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Ascot kicks off it’s two-day King George meeting with six races on Friday where the John Guest Racing Handicap takes centre stage at 3.35.
Pink Satin has to give 7lb away to her rivals in the opening Class 3 6f John Guest Racing British Ebf Fillies' Novice Stakes (1.50). The Paul & Oliver Cole-trained runner should give a bold sight but an official mark of 82 probably leaves her vulnerable. Rawasi wasn't knocked about when a pleasing third on debut at Kempton and is surely capable of more with that experience under her belt. However, Panarea is closely related to the connections champion two-year-old Pinatubo and this daughter of Lope De Vega may well be up to making a winning debut for Charlie Appleby.
Previous course and distance winner Malakahna arrives following back-to-back second-place finishes and must be respected in the Class 3 2m John Guest Racing Brown Jack Handicap (2.25), but King Frankel may prove too strong. The gelded son of Frankel has proved a revelation since joining the Nicky Henderson stable and he looked as though this trip would be right up his street when beating the reopposing Traila at Newmarket (July) 34 days ago. There should be plenty more to come from him stepping up to two miles for the first time and he can complete the hat-trick off a 3lb higher mark.
The Class 4 7f Chapel Down Handicap (3.00) looks like a competitive contest. Four-time career winner Mobashir travelled kindly when third at Yarmouth last-time-out and cannot be ignored nudged up 1lb with the booking of Ryan Moore catching the eye. The top-weight, Pearle D'or, looks dangerous to dismiss after being denied a neck over course and distance nine days ago, but Global Esteem just edges the vote. The John Gallagher-trained charge returned to form with a good third over a mile at the Berkshire venue a fortnight ago and can build on that eased 1lb in the weights with the first-time visor fitted.
Gaassee caught the eye when third in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock three weeks ago having suffered traffic problems before not being given a hard time. William Haggas' gelded son of Sea The Stars has proven form on soft ground and gets the nod to land the feature Class 2 1m4f John Guest Racing Handicap at 3.35. Dangers include the likes of recent course and distance winner Oneforthegutter, who remains unexposed over this sort of distance and could have more to offer with first-time cheekpieces, while last-start Windsor winner Youthful King looks to be heading in the right direction and can remain competitive off a 7lb higher mark.
Scintillante looked the type to do better having now got his head in front. Andrew Balding's runner entered the winners' enclosure for the first time when taking out a similar handicap over this distance at Chester 27 days ago and he could well follow up in the Class 4 1m4f Slingsby Gin Handicap (4.10).
It's tough to rule out any of the eight in the concluding Class 4 5f Berenberg October Club Supporting Schoolreaders Fillies' Handicap at 4.45. A narrow vote goes to Cuban Breeze, who only found a progressive type too strong when runner-up at Newmarket (6f) a week ago and this previous course and distance scorer may get back to winning ways dropped to the minimum trip.
RACING & SPORTS SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – PANAREA
RACE 2 – KING FRANKEL
RACE 3 – GLOBAL ESTEEM
RACE 4 – GAASSEE
RACE 5 – SCINTILLANTE
RACE 6 – CUBAN BREEZE