Ascot Betting: 2.10 E.B.F. Ratcliffes Syndication Stakes

Race of the Day Preview / Timeform / 25 September 2008 / Leave a Comment

A 0-90 handicap for three-year-olds and upwards sees ten go to post. The forecast going is good to firm, good in places on the round course.

Australia Day has been much improved this year, winning at Windsor in June and a 5-runner event at Sandown in July. The latter is of most interest, where he made all to defeat Presvis by two-and-three-quarter lengths. Presvis has since boosted the form when winning the John Smiths Stakes at Newbury by seven lengths. Australia Day performed better than the bare result when filling seventh behind another Cumani inmate in a valuable handicap at Sandown last time. Given that he has conditions to suit today and has been dropped 2-lbs since Sandown, he should be able to go close.

Andrew Balding's Amanjena put in a career-best effort when second of ten to Swinging Sixties in a handicap at Windsor last time. She stays this ten furlong trip and acts on good to firm but may face competition for the lead with a number of front runners in the field.

Trans Siberian hasn't been successful since winning in May but has showed consistency, having been in the frame six out of eight starts this year. He was below form when finishing last at Newmarket on his penultimate start but may have done too much too soon that day, racing freely. He has yet to race on ground faster than good.

One who should appreciate the forecast good to firm ground is Richard Hannon's Hustle. He did well to put up a career-equalling best effort when three-and-a-quarter lengths second of thirteen to Crackentop at Lingfield last time, hampered at the start before running on well. He stays this trip and should give a good account.

Bandama is another who should relish this surface and he has run consistently on all five starts this season. He is off the same mark as when runner-up to the smart Ask the Butler at Newmarket in July, but is now over two years since he registered his last win and that was off a mark some 4-lb lower than the one he races off today.

Others to mention are Folly Lodge and Samsons Son. The former had been running consistently this season until seemingly amiss last time, whilst the latter showed fairly useful form when nine lengths fifth of twenty to Presvis (ridden more prominently than usual) in the John Smiths Stakes at Newbury last time.