Friday 25th July 2025
Ascot SELECTIONS
1.50: British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes
The first race of the afternoon at Ascot on Friday is the 1.50, and this is a Class 3 fillies’ novice event that’s contested over six furlongs. I’m fairly strong on the chances of Enamorus here for the team of Hugo Palmer and Rossa Ryan. She was fancied to go well on debut at Newmarket when set off the 9/4 favourite, and whilst she wasn’t able to award her backers, she did post an eye-catching effort when finishing third, as she was slowly away and kept on well. She should’ve learnt plenty from that run, and I suspect her to take a big step forward here.
ENAMORUS – 2/1 (Win) (NB)
2.25: Flexjet Pat Eddery Stakes
Next up it’s Listed action at 2.55 with the Pat Eddery Stakes, that’s contested over seven furlongs. This looks like a decent race for a Listed event. Reciprocated and A Bit Of Spirit are both unbeaten and have significant potential; however, I’ve tried to take them on with the Godolphin runner Time To Turn. Charlie Appleby’s two-year-old made no mistake on the third time of asking when sent off the 1/10 favourite at Wolverhampton last time out, getting the job done by ten lengths, and whilst this requires a significant step up, he should continue to progress over seven furlongs. Connections hold him in high regard, and I think he could prove to be a bit of value here under William Buick.
TIME TO TURN – 4/1 (Each-Way)
3.00: John Guest Racing Brown Jack Handicap
The third race of the afternoon is the 3.00 and this is a Class 3 handicap that’s ridden over a distance of two miles. I’m taking a chance on the Dylan Cunha trained Fireblade here, who’s the mount of James Doyle. He was a winner on stable debut for this yard back in April, and comes into the race on the back of a couple of encouraging second-placed efforts at Sandown over fourteen furlongs. He kept on in both of those contests, giving the impression that this further step up in distance could unlock more improvement.
FIREBLADE – 11/2 (Each-Way)
3.35: Royal Ascot Winning Breeders’ Handicap
It’s more handicap action at 3.35, and this time we have a Class 2 affair which is ridden over a mile and four furlongs. I’m strongly siding with Pinhole here, who represents Ralph Beckett and is set to be ridden by Rossa Ryan. He looked like an exciting prospect when winning a novice event back in December, and whilst he disappointed on his seasonal reappearance at Chester when finishing ten lengths behind Lambourn, he ran a much more encouraging race at Royal Ascot last time out when four and three-quarters of a length behind Carmers in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase. That piece of form alone makes him a huge player in handicap company here, and it would be disappointing if he doesn’t win this.
PINHOLE – Evs (Win) (NAP)
4.10: Chapel Down Handicap
The penultimate race of the day at Ascot is the 4.10, and this is a Class 4 handicap which is contested over seven furlongs. I’m taking a chance on the Ruth Carr trained Woodstock here, who’s the mount of Jason Hart. It’s been a while since he tasted success; however, he’s run well in two of his last three outings, most recently when finishing sixth of twelve at Newbury earlier this month and three and a quarter of a length behind the winner. He’s been dropped a further pound here and will contest this off a mark which is two pounds below his last winning one.
WOODSTOCK – 12/1 (Each-Way)
4.45: Ascot Shop Fillies’ Handicap
Signing us off for the afternoon will be the 4.45, and this is a Class 4 fillies’ handicap over five furlongs. Fantasy Obsessor can maintain her unbeaten record here for Michael Appleby, under the services of Silvestre De Sousa. Her opening mark of seventy-nine could prove to be well within her reach, and she’s looked potentially useful in her two victories within novice company. She drops down in trip to five furlongs here having won over six and seven previously; however, there’s sprinting in her pedigree, and she should have a big say.
FANTASY OBSESSOR – 4/1 (Each-Way)
