Ascot hosts a cracking early season flat card today which essentially acts as a trial for a number of races including the Oaks and the Commonwealth Cup.
As a result, our man Danny Archer has decided to give race-by-race selections for the meeting...
Blue to be just on Point at Ascot
2:00: Ascot - Corinthia Knight 8/11.
Archie Watson's colt is invariably a very forward two-year-old who has won nicely on two starts on the All Weather. The switch to the turf should prove no problem and the fact that he is also unpenalised is also a huge positive.
2:35: Ascot - Icespire 5/4.
John Gosden's horses are in such good that it is difficult to look past this daughter of Frankel. A facile winner of a Salisbury maiden, the second that day won a handicap at Nottingham yesterday and this filly could prove a very exciting horse in the making.
3:10: Ascot - Battersea 7/2.
This looks a tough event and whilst I really should be backing Harbour Law who is trained two minutes away from me, I'm not sure how could he will be this season as the St Leger he won was a really messy race and therefore I've struggled to get a real gauge on the form.
Instead, Battersea has a chance on his first attempt at two miles to improve Roger Varian's spellbinding start to the season. Pretty disappointing last season, the six-year-old son of Galileo should get this trip and usually goes well fresh. That gives him the edge in a very open and cracking renewal of the Sagaro.
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3:45: Ascot - Blue Point 6/4 and Mokarris 12/1 Each Way.
An absolute monster, this son of Shamardal has real speed and could become a real top quality colt this year. An impressive winner of the Gimcrack Stakes at York in August, he then finished in the placings in both the Middle Park and Dewhurst. With his sights slightly lowered here, he looks very tough to beat.
Mokarris finished behind Blue Point last year in the Gimcrack and his main issue was his hard pulling style. If he has learned to settle, this son of More Than Ready looks the type to improve in his three-year-old campaign.
4:20: Ascot - Ennaadd 3/1.
Mondialiste is a big danger to Roger Varian's charge but I feel there is more to come from the lightly-raced Ennaadd. Things didn't really go his way on All-Weather Championship Finals Day as he pulled far too hard and didn't have the best of passages through the race.
He should have learnt a lot from that experience and should also strip fitter for that return to action. He has only raced once on turf but his breeding suggests he won't mind the return to grass and I remain a big fan of his.
4:55: Ascot - Selection 11/4.
Gelded over the winter, this son of Siyouni won on his handicap debut at Kempton and has form on turf. He looks one to keep on side having been raised just 6lb for that win and with one of the best claimers around on board.
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3/1 Win Double
2:00: Ascot - Corinthia Knight.
2:35: Ascot - Icespire.
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