Victoria Cup Betting Preview

There is no better jockey in the land the Frankie Dettori when it comes to dictating the pace and he can do just that with success aboard Notability in the totesport Victoria Cup at Ascot on Saturday. Michael Jarvis' charge, a top-priced 7/1 with bet365 at the time of writing, has not been seen out since finishing ninth in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot at York nearly a year ago. Although on the face of it that was a disappointing effort, it is best ignored as the son of King's Best was ill at ease on what was lightning fast ground. Indeed, he demonstrated in his three other outings last term that, granted a bit of cut in the ground, he is a seriously progressive sort, who could yet go onto prove better than a handicapper. This is most likely judged on his effort in the valuable totesport Silver Bowl at Haydock last May when he failed by the shortest of short heads to repel Home Affairs, who was in receipt of 4lb. That winner went onto to fare well in Group 1 company and looks set to do so again this season judged on his impressive reappearance win at Windsor recently. Furthermore, three lengths back in third in that Haydock race was Enforcer, who has also made a successful transition to Pattern race company having subsequently landed a Group 3 at Newmarket. The straight seven furlongs will be heaven sent for Notability given his style of racing and I expect him to give Jarvis back to back victories in this race following his touch with Iffraaj in last year's renewal, perhaps at the chief expense of favourite, Spectait, who hails from the ultra-shrewd Sir Mark Prescott yard. The gelding is another lightly-raced four-year-old and, as you would expect being a son of Spectrum, he relishes cut in the ground. Sir Mark appears to have constructed one of his canny plots with Spectait. He bolted up on the all-weather at Kempton in mid-week, beating Desert Dreamer by six lengths, for which he receives a 6lb penalty on Saturday. Looking at the manner of that victory, the handicapper is certain to take a dim view and raise him by at least 10lb so he'll be ahead of the assessor in this cavalry charge, that's for sure. Turning out again so quickly won't bother a horse that rattled up a hat-trick within the space of a week last July, therefore he rates a massive threat to the selection. Pride Of Nation also has to enter calculations after demonstrating a good turn of foot to beat Wavertree Warrior by five lengths at Bath. This is much tougher and the handicapper has had his say in raising him 9lb for that, but with just four start under is belt there is every reason to believe that he has plenty more to offer and a bold bid wouldn't at all surprise. Game Lad is a consistent sort an merits respect along with Ed Dunlop's Munaddam, who appeared to be recapturing his form on his seasonal reappearance. verdict - 1pt Notability @ 7/1 with bet365