Features / Timeform / 24 September 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet View Market

Timeform looks ahead to the weekend racing action...

"He confirmed himself a top-notch miler when easily defeating Goldikova and Paco Boy in the Prix Jacques Le Marois last month"

There is top-quality action at Ascot on Saturday, with two Group 1 races, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Fillies' Mile, taking centre stage. The unfortunate late defection of star miler Canford Cliffs has left French-trained three-year-old Makfi [1.85] the odds-on favourite for the Queen Elizabeth, with multiple Group 1 winner Rip Van Winkle second favourite at [3.9]. Makfi burst onto the scene with an impressive success in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, before running disappointingly in the St James Palace, having reportedly suffered a throat problem. He confirmed himself a top-notch miler when easily defeating Goldikova and Paco Boy in the Prix Jacques Le Marois last month, and should prove tough to beat on Saturday. Juddmonte winner Rip Van Winkle will be looking for back-to-back Queen Elizabeth wins after defeating Zacinto in last year's renewal, and he looks the main threat to Makfi, while Poet's Voice can't be ruled out after a comfortable win in the Celebration Mile on his latest start.

The Fillies' Mile features some exciting juvenile fillies, with the unbeaten White Moonstone likely to be favourite on the back of a highly impressive five-length success in the Group 2 May Hill at Doncaster. She is currently well to the fore of the ante-post 1000 Guineas market, as is one of her main rivals on Saturday, Prestige Stakes winner Theyskens' Theory. All eyes will be on the Henry Cecil-trained Frankel in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes. This unbeaten two-year-old colt is clear favourite for next year's 2000 Guineas having made a big impression on both his starts to date. He's sure to go off hot favourite on Saturday, and will be difficult to beat. Also at Ascot on Saturday, the Challenge Cup handicap is sure to attract plenty of betting interest. Redford heads the market on the back of last week's emphatic Ayr Gold Cup win, but he will face stiff opposition from the likes of Side Glance, Kakatosi and Sarasota Sunshine.

Ascot also race on Sunday, the Group 2 Diadem Stakes heading another good card. French raider Dalghar and Lady Of The Desert are among those likely to go well. The Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes also looks an interesting race, with September Stakes winner Laaheb facing 2009 Gold Cup runner-up Patkai, who hasn't raced for over fifteen months. Finally, the Curragh puts on a good card on Sunday, with the juveniles on show in the Beresford Stakes and the Weld Park Stakes.

Tags: Ascot, Curragh, Timeform