Saturday 3rd October 2026
1.50 Ascot – (BetMGM Rous Stakes) (Listed) (5f)
Tuco Salamanca and Shagraan will be popular with punters here, and both hold solid chances at the top of the betting. I’ve come down on one at a bigger price, though, and that’s FIRST INSTINCT for the team of William Haggas and Harry Davies. This Bated Breath filly got the better of Shagraan in Group 3 company at Newbury at the back end of last season. Whilst she struggled in some lofty assignments at the beginning of this campaign, she bounced back to form when she was a neck second to Flora Of Bermuda in the Group 3 Summer Stakes at York in July. She also ran with credit last time out at Newbury, finishing fifth of eleven in the same race in which she beat Shagraan last year, finishing three lengths behind eventual winner Miss Yechance, and she also met trouble in running. She’ll likely be staying on at the business end here, and I think that she could still have more to offer. Four-year-olds have also won the last two runnings of this race.
First Instinct – (9/1) (Each-Way)
(4 places – bet365, Sky Bet)
2.10 Newmarket – (Class 2 Handicap) (1m 4f)
This is competitive; however, it could pay to side with the Hamad Al Jehani-trained ERNST BLOFELD here, who’s the mount of talented five-pound claimer Harry Vigors. He’s got his quirks; however, he’s also got talent in his locker, having won a decent handicap at Kempton back in May, and posted another very solid effort at Doncaster last time out, finishing just a length and three-quarters behind the useful Valedictory. He’ll effectively contest this race off a four-pound lower mark than his Doncaster effort, when you take Vigor’s five-pound claim into consideration, and I think that firmly puts him in the picture. Primo Lara has won three of his last five starts and is a clear danger for Jane Chapple-Hyam and Saffie Osbourne, and Charlie Johnston’s Evanesco also merits respect following his win in the Silver Bell at Hamilton, before finishing an excellent fifth of twenty-one in a Premier Handicap Leopardstown last time.
Ernst Blofeld – (9/2) (Each-Way)
3.00 Ascot – (Bengough Stakes) (G3) (6f)
Marco Botti tasted Group 2 success last week in the Rockfel Stakes with Pensando A Te, and I think he could add another pattern race to his collection here with PRINCE OF INDIA, who’s the mount of Pat Dobbs. He progressed through the ranks last term, winning on three occasions, which included a Heritage Handicap at Newmarket last July. It’s taken him some time to find his feet within pattern company; however, he comes into the race in particularly good form. He was second of nine and just a length and a quarter behind Coppull in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on his penultimate start, before a comfortable two-length success in Listed company at Newmarket last time out. He may well be showing his best form at the back end of this season, and I think he could post a bold bid here. Division will be very popular here for William Haggas; he’s the rightful favourite given his short-neck defeat in a French Group 1 last time out, as well as a string of excellent efforts in big races throughout the summer.
Prince Of India – (7/2) (Win) (NB)
3.35 Ascot – (Challenge Cup) (Heritage Handicap) (7f)
The Challenge Cup is always highly competitive, with this year’s renewal no exception. The highly progressive Thunder Call will likely be tough to beat at the top of the market for William Haggas, following another stylish victory over course and distance last time out, and he rightfully takes his place at the top of the betting. The market recognises his claims, however, and he’s priced accordingly. I’ve taken a chance on one at a bigger price, and that’s RIVER KING for Richard Hannon and Sean Levey. He’s a lightly-raced four-year-old who won a Class 4 event at Newbury back in June, before a couple of excellent efforts in competitive handicaps, firstly when finishing fifth of twenty-eight in the Buckingham Palace Stakes here at the Royal Meeting, before finishing fourth of seventeen in a Class 2 affair at Doncaster’s St Leger Meeting last time out. He remains on the same mark as his Doncaster run, and it’s likely there’s more to come from him. Aalto was a very unlucky loser at Newbury last time out when beaten only a neck, and he could make amends here off the same mark.
River King – (8/1) (Each-Way) (NAP)
(5 places)
