Ascot — 8 August 2026

Class 2 · 0m5f0y · Good To Firm · 12 ran

We passed. Likely winner: All Ways Glamorous (4/1)

Won by: Tuco Salamanca (IRE) at 4/1 · then Gold Star Hero (IRE), Fandom (GB)

What we said: This 12-runner sprint has too many live threats bunched together at the top of the market: All Ways Glamorous arrives on the back of two straight wins and fast-ground pedigree that's already driving it into 4/1, but Fandom (three placed efforts and two Showcasing going-tags), Bolo Neighs (three wins in six) and Tuco Salamanca all carry legitimate claims of their own with nothing in the form book cleanly separating them at the current prices. Ascot's minimum-trip cavalry charges are notoriously hard to call cleanly, and with the drifting and steaming horses cancelling each other out across the field, there's no single confident stand-out worth backing to win outright.

Class 2 · 1m7f209y · Good To Firm · 11 ran

Not a bet. The horse we made most likely: Shrimp Shady (15/8)

Won by: Dancing In Paris (FR) at 17/2 · then Shrimp Shady (GB), Mountain Road (FR)

What we said: six-race form reads 412161, capped by a facile last-time win, and stepping back up in trip suits a horse whose only blip in that sequence came fresh; Ryan Moore taking the ride for Andrew Balding adds confidence in a yard already sharp this month. At odds-on favourite status in this field he's taking on nothing with a stronger recent trajectory, and the weight he's asked to carry looks fair for the string of form behind it.

Class 2 · 1m3f211y · Good To Firm · 12 ran

We passed. Likely winner: Night Breeze (11/4)

Won by: Asgard's Captain (IRE) at 13/2 · then Sportingsilvermine (IRE), Enemy (GB)

What we said: Night Breeze is doing everything right on form (341233, fresh off an 11-day turnaround, trainer hitting well) and the market has piled in behind it, but that support has already dragged it up to a price with no real number left in it for me, and Claymore's steamer comes with a genuine going worry given its dam's line struggles on fast surfaces. Beyond those two, Insanity, Stem and Fantasy Believer all have live but unremarkable recent form with nothing separating them at their respective prices, and in a competitive 12-runner handicap like this that spread of plausible claims is exactly the situation to leave alone.

Class 2 · 0m6f0y · Good To Firm · 12 ran

We passed. Likely winner: Thunder Call (15/8)

Won by: Red Spells Danger (IRE) · then Thunder Call (GB), May Angel (GB)

What we said: This looks a genuinely blanket finish with too many holding claims: Thunder Call sets a warm standard on his last-two-wins form for Haggas, but Red Spells Danger arrives in career-best shape at 211245 with the going pedigree to match, May Angel is being backed into the race for the Gosden/Lemaire axis, and Anyasi has a red-hot Varian yard and a improving profile of his own — none of them separates cleanly enough at their prices to make the case my own money.

Class 3 · 1m3f211y · Good To Firm · 11 ran

Not a bet. The horse we made most likely: Hoseki (15/8)

Won by: Archers Bay (IRE) at 5/2 · then King Of Berkshire (IRE), Baltic Fleet (IRE)

What we said: Two wins on the bounce for a filly still fresh into handicaps, with Haggas hitting form and Saffie Osborne booked to keep the momentum going; there's no going or weight concern to knock her off her game on this quick Ascot surface. She travelled strongly through the class and looks the type to keep improving rather than stop.

Class 2 · 0m7f213y · Good To Firm · 12 ran

We passed. Likely winner: Ozat (4/1)

Won by: Crown Board (IRE) at 10/1 · then Bullet Point (GB), Ozat (FR)

What we said: This Shergar Cup Mile is packed with live claims: Crown Board arrives on a improving trend under a red-hot Chapple-Hyam yard, Bullet Point drops into cheekpieces off proven course-and-distance form, Ozat is bred for this fast ground with Ryan Moore aboard, and Ebt's Guard, Two Tribes and Cerulean Bay all have plausible paths to the frame — nothing at the top of the market clearly separates itself from the chasing pack. With three runners drifting in the market and gear changes clouding the picture on Bullet Point and Fondo Blanco, this is a race where six horses can win it and none of them stand out enough to risk my own money.