FREE HORSE RACING TIPS: ASCOT PREDICTIONS FOR SEPTEMBER 24, 2010

We’ve got an excellent slate of racing on Friday at Ascot, but you reckon that most punters will have their eyes firmly-fixed on the Saturday card and the running of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. We’ll be previewing each race and giving you an idea of how we think things are going to shake up.
We’ve got two year-olds facing off in the 2:00 at Ascot and top-weighted Byrony (Byron) comes into this one looking for her fourth win on the bounce- all of which were on the nursery circuit. Richard Hughes takes the mount and, while she’s giving up plenty of weight, he does look a class above most of the other competitors. Godolphin’s Idiom (Iffraaj) could see some betting volume based on the jockey switch from Ahmed Ajtebi to Antioco Murgia. Sir Michael Stoute’s  APACE (Oasis Dream) is the selection though and this progressive-looking bay filly has shown plenty of acumen at the  distance and Ryan Moore aboard for the trip works well.
The 2:35 at Ascot features a 9-strong field going 1m2f and it looks to be a bit of a toss-up, this one. Don’t Call Me (Haafhd) looks to get things back on track after a disappointing tenth-place finish at Beverly after capturing three victories in a row. He’s scored over the Ascot surface before with the ground rated as good and he should handle the extra 2f here. L FRANK BAU, (Sinndar) invades from Italy and looks to be the dark horse here in a race that has no stand-out favourite.
The 3:10 at Ascot is a tricky-looking 6f handicap with a massive field. There is a fair amount of talent here and a number of these three year-olds are coming off victories in their last races. Those backing Deacon Blues (Compton Place) on the place-only have been enjoying some solid payouts lately, but the Fanshawe-trained bay just can’t find the finish line first, it seems. Slip Sliding Away (Whipper) has a course and distance reference and solid form, but he needs a big step up to match this type of talent. LITTLE GARCON (Bernstein) gets the nod based on the switch back to William Buick- this pair scored at Lincoln the last time they teamed up.
It’s tough to bet against SPARKLING SMILE (Cape Cross) in the 3:45 at Ascot- this is a listed race for fillies and mares going 1m4f. The Ted Durcan-piloted filly loves the distance and is working on a 100% record in five races this season. Ferdoos (Dansili) is a lightly-raced filly who is working on a 100% career record- albeit from two races. Kieran Fallon and Brushing (Medicean) is a force to be reckoned with, as is Polly’s Mark (Mark of Esteem). Pay attention to your bets on Ferdoos as he may not run on unsuitable ground.
The 4:20 at Ascot is another handicap and we’ll be having a go on Godolphin’s BRONZE PRINCE (Oasis Dream) who is a rather obscure horse, but Godolphin tend to know what they’re doing in situations like this one. He’s only raced once- a score at Wolverhampton last November but he’ll be building on that and the workouts are showing him as a contender. Kajima (Oasis Dream) is a solid wager as well and could be a great bet if he’s listed at a value price.
The Final race of the day is at 4:55 and it’s for amateur riders going 1m4f. This isn’t really one to stake your mortgage on but SWITCHED OFF (Catcher in the Rye) is our selection here based on two scores in a row over the distance and on ground rated as Good. Talenti (Sadler’s Wells) is the pick if you’ve been turned off Switched Off.