By Charlie McCann
Ascot stage a competitive six-race card with the feature race the listed Noel Murless Stakes over 1m 6f for the classic generation.
Marzocco finished fifth in the St Leger and is likely to be a warm order for John Gosden but Mizzou (3.40) has been brought along steadily, as is his wont, by Luca Cumaini and this lightly raced son of Galileo looked ready for a step up in class when winning a decent Haydock Park handicap at this trip last time. The selection's dam was a winner in this grade at this trip and he can make the transition into Pattern Company.
In the finale Jelly Fish (4.50) faced a difficult/impossible task trying to give 16lbs to Moscato at Yarmouth last time when you consider the latter has won both his subsequent starts off higher marks without coming off the bridle. Three-year-olds have won the last three renewals of this 2m contest and there might be more to come from the Amanada Perrett trained runner at this trip.
There is an excellent jumps card at Fontwell and Workbench and Hollow Penny are progressive chasers who might still be ahead of the handicapper but veteran Oiseau De Nuit (3.50) has been given a chance by the handicapper, goes well fresh and is taken to make a winning reappearance for Colin Tizzard with his good conditional taking off a further 7lbs.
The Emma Lavelle yard had a winner at Chepstow earlier in the week and King Boru (4.25), who didn't show much aptitude for fences at Uttoxeter last time, had run well at Southwell previously over timber and will appreciate returning to the smaller obstacles.
Third Act is the class act in the 2m 6f maiden hurdle but he didn't seem in love with hurdles when last seen unseating his jockey back in the spring. He was considered good enough to take his chance in the Champion Bumper but I'm not convinced this 2m 6f trip will suit and the better ground should see some improvement from Glowinginthedark (5.30) trained by Charlie Longsdon whose string are in such rude health at present. Uptendownone representing Gary Moore is another to consider in a decent finale.
At Hexham I am looking forward to the chase debut of Wakanda (3.30) representing Sue Smith; the five-year-old left Tom Taaffe's stable in Ireland having won a maiden hurdle at Sligo last July and ran well, without winning, for his new connections over timber last term.
In the last Snapping Turtle (6.15) looked in need of a stiffer test when staying on third at Perth last time and is only 2lbs higher than when scoring over 2m 4f at Newcastle back in December. It is a race that won't take a great deal of winning and there are question marks about all seven runners. The selection does come into the race on the back of a good effort, however, and is entitled to come on for his Perth effort.
At Wolverhampton this evening Lady Bingo (6.50) will have to settle better than she did on her handicap debut when third at Lingfield over 12f but she is bred to be better than a 65-rated animal and Jamie Spencer takes over in the plate for inform Sir Mark Prescott.
Richard Hughes takes over from a claimer aboard Bold Appeal (8.50) who shaped with promise when fourth following a slow start at Chepstow on debut. He is obviously no star but the booking of the champion jockey suggests connections are optimistic of a bold show in a race that wouldn't be the strongest maiden ever seen at the track.
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