3 minute read

Racing returns to Ascot this weekend with the Lex Piper and the Ascot 1000 Guineas for the three-year-old's the feature races.

The older horses had their day in the sun last week with the Detonator Stakes, but this Saturday is all about the three-year-old's.

Race 7 is the Lex Piper stakes for the colts & geldings, with four of the 8 runners coming through last Wednesday's Challenger Stakes.

The Challenger is an interesting race to assess, with the race run slowly and dominated by those up on the speed.

With that being said, Russian To The Bar did sprint quickest, posting the fastest L600m of the race and wasn't stopping close to the line.

The fact Russian To The Bar will put himself close to the speed again and the sectionals suggesting he still may have more to come, it's hard to see anything else from the Challenge turning the tables.

Autumn Rebel was showing good promise before a disappointing effort last start. 21 days between runs and back to a mile may leave more questions than answers as he looked a Derby prospect only two starts ago.

Russian To The Bar seems the right favourite in a race that - although no completely clear cut - it's easier to make an opinion in.

The Ascot 1000 Guineas is very different to what the Lex Piper throws up.

A number of lightly raced fillies, with the majority of them stepping out to 1800m for the first time makes it hard to pin down one, which is shown by the early market.

It's $4 the field at the time of writing and it looks as though you'd get a better result using Siri to pick a number between one and 12.

Own The Queen, Miss Skyhigh and So Nataya all look horses with plenty of upside and none would surprise if they improved vastly getting out in trip. Queen Nardi failed in her only attempt at this distance two back, but won well at Geraldton most recently and has experience over the trip.

For what it's worth, I am in the corner of Miss Skyhigh, but there's too many unknowns to make her the Best Bet.

That comes up in the opener, nice and early to get on the board with BONJOY who is looking for four on the bounce.

She rounded up her rivals with ease just 7 days ago, sitting out the back and putting them away by 1-1/4 lengths on the line.

It's hard to see anything coming through that race turning the tables on her, and the other form in the race looks a level below what she's been producing of late.

She's a possibility to be odds-on come jump time, so the current price on offer is one worth taking.

My Next Best comes up midway through the card where the Sean & Jake Casey-trained SNOW PRINCE caught my attention.

Good run first-up in the Magic Millions 3YO at Pinjarra, laying the platform for a big prep that could see him end up in Black Type races.

While his second-up record reads just one placing from 3 goes, those efforts have been in Listed company as a 2YO and then Open 3YO events his last couple of campaigns.

Snow Prince does have to take on the older horses this time, he still looks to have some improvement to come and the booking of CJP is a positive sign.

The Best From The West

Best Bet: Race 1 Number 7 BONJOY @ $2.10

Next Best: Race 5 Number 8 SNOW PRINCE @ $4.40*

*Prices correct as of 3:15pm, February 29th