ASCOT RACES SAGARO STAKES MEETING - WEDNESDAY 3rd MAY 2017. (BIRTHDAY MEETING)

A midweek day out to Ascot this week to celebrate another birthday, been coming here for many years now on this particular meeting although numbers have sadly dwindled recently, but to celebrate my advancing years we decamp to Ascot races for their midweek fixture featuring the Ascot Gold Cup trial the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes. 

Today's race card is good quality for a midweek meeting with another Group 3 (Pavilion Stakes) and a listed event (Paradise Stakes). In recent years the fields have been small and although the opening race has attracted just five runners the rest of the card is much better than previous renewals. 

Here's a link to the days racecard;
https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/racecards/2017-05-03

There is a bit of a chill in the air and possible forecast for a drop of rain in the afternoon however we will have a fun day out come what may, it's the nearest local meeting to my birthday and always better than being at work. 

Here are my selections for this meeting;

2.00 - 5f Conditions Stakes (2yo) 
Our midweek event gets underway with a decent looking 2yo race over the minimum trip. Although only a small field of five have been declared with the likely favourite CORINTHIA KNIGHT having won a pair of AW events this first outing on turf could be worth opposing at the short odds. Lost 5/6F

The Richard Hannon team have always featured well here even going back to his fathers time, so although lacking a previous run TANGLED [5th 8/1] must have shown enough at home to warrant his debut here when the yard have plenty of 2yo to choose from.

2.35 - 1m Conditions Stakes (3yo Fillies)
A good field of ten next for the mile conditions event, all are three year old fillies and are headed by GLITTER GIRL, a winner of three events last year but her best run came in defeat in the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes. A repeat of that should take this. Non Runner

It wouldn't be Ascot without Frankie Dettori involved and he's on ICESPIRE [2nd Evens] a daughter of Frankel and winner of her only race so far. Should improve as a 3yo and John Gosden is already off and running this term. With these connections she is sure to be well supported. 

3.10 - 2m Sagaro Stakes (Group 3)
What is usually the feature race on the card now shares top billing with the Pavilion Stakes as the G3 contests here, this seems to be an excellent renewal with plenty of contenders for the Ascot Gold Cup including the useful PALLASATOR [5th 7/2] who despite his advancing years (8yo now) will be hard to beat if on a rare going day as he was last year at Sandown in May. 

Winner of last years Cesarewitch at Newmarket SWEET SELECTION [WON 15/2] guaranteed to stay and the long home straight sure to suit this horse. Should be a well run race with a strong field and an exciting finish expected.

3.45 - 6f Pavilion Stakes (3yo) (Group 3)
A field of twelve 3yo's next for this big prize and the second Group three contest on the card. Headed by HARRY ANGEL [2nd 7/2] who has to carry a few pounds penalty for last seasons win in the Mill Reef stakes a Group Two event at Newbury. Even with that small burden should be taken very seriously if trained on as a 3yo. 

Another Frankel runner here with SEVEN HEAVENS [7th 7/1] being ridden by Frankie Dettori for John Gosden and if those connections go well earlier in the day with Icespire you can see this being popular with doubles and trebles running on. Is a course and distance winner in his own right having won his maiden event here last July.

Lurking at the bottom receiving a few pounds from all the field is ROSIE BRIAR [10th 33/1] and winner of two of her three starts last year looks interesting as an each way chance. 

4.20 - 1m Paradise Stakes (Listed)
Only seven declared for the listed event over a mile, three of them owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum (Algaith, Tabaarak, Mootaharer). 

The top one however is ENNAADD but has been campaigned almost exclusively on the all weather tracks albeit very successfully. Can't help but thinking the change in surface, and class will find this tough with preference for TABAARAK [WON 7/2] of the Hamdan trio, already a winner on the course and with the forecast Good to Firm ground in his favour. 

4.55 - 1m Apprentice Handicap
14 here for the finale, all apprentices, often hard to know what form they will be in and not usually a race I make a point of betting in. However, if you got 5 winners and need this for the jackpot/placepot you might do worse than throwing in the pair SELECTION [3rd 11/4F] / BLUE REVELATION [Non Runner] against the field.

Good luck
Results will appear here during Wednesday evening, if I'm sober enough to update things then. But also check out the Pontefract blog too which is also taking place today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME !! 
(well, it was last Sunday)