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Scott Embry provides his best bets for the Thoroughbred meeting at Ascot on Saturday, 11th May 2024. Brought to you by the TABtouch Blog.

  RACE 1  

BARNEY'S WORLD was solid first-up, won second-up and then backed up off 7 days and was disappointing after missing the kick and failing to make an impression late. Pulled up with excuses and a fortnight later lobs a seemingly weaker race against his own age group. Great chance for Victoria Corver to kick home a metro winner. LAST STYLEBENDER is on debut in a 3 year old Plate which is no easy assignment, however, he has shown more than enough ability across multiple trials and preparations to justify Mitch Pateman throwing him in the deep end. GINNIVAN and BOLTA are both jump and run types.

Numbers: 1 – 5 – 2 – 4

Suggested Bet – BARNEY'S WORLD WIN

  RACE 2  

AREDUET finished fourth behind Gold Flakes (Siren Assault finished third) at her second race appearance. She's run above market expectation on both occasions and this is clearly the easiest race she's seen so far in her short career. Drawn sticky but in a race where there's a few speedy types crossing fingers that she can find a spot. Going well. I AM LUCKY and SO FAB will both no doubt look to jump and run. They've both trialled well on multiple occasions and they're both wearing shade on debut. SATIN BOW did beat Golden Vale in a trial before enduring a tough first outing.

Numbers: 4 – 7 – 9 – 5

Suggested Bet – AREDUET WIN

  RACE 3  

ENCHANTING SOUND has come back bigger and better this preparation. She had to dig deep to win an identical race to this two starts back and then ran into highly progressive mare Fast Flicker last start at 1400. Will need a good ride from a tricky draw but with an ounce of luck early she'll take beating late. FAMOUS JURNEY wasn't bad first-up from off speed. It was a race where there were at least three or four speedy types drawn underneath him and the stable wisely elected to ride him against his usual pattern. Second-up, out to a more suitable distance and can go back to rolling along in front. DEETEA is suited at this level and is a versatile mare. BREAD TO FLIRT is not easy to catch but she's racing well.

Numbers: 5 – 1 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet – ENCHANTING SOUND WIN

  RACE 4  

THE BOSS LADY got loose in her prelim last Saturday and galloped a lap of Ascot before being recaptured by trainer Michael Lane and taken off the track. 7 days later she's arguably lobbed an even better race because there's no Twain's Angel and there's no Rope Them In or Generosity like there was in the 66+ 1200 last weekend. Could be a blessing in disguise and from the draw Brad Parnham should give her every chance. GODDESS OF GIVING is a sharp mare and she always turns up fresh. Capable of carrying the weight and pulling out a big L600. BRAVE STRIKE was back to her best first-up and looks in for a good prep. CITY ANGEL dropped a gear on straightening when winning powerfully first-up.

Numbers: 3 – 1 – 5 – 7

Suggested Bet – THE BOSS LADY WIN

  RACE 5  

COOL MEMORY loomed up outside of talented 3 year old Fly With Caution last start and just couldn't get past him in the concluding stages. He drops 1.5kg from a 3 year old Plate into a 60+ Graduation and you could easily make the case that this is a weaker race. Hard to ignore the placement and the conditions he's afforded. Ready to win. YARRALEA backs up off 7 days and drops from a 72+. She was held tight on straightening last week and was unable to build any momentum at any stage. Was only beaten 2.6L by an in form Oly's Choice and really just tracked them around without being tested. Gets every chance from the draw. ON PATROL has been in form all preparation and now gets a senior rider. ROMMEL'S JEUNEY is an enigma.

Numbers: 4 – 1 – 9 – 10

Suggested Bet – COOL MEMORY WIN

  RACE 6  

BECALOTTI was really popular in betting last start when looming large into the straight but not quite finishing off. Lucky for her (and all of them) there's no Chollima here and hoping that a set of blinkers is exactly what she needs. Can lead or park on Cross Statement and should be right there in the finish. ROCKIN' RUPERT beat her home last start and is more than capable of doing so again. Doesn't win out of turn but returned in great order. DANCE BOSS has his first crack at Saturday company but from what we've seen he'll measure up. CROSS STATEMENT gives 110% every time he goes out.

Numbers: 4 – 3 – 5 – 1

Suggested Bet – BECALOTTI WIN

  RACE 7  

SOWAR has been a great acquisition for the Mitch Pateman yard later in life. He won a 66+ 1800 two starts back and then couldn't go with the leaders when they turned the speed on over a mile last start. Think he's better suited here and capable of turning the tables on Allez Allez who beat him by 2.4L last start. ALLEZ ALLEZ himself is the type of horse who will continue to get better and better deeper into his preparation. 60kg and 1800m are a pair of levellers but he's going really well. HERE FOR CHEQUES heads back into Saturday company after beating up on them at the midweekers. CITINO is the new kid on the block on the minimum.

Numbers: 4 – 1 – 2 – 10

Suggested Bet – SOWAR WIN

  RACE 8  

CASINO SEVENTEEN is the class animal and while the 62kg is a huge task these races are actually handicapped to suit him. He's a m104 so in strict handicap conditions he should get 64 so he's actually afforded 2kg and from barrier 3 over 2100m in a field of only 9 runners (of which 5 are outside the handicap) he gets his chance. Has been going well all campaign and this looks the most suitable race he has seen since the Bunbury Cup when beaten in the final stride by Blazing Away. BLAZING AWAY reunites with Jordan Turner and importantly draws a gate to get the soft run he requires to produce his best. Can win. GHOBELLA is racing incredibly well and is versatile. BARAMAGIC an improver.

Numbers: 1 – 3 – 7 – 5

Suggested Bet – CASINO SEVENTEEN WIN

Same Race Multi – Casino Seventeen (Top 2) + Blazing Away (Top 4)

Casino Seventeen has to lump 62kg again in Quality Handicap conditions however this race looks a very similar set up to the Bunbury Cup where he was beaten a nose in the final stride by Blazing Away who he meets again here. Backing him to carry the weight and finish Top 2 and adding Blazing Away into the Top 4 off the back of a soft run along the fence.

  RACE 9  

COUNT THE SESSIONS has come back in excellent order. Loved the first-up run behind Malkar Pindari over 1200m and then was caught up in traffic second-up behind Above The Peg who he meets 2kg better here. CJP rides him better than anyone and he's drawn an ideal gate on the minimum. Ticks plenty of boxes. MULTINATIONAL is not an Ascot horse. He struggles to get around the bend and loses his momentum. Wish this was Belmont. ABOVE THE PEG destroyed them last start but did get the ideal run in transit. SISU WARRIOR was an alarming drifter in betting last week and ended up settling last before rattling home late.

Numbers: 9 – 1 – 3 – 2

Suggested Bet – COUNT THE SESSIONS WIN

3,4,5

1,2,4,6,10

1,3,7

1,2,3,4,9

Click here for Saturday's TABtouch Ascot Markets.

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