off the same mark. When factoring in Ben Sanderson's valuable 3lb claim, he's racing off 4lb lower than
when scoring over track and trip in February and with a distinct lack of pace on paper, this strong-travelling sort could prove hard to peg back off towards the front end.
Selection: Eleven Eleven – General 15/8
