The 1m6f handicap at Ascot (2.25pm) has a warm favourite in Spanish Kiss, who looks to hold strong claims in his bid for a hat-trick of wins for William Knight, but at a bigger price Indianapolis looks the bet.
The Ian Williams-trained six year old joined his current connections late last year, was gelded soon after and was well found in the market on his debut for the yard in the Betway Queen’s Cup at Musselburgh in April. However, he was below his best both in that and in the Chester Plate at Chester’s May meeting.
The cheekpieces came off for his third run for the yard, at Newmarket in May, and I actually thought he went well enough, for all that he wasn’t at his best. The form has worked out well and he did run to the line after being outpaced.
He is now off a mark in the 80s for the first time in his career, drops in grade and comes here fresh, which is a positive given his two previous wins have come off the back of 5-7 week breaks. His form was stronger in the second half of each of his two seasons with James Given and the close third at Haydock in September off 9lbs higher shows how well treated he is now.
His course form is also a big positive – he won the Shergar Cup Challenge here in 2019 and ran really well from a wide draw to finish fifth in the Duke Of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot last year off a mark of 99. Now 10lbs lower and with the cheekpieces refitted, he looks a value alternative to the favourite.
2.25pm Ascot – 1pt win, 0.5pt place Indianapolis @ 11-1 (William Hill, Bet365, 888sport, 10-1 all other firms)
