Recommended Bets

6th 15-8 Qozak (FR) (Ascot 15:10)

Ascot’s Saturday card features a valuable handicap hurdle at 3.10 and many eyes will be upon the much discussed Stravinsky Dance from Nicky Henderson’s all-conquering stable. Reckoned to be very well-treated off a rating of 139, this useful mare makes her British debut at the Berkshire course as a prelude to a crack at next month’s Totesport Trophy, a race that Henderson likes to win at his local track.

It is hard to put an exact handle on the mare’s French form and working out how well it will translate into the British domain is difficult. In truth it is largely guesswork and we also have to take the mare’s fitness for such a competitive race on trust.

In sharp contrast Qozak ran just a couple of days ago and couldn’t have been more impressive in winning on his seasonal bow at Taunton. He took to settle into Ditcheat last season from his native France and by the time of his handicap bow at Aintree in April, it was evident he required a trip in excess of two miles to be at his best.

Thought to be capable of much better still after a summer breathing operation, he turns out at Ascot under a 5lb penalty and is a confident choice to land this good prize from a low weight. I seem to recall trainer Paul Nicholls pulling off something similar with decent chaser Nozic a few years ago, who won at Chepstow in midweek and then won again at Uttoxeter on the Saturday.