Ascot specialist looks sure to go well under ideal conditions

Clear Water
2.05 Newmarket
1pt win at 16-1 generally

Great Hall
2.25 Ascot
1pt win at 12-1 generally

Danzeno
3.00 Ascot
1pt win at 6-1 with bet365 and Betway

Maybride
3.20 Redcar
1pt win at 25-1 with bet365 (22-1 generally)

Darkanna
3.20 Redcar
1pt win at 6-1 with Ladbrokes (11-2 Coral)

Sales races aren't everyone's cup of tea but they are good betting mediums because there is a huge variance in ability between most of the participants.

A good example is the totepool Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar (3.20). Darkanna was not beaten far in the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes last week, form head and shoulders above anything else in this.

The big question is whether Richard Fahey's juvenile will be able to run up to that level after a quick turnaround, but it's not like she is odds-on and the 6-1 looks incredibly fair value.

Having said that, she is not the only Fahey-trained filly to back, because at Royal Ascot in June he saddled Maybride against Darkanna in the Queen Mary and Maybride started at a shorter price.

They finished virtually upsides each other and while Darkanna has gone from strength to strength since, Maybride has been slightly disappointing.

However, there have been excuses for Maybride. She clearly didn't get home after travelling powerfully through a maiden in heavy ground last time and, at a huge price, she is worth backing alongside her stablemate.

One of the stars on show at Ascot is Blue Point. He's incredibly fast, loves the track and will be hard to beat if he repeats his third to Caravaggio and Harry Angel in the Commonwealth Cup.

He might have needed his run at Haydock last time when the ground was heavy, but he did finish very tired and I wonder whether he will be at his best. Consequently it might be concentrating on Danzeno and Projection.

All week I've been waiting for Projection but he's half the price he was a few days ago and Danzeno has the better form. Mick Appleby's runner has been transformed since his feet were sorted out and he always runs well at this track.

Last time he finished best of all in the Stewards' Cup having had no chance from his draw, and the time before he showed a devastating turn of foot to win over 5f at this track. Blue Point will have to be somewhere near his best to beat Danzeno.

Danzeno: always runs well at AscotCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Waldgeist is one of the best staying three-year-old colts of his generation and really should win the Gigaset Cumberland Lodge Stakes (2.25). However, he's been off since his fourth in the Irish Derby and I don't think this will be a cakewalk against older horses for the first time.

Secret Number has the next-best form but Great Hall is in the form of his life, stays very well and is two from two at Ascot. If Waldgeist isn't at his best, Great Hall could easily pick up the pieces.

The Group 1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes (2.40) is the classiest contest of the day but it is not an easy race to unravel with at least five having a similar chance, and nothing appealing at the prices.

Clear Water is a better bet in the British EBF Breeders' Fillies Series Sprint Handicap (2.05).

She has the profile of a filly who is going to run much her best race of the season, having shaped well behind a few of these last time.

Clear Water's sole win came on her only start at this track, her trainer had the winner of the sprint handicap at the last meeting here, she's drawn along the stands' rail and also has Jamie Spencer up for the first time.