Paul Ferguson has four selections on Saturday including; Await The Dawn in the 3.05 at Ascot and Grands Crus in the 3.15 at Auteuil Compare odds
With further rain overnight, the ground is described as soft for the final day of Royal Ascot and that is a slight concern for Await The Dawn (3:05) but he is still taken to land the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes.
Aidan O’Brien’s Giant’s Causeway colt was a runaway winner at Chester last time and he shapes as though the step up to 1m4f will suit, though it is hope that the race doesn’t become a slog.
Ryan Moore can also strike aboard Modun (5:00) in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes for Sir Michael Stoute, who is still in search of his first winner of the week.
The son of King’s Best was very impressive when winning off 88 at Newbury in April and he is bred to appreciate the step back up in trip, even though his sole defeat came over 1m4f on the all-weather last October.
A half-brother to the high-class stayer Patkai, he shouldn’t have a problem with the trip now he’s a stronger horse, but the ground is once again a slight negative and it has to be taken on trust that he can act on it.
Little Rocky (7:45) is certainly one who will appreciate an easy surface and David Simcock’s three-year-old is taken to follow up his Hamilton maiden success on his handicap debut at Haydock this evening.
The son of Cadeaux Genereux chased home the smart Sea Moon at Yarmouth on heavy ground last backend and he could hardly have won more easily on his seasonal reappearance.
An opening mark of 87 looks lenient and, having expected to see him pitch up at Ascot this week, his trainer looks to have found him an easier opportunity.
Finally, over in France, Grands Crus (3:15) is another who will relish the conditions and is taken to land the Grande Course De Haies D’Auteuil (the French Champion Hurdle).
If David Pipe’s grey is in the same form as when chasing home Big Buck’s at Cheltenham and Aintree, he should be too good for the home defence and Tony McCoy’s mount will relish the extended 3m1f trip on ground described as ‘very soft’.
Only two firms have chalked up this race at the time of writing, Blue Square going 2/1 while Paddy Power are only 5/4. As big as 5/2 on the exchanges, be sure to check out the PMU too, as English raiders can often be sent off at bigger odds.
Saturday’s selections:
3:05 Royal Ascot Await The Dawn (4/5, Paddy Power)
3:15 Auteuil (France) Grands Crus (2/1, BlueSQ)
5:00 Royal Ascot Modun (9/2, Hills)
7:45 Haydock Little Rocky
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