Ascot Victoria Cup Tips

The first major handicap of the season at Ascot takes place on Saturday, with the Victoria Cup (14:40) being the feature on this seven-race Premier racing card.

The six other races could well offer clues to Royal Ascot and other big meetings in the coming weeks and months.

We have previewed all seven races on the card, picking out the best bets.

13:30 - Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% Handicap (1m4f)

The sort of form KING OF THE PLAINS was in when last seen in the autumn, he should be of serious interest here. He won on his most recent start at Newcastle in clear-cut fashion on what was his handicap debut. He remains unexposed and deserves to be taken extremely seriously for James Horton, who is starting to hit form from his new base.

Selection: King Of The Plains

14:05 - Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% British EBF Fillies' Handicap (1m)

The money has already started to come for MOTHER MARY, who could be absolutely thrown in on this return to handicaps. She was in a Listed race at Kempton last time, when her odds collapsed from 28-1 into 14-1. She was given an easy time of it when beaten that day, but still finished fairly close up in eighth and on the strength of that performance alone, she would be of serious interest from a mark of just 82. She is potentially the handicap snip of the day.

Selection: Mother Mary

14:40 - Lavazza & Ascot 10 Year Anniversary Victoria Cup (Heritage Handicap, 7f)

High stalls have historically had an edge in this race and, even though this year's field has not filled, the usual sort of pattern is expected. In stall 21 of 23 will be ARABIAN STORM, who is among the least exposed in the field and has plenty in his favour besides. He is well bred, being out of a Group 1 winner, and is notably interesting on his second at Newmarket in a Listed race a year ago. He is also race-fit from a run at Kempton and so has no excuses for not being able to give his best on his first run at this track.

Selection: Arabian Storm

15:10 Ascot - Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% Novice Stakes (5f)

Charlie Appleby has a good record in this race, which HALLASAN can improve further. He was sent off at odds on for his debut at Newmarket at the Craven meeting and, while he could only finish third, he showed plenty of promise for another day. This field does not have the blue-bloods you would expect for a novice at Ascot, so it may end up weak for the track which only makes Hallasan's task easier.

Selection: Hallasan

15:45 - Carey Group Handicap (1m2f)

The market spoke very much in SINDORIYNO's favour when he ran at Wolverhampton last time. That he failed was because of a slow start, which on just the second run of his life can be readily forgiven. He had won on his debut before that, so he comes here as unexposed as it is possible to be and with reason to think he can thrive under these conditions. His full-brother Marie's Diamond was third in the 2020 Queen Anne Stakes here.

Selection: Sindoriyno

16:20 - Mariner Systems Fillies' Handicap (1m2f)

Plenty of these fillies are unexposed, although the market has initially landed on a few whose form has come on much slower ground. All-weather form often translates well to Ascot and that raises some interest in MISS ALPILLES, whose first two runs were on synthetics. She is bred to be pretty handy, by Sea The Stars out of a mare who improved quickly in her three-year-old season at middle distances and largely on the all-weather. A mark of 75 would seem to underestimate Miss Alpilles and she should be fit enough to show that at the first time of asking.

Selection: Miss Alpilles

15:35 - Play Coral 'Racing-Super-Series' For Free Handicap Hurdle (3m)

Everything looks to be falling right for BRAVE NATION, who showed plenty of promise over 5f here on his reappearance. He was out the back early on in that race, which the winner dominated. A return to 6f will be in his favour and he has plenty of form at the track. In four runs here he has been third, second and fourth in the Norfolk Stakes and flopped only when on the unfavoured side in a big-field handicap. Drawn in 25 of 2, which is typically the right sort of place to be, Brave Nation can get a well-deserved course win.

Selection: Brave Nation