We start at Ascot, in their two-mile handicap at 15:20. The eye is drawn immediately to penalty-carrier Made In Rio, but that's just the problem- he's been missed by no one and is too short in a race as competitive as this. Hassle, just as progressive and leniently treated for a win here last time, is altogether more appealing at the prices. He's won three of four starts this year, heavy ground and Chester having conspired against him on the other occasion.
Hassle's style is conducive to staying ahead of the handicapper. He idles and is best produced late, the deft deployment of those tactics by Adam Kirby last time leading us to infer that he's worth a good deal more than a head victory. The handicapper hasn't- or at any rate can't- draw the same conclusion, raising Hassle just 3 lb. With conditions also in his favour today, he deserves to be regarded as a serious danger to Made In Rio.
The other Class 2 handicap on the card, the fifth race of six at 16:30, is another well-contested event, albeit between in-form older horses as opposed to unexposed sorts. One of the elders of the band, six-year-old Charles Camoin, is actually among the most lightly raced and has more in his favour than most. He's won twice over today's C&D, at this meeting last year from a higher mark than the one he carries today and then last time in a race of similar make-up to this one.
Charles Camoin deserves to be marked up for his latest success, coming from an unpromising position to emerge as a clear winner, from a field which finished in a heap behind him. Like Hassle, he's been nudged up by a gentle-looking 3 lb. Unlike in Hassle's case, where we're making an educated guess about his ability to take that rise in his stride, we know for sure that Charles Camoin is up to mastering 89.
We make the trip around London and up to Newmarket for our final SmartPlay. A seven-length success here last time laid to rest the idea that Athletic (19:10) is better on the all-weather than turf. His lower BHA mark on the surface plus a race in which few offered much resistance amplified the noise made, to the extent that we fear for Athletic's chances once he's reassessed. Under a penalty this evening, though, he can capitalise on what's clearly a career-best run of form. The projection that this will be a tougher race is valid, though it's been over-stated in Athletic's price: anything above 3.02/1 about a horse in excellent form, versus a handful in good form, is a worthy bet.
Timeform UK SmartPlays
Back Hassle @ 6.411/2 in the 15:20 Ascot
Back Charles Camoin @ 6.05/1 in the 16:30 Ascot
Back Athletic @ 3.5551/20 in the 19:10 Newmarket
