1.50 Ascot - Divy 0.5pt EW 50-1 (BOG) Stan James, Phoenix Flight 1pt Win 16-1 (BOG) Stan James
The curtain raiser at Ascot looks a competitive event but at the prices both Divy and Phoenix Flight must be of interest.
Divy on all hurdling form doesn't look overly well handicapped but on closer inspection of his overall profile is worth an interest at 50-1. He was a very high quality bumper horses 2 seasons ago. He only finished 1/4l behind Frascati Park (placed in four grade 2s over hurdles since) before bolting up by 19l on his next start. He then rounded off his season by winning comfortably with a penalty. Since then over hurdles he hasn't been great but there are 3 reasons to expect potentially massive improvement. During his 3 bumper runs such comments as 'he's a lovely big horse and very much one for the future' and a 'horse with an abundance of scope' were written, as was the fact that he was held in very high regard by his trainer. With another summer on his back it's hoped he's grown into his frame a bit more and is the finished article. Secondly, he has first time visor on so maybe they think he just hasn't been concentrating. Finally, this is the first time since his bumper days he's back on officially good ground. His full brother Divers is decent on quick ground, but has fallen apart with even the smallest mentioning of soft in the going description (much like Divy possibly last year) so improvement should be bought around via the quicker ground.
Also Phoenix Flight looks well weighted off 113 being an 83 sort on the flat. He's had 3 runs over hurdles, falling first time out before two slightly more encouraging efforts. In the first of them he split Heron Bay and Russian George (now rated 123 and 129 respectively) making his mark of 113 look very nice. He then came 4th behind Comehomequietly - interestingly though he was odds on, so obviously much more was expected. Also the fact he's a 2 miler on the flat, means that 2 miles at Worcester was probably too sharp, and this step up to 2m3f should suit.
4.50 Ascot -Panjo Bere 0.5pt EW 16-1 (BOG) - Victor Chandler
Panjo Bere absolutely adores the track with form figures of 3151. With 2/2 at the distance. Both times over further he weakened when going well around the 2 mile mark. One especially good performance was in the Amlin Chase behind Albertas Run last year, when he was going as well as anything apart from Albertas Run before weakening from 2nd to 5th in the short home straight. He then won off a 3lb lower mark to the useful Imsingtheblues back over 2 miles. Also he's won 2/3 times on his first start of the season in Britain and last year was heavily gambled on in the Haldon Gold Cup so obviously much more was expected. He goes well for this claimer and off 11st 5 should go close. Oiseau De Nuit is a danger, but at the prices i'd much rather be on Panjo. Also Panjo Bere goes well on good ground with figures of 1215.
2.50 Wetherby - Tidal Bay 2pts Win 3-1 (BOG) - Will Hill
Comes out second at the weights by 2lbs to Duc De Regniere, however i think there has to be a bit of a doubt about that one getting a truely run 3m1f as well as Tidal Bay. Tidal Bay goes very well fresh and should appreciate the good ground. Of the rest you'd think the only one with enough class to challenge the big two would be Fair Along.
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