Pinza

Quite good racing today. We are moving into the better racing period after a stutter start to Flat. We can really do without the AW especially when seven races at Wolverhampton yesterday only attracted a total of 33 runners.
I'm never that keen on small fields as a betting proposition.(especially at low grade tracks).

ASCOT 2.00
A small field but Hannon's MAGICAL ROUNDABOUT fits the bill of previous winners of this race. Race normally won by single run winner and Hannon has won this on three occasions with a Windsor winning favourite.

ASCOT 2.35
A more difficult race to assess but past winners tend to have won at distance more often than not, and ran in group race and/or won a conditions race.
I will overlook Danehill Revival,who did nothing wrong when winning her only race at Ponte, but that was a very poor maiden.

I get it down to MUSICAL COMEDY with three distance wins but the hcp run is a concern. Even Lady Domatrix (2002 winner) never had a hcp run in her ten races prior to this race and no hcp race appears in the eight other past races scrutinised.
The winner could be RUFFORD, who kept good company after his maiden win FTO.

ASCOT 4.45
The strange thing about this race is that 8 out of last 10 winners had won over the distance (8f) only once. That includes all the ages (4yo to 8yo), with a discrepancy with the two 6yo's.

The form line (a win in last two races) indicates the Stoute runner RUSSIAN REALM.
Other similar qualifiers are Big Whisky and Ishikwaka, but also First Post (C&D) could run well.

RESULTS UPDATE;
Magical Roundabout well beaten. Drift in price.
Musical Comedy 2nd, Rufford 3rd. Winner (Mick's Yer Man) had run in several hcps! This race is not a favourites race.
Russian Realm 2nd to Ishikwaka.

The last race was a saver with a bet on Ishikwaka at 16/1
Having lost on first two races went to my trusty computer and opened the Stoute database to find that his record in mid to low grade 3yo+ hcps at Ascot is quite poor. Wasn't willing to risk much on short priced Russian Realm.