Ladbrokes.com Stakes at Newbury on Saturday

Surprisingly for a race of its value, the Ladbrokes.com Stakes at Newbury on Saturday has attracted a relatively small field of thirteen, and a line-up which contains largely exposed types, most of which are handicapped up to their best at present. However, there are two exceptions - Capable Guest and Audience, both of whom are very well handicapped on their pick of their respective efforts. The former, a horse that has not had the rub of the green in his races of late, looks sure to win a big handicap before the season is out. But it's hard to see where the pace in the race is going to come from, and a slowly-run affair will not suit a horse that needs a break-neck pace over this trip - indeed, he has been shaping as though a step up to ten furlongs would not go amiss - therefore the balance tilts in the favour of Audience, who rates a cracking bet at 7/1 with bet365. John Akehurst's charge would also be ideally suited by the prospect of a stronger gallop, but he does possess tactical speed and looks less likely to be inconvenienced if this race becomes a false contest than Capable Guest, and his turn of foot can prove decisive in a race that is there to be won. The six-year-old kept on well close home when beaten under a length into third behind Sew'N'So Character at Salisbury last month, shaping as though he was reaching peak form, and has been raised just 2lb for that solid effort, which leaves him off a mark 5lb lower than for his last victory. The son of Zilzal isn't easy to win with, that's for sure, but he has more than his fair share of ability and is the type to pop up every now and then, and this could well be his day. Capable Guest didn't see much in the way of daylight when over two lengths third to Hinterland in a well-contested heat at Sandown last time, a race in which Ace Of Hearts, who re-opposes on 1lb worse terms today, was just over a length ahead in second place. Although unlucky there, Mick Channon's charge probably wouldn't have won had he got the run of the race because the winner looks potentially better than a handicapper, but he certainly did well under the circumstances. When pitched in a big field over a couple of furlongs further or, perhaps, when there's a bit of juice in the ground, he will land a decent prize. Ace Of Hearts is like Audience in that he has proven his ability to cope when races are run more steadily, and with Chris Wall's string in great form he should make a bold bid to defy top weight. However, he is 6lb higher than for his last win and, one suspects, is in the grip of the handicapper at present. A similar remark applies to Red Spell and Namroud, while Kelucia should be thereabouts, but is likely to find at least one or two too good, and ex-French trained Seulement, now in the care of Luca Cumani, is one to look out for in the autumn as all of his best form has come when there's cut in the ground. Verdict - 1pt Audience @ 7/1 (bet365)