Turf luck

NEXT weekend's Ascot Festival Of Racing features two of the season's biggest juvenile races on Saturday when the Royal Lodge and Fillies' Mile take place over the round course. Dublin would be my selection after being given an awful ride by Frankie Dettori in Ireland last weekend but with connections possibly looking to the Breeders' Cup, it might be worth backing Silver Gilt each-way whether Dublin is there or not.

The Fillies' Mile at 2.35 looks a fascinating race and while I was impressed by Inchberry at Hamilton, the one I'd like to back here is Mark Johnston's Itemise who broke her maiden at Goodwood last Saturday. This Kris S filly is open to any amount of improvement and can serve notice of her Oaks credentials for 2003 by winning this. Inchberry would be the selection if Itemise is absent.

Jim Goldie's horses couldn't be in better form and the trainer will be praying for rain at Ascot for his stable star Orientor in Saturday's Diadem Stakes after the four-year-old narrowly failed to justify this column's each-way selection in Haydock's Sprint Cup last time when a fast-finishing fourth at 33/1. Orientor is well up to winning this race and seems well suited by Ascot having won and finished second over course and distance.

The Tote Trifecta Stakes at 3.40 will be the week's big betting heat and while Linda Perratt's Ho Choi might be worth a saver, the one I want to be on is Inchdura which looks a real tough improving sort on the basis of his last few runs. A 5lbs penalty for his last win at Goodwood is unlikely to halt his progress and having climbed 28lbs in the ratings since winning at Salisbury last summer, there's probably plenty more to come.

There are three meetings tomorrow with betting possibilities at each of the venues. Roman Quintet looks good for either of his engagements at Chepstow (2.20 or 2.55) while at Leicester, Mark Johnston has entered Sharp Secret on an attractive mark in the (pounds) 10,000 claimer at 3.50. Joint Statement should complete a four-timer in the 4.50, while at Kempton, Dennis Our Menace should be up to winning the 3.35.

At Newmarket on Tuesday, I like the look of Western Verse in the 3.40 and the well-touted debutante Jack of Trumps in the 4.10. Neville Callaghan's horses are firing and I would back Melrose Place if the juvenile turned up for either Newmarket's 4.40 or Beverley's 2.30 race on the same day.

Copyright 2002
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.