There are several promising looking three-year-old fillies in the 15:20 at Ascot, and plenty of support for Sheikha Reika at the top of the market. The Roger Varian filly has certainly got some ability having finished in the first two on all five of her starts being turned over at odds-on on two occasions.
The favourite’s most recent run was over 7f which may not have suited as it did turn in to be a bit of a sprint, but she has looked a little bit quirky and is anything but a dead cert to bounce back to winning form here.
Beshaayir was an impressive course and distance winner on her penultimate start and she should go well, but the nine pound rise she carries back in a handicap may just hinder her from claiming this.
One open to plenty of improvement is SCOTTISH JIG for John Gosden. She showed a good attitude over 8.5f last time out in an all-weather affair at Wolverhampton by dead-heating with a late run on the line. She has been raised six pounds for that, but a mark of 90 still could be well below her potential.
A stiff eight furlongs over this straight-course should suit on the evidence of her Newbury run, where she got a good gallop and powered away at the end.
And she was probably better than the bare result when hitting the front too early at Newmarket on her next start, going down to what looks a classy filly in Ummalnar.
With only two pounds between Sheikha Reika and Scottish Jig, I fancy the latter – and bigger priced – horse could come out on top in this having shown plenty of potential on her first few starts.
1pt win Scottish Jig @9/2, 15:20 Ascot, Saturday
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