Ascot - Saturday 9th May

I will be at Ascot today for a fiendish days action but there's a huge runner Victoria Cup to unpick. 

13:45, Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% British EBF Fillies' Handicap

Radiant Beauty 5/1, 2pts each-way (3 places)

James Owen had a decent Chester in mid-week and now sets his sight on Berkshire. Radiant Beauty progressed quickly last year and showed her versatility between turf and all-weather when just touched off at Newmarket in the Autumn off the same mark as she races off here. She'll improve for her run at Listed level last time out and should go very well under James Doyle. 

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14:20, Carey Group Victoria Cup

Storm Free 12/1, 1.5pts each-way (6 places)
Ten Pounds 22/1, 1pt each-way (6 places)
Golden Mind 28/1, 0.75pts each-way (6 places)

With 29 runners it may pay to have a few stabs at this. Storm Free is still lightly raced and counted as progressive for James Tate. A winner at Leicester off a 4 pound lower mark in October, he shaped like a horse to keep onside of but was just badly positioned on seasonal debut at Newmarket last month and should come on for the run. The stable know how to win big Saturday races at this track. Ten Pounds has moved to Joey Ramsden and is now looking fairly handicapped after a quiet time of things. He was 3rd in the Wokingham off a pound higher mark last year and arrives here off the back of a nice prep run and has a 7 pound claimer involved. Warren Fentiman will also claim off Richard Fahey's Golden Mind. The 5 year old may not hide much from the handicapper but he's a classy sort and was 4th in the International over C&D last year. He showed he's as good as ever when finishing 2nd on his most recent start and has claims at a big price.