Horse Racing Tips: Sweet on William's chances for Trials Day 17/1 Wednesday double

• Ascot Trials Day with two tips for Wednesday

• Sweet William can beat rival Trueshan

• Commonwealth Cup Trial selection at 5/16.00

Ascot - 14:15: Back Sweet William

Sweet William lays his Ascot Gold Cup credentials on the line in the Sagaro Stakes today and a match-up against the old warriors Trueshan and Coltrane is certainly one of the highlights away from Punchestown.

John Gosden's promising young stayer had a terrific season last term and broke into the staying ranks with a fine second in the Ebor and narrow defeat in the Group 2 Doncaster Cup behind Trueshan.

The Newmarket dice roller Gosden has said the horse is a lot of fun to train and blinkers really helped him last term. Following his Goodwood win last summer (in heavy), the trainer said: "He is a horse who might one day step up the ladder to Cup races."

So today we might find out a little more.

He has victories in heavy and soft and he's got the legs in terms of age against Trueshan, who will have his ground for once, but he's a year older and Sweet William won fresh and first time out last year and is very much lightly-raced.

At 2/13.00 it's tight enough and I wouldn't want him to go any shorter, and it will be interesting to see how he responds to pressure having hung left against Trueshan at Donny last term.

Ascot - 14:50: Back El Bodon

Another decent affair for a Wednesday treat with the Group 3 Commonwealth Cup Trial, and El Bodon at 5/16.00 gets the nod, and it's a bold move from the trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam to go down to 6f today.

He finished second in the Greenham Stakes over 7f last time at a massive price and watching the race again there were no excuses behind Esquire, but the winner certainly had a better position on the rail and the fact they split into two groups early and merged at halfway meant El Bodon saw enough daylight on the outside.

He showed plenty of speed on his debut at York last term behind a smart horse of George Scott's, and I am taking a chance on the soft today as his action suggests he shouldn't be inconvenienced by the prevailing conditions today.

It's a quick turnaround from Newbury just 11 days ago, but the trainer has some decent horses this term and El Bodon can mark himself down as a Commonwealth candidate.

Now read Daryl Carter's tips for Wednesday