Today's Tips

Professional tipster Ben Merritt gives his thoughts on today's racing...

1.15 Ascot - MIDNIGHT TANGO 8/1 (Next Best)

The market here is headed by a very short priced fav in So Regal. I've no issue with her position there, but this race has been a favourites graveyard over the years and MIDNIGHT TANGO looks to have been overlooked in the market here. Admittedly, she's not won this season from 3 starts and is yet to record a win of any sort since her maiden as a 2yr old, which is why I'm backing her each way. However, on ratings, she has next to nothing to find here and, on form, she has every bit as much of a chance as this fav does. The pick of her form this year came when a neck 2nd to Coppull, at this track, finishing well over 6f. The winner that day went on to win a Group 2, whilst the 3rd has been an unlucky loser twice in Group 1 races. This 7f trip ought to be perfect, the only previous time she met the fillies only in this company, she lost on a photo and this looks to have been a target from some way out.

3.35 Ascot POET MASTER 22/1 (NAP)

Despite him being a massive price, I rate POET MASTER as the strongest bet of the day. He might be a bit vulnerable to younger legs carrying less weight. but he is the proven class edge in this race and its a race that has gone to a few horses carrying big weights recently. He's an out and out 7f specialist and, off his rating, he's a very hard horse to place but I think this has been a plot from some way out by Karl Burke, who won this race last year. His form this year, is simply superb and the best run probably came at Epsom, over this trip, when 3rd (off level weights) to Ten Bob Tony who went on to win a Royal Ascot Group 1 on his next start. He's not been as good on his last two starts, but one of those came over 6f on the all weather (his first and only run on it) and the latter at Goodwood in a Group 2 where he simply pulled too hard. Given a 2 month break since, with a superb record fresh, he steps into handicap company for the first time in over 2 years (a race that he won with ease off a mark of 100) and Clifford Lee is down at Ascot for Karl Burkes only runner on the card. It looks likely that he'll get a soft enough lead and, should that happen, he'll be a hard horse to peg back given his class over these.

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