Sprinter looks to be crying out for stiff track and must be backed

Sea Youmzain
1.50 Haydock
1pt winMubtasim
2.45 Ascot
1pt each-wayBolder Bob
3.35 Haydock
1pt winDonjuan Triumphant
3.35 Haydock
1pt each-wayKimifive
4.30 Ascot
2pts each-wayRarely does an Ascot Saturday meeting go by without a big 7f handicap and one horse who is tailor-made for them is Ripp Orf, who has already won a Victoria Cup and finished a close third in an International.

Few could argue that he deserves to be one of the favourites for this afternoon’s Cunard Handicap (2.45) as he had excuses in a small field last time at Newmarket (missed break, raced keenly off steady gallop), but he was on offer at double figures earlier in the week and the market has wised up to him now.

At current prices my preference has to be for Mubtasim, who hasn’t had things go his way on a couple of occasions this season, but has been running as if he’s about to hit top form, especially last time when he was the only one to come from the back and make any impression (fifth) in a valuable handicap at Chelmsford.