Swift looks a real Gift at 11/1
Swift Gift loves Ascot and looks terrific value at 11/1 in the 3.15 after a highly promising comeback run.
The gelding, who won the valuable Victoria Cup for Brian Meehan here back in 2009, is now in the care of Ed Dunlop and finished an eye-catching fifth on his debut for the stable in the Shergar Cup Mile last month.
Despite being off the track for 315 days and looking as if he would come on a ton for the run he was sent off a well backed 4/1 favourite.
After being held up at the rear he made headway three from home to get into a challenging position but could find no extra at the business end of affairs as lack of race fitness took it’s toll.
In the end he could only keep on at the once pace to be beaten just over 5 lengths by Sarrsar, but he was not knocked about and is sure to come on bundles for the run.
He has form in the book last season which entitles him to the utmost respect in this line-up, and is 9lb better off with leading fancy Smarty Socks for a just over a length beating when they met at Doncaster last August.
The selection also finished an excellent fifth of 28 to Redford over today’s course and distance in the totesport.com Challenge Cup on his final start of last season, where he ran on strongly to be beaten just over four lengths from a poor draw.
He races off exactly the same mark today, and a repeat of that effort would make him the one they all have to beat.
Given that he also very rarely runs a poor race at the track, the 11/1 on offer looks solid each-way value.
Recommended bet: 2pts each-way Swift Gift (11/1 bet365, Boylesports – BOG)
Steam into Seelo at 11/1
John Gosden is a trainer who traditionally does well at this time of the year, and his Seelo is of major interest at 11/1 in the 3.45 at Ascot.
The son of Dynaformer won his sole start as a juvenile in good style and kicked of his three-year-old career with an excellent 2 1/1 length second to leading St Leger fancy Census in a handicap at Newbury.
He then bolted up by seven lengths at Pontefract in the style of a handicapper to keep on the right side before disappointing when sent off 4/11 to follow up on the all-weather at Kempton.
Things didn’t pan out for him that day, and I am inclined to put a line through the form, as he was clearly miles below his best on the artificial surface.
His latest two starts have shown that running to be all wrong, and after a decent 7th of 18 to Fulgur at Newmarket he ran a stormer last time out when fifth to Parlour Games at Ascot.
Held up that day, he was going well when finding himself short of room two from home and kept on well to be beaten just over two lengths when a gap finally did appear.
He now meets that rival on 10lb better terms, and I am convinced that he has plenty more improvement left in the locker and will come out on top this time.
Recommended bet: 2pts each-way Seelo (11/1 bet365, Victor Chandler – BOG)
