Three bets at Ascot, including Maid In Indian in the Listed sprint, make up Simon Holt's Saturday selections this week.
Recommended bets, Saturday October 3
1pt win Onassis in 1.20 Ascot at 7/1
1pt win Maid In India in 1.55 Ascot at 6/1
2pts win Shelir in 3.05 Ascot at 10/1
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Big handicaps on the straight course at Ascot are always a challenging puzzle but SHELIR looks to have a bright chance among the lighter weights in Saturday's tote.co.uk Challenge Cup.
Since joining David O'Meara from Ireland, where he was twice a winner, the son of Dark Angel has been a bit of a 'buzz' horse but it is only recently that he seems to be really getting his act together.
Held up in his earlier races this season, a change to more prominent tactics has brought about some improvement; after making the running, Shelir was a creditable sixth behind Montatham in a hot handicap at York's Ebor meeting, then won in good style at Thirsk and, most recently, was beaten under a length and a half into third behind Johan and Brunch over a mile at Ayr.
Ridden more patiently, Cieren Fallon's mount has run two decent races over this course and distance, staying on from a poor position into fifth behind Motakhayyel in the Buckingham Palace Handicap at the Royal meeting and then eighth to Blue Mist at the King George fixture when also given plenty to do.
With the new tactics likely to be tried for the first time back over this trip after four runs at a mile, the in-form Shelir can prove hard to beat.
Earlier, MAID IN INDIA should go well in the tote.co.uk Rous Stakes.
Jamie Spencer's mount has been a bit hit and miss in recent months as, after running third to Liberty Beach at Haydock in June, she went missing on her next two starts at Sandown and York.
Maid Of India's chance here rests on a solid effort in the Group One Flying Five at The Curragh last month where she held every chance before dropping to fourth place close home behind last year's Abbaye winner Glass Slippers, who bids for a repeat at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.
Effective at six furlongs, and probably suited by a stiffish test at five (which she will get here), the selection is the pick of the weights on official ratings with the autumnal ground also a positive.
Dakota Gold, the winner of this race 12 months ago (with the re-opposing course specialist Tis Marvellous back in fourth) seems in solid enough form again after a win at Beverley in August, and is 3lb better off for the length and a half he was beaten by Tarboosh at Doncaster's St Leger meeting. He too is suited by plenty of cut underfoot.
Earlier, ONASSIS returns to the scene of her Royal Ascot victory in the John Guest Racing British EBF Stakes but over a furlong less than when comfortably taking the Sandringham here in June.
A previous winner at seven furlongs, the daughter of Dubawi shaped well enough over this trip when fourth in the Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster last time and will be much better suited by this stiffer course on easier ground which clearly plays well to her hold-up style of racing.
At the weights, Onassis has a bit to find with several of her rivals, notably last season's smart juvenile and Breeders' Cup runner-up Daahyeh who has to overcome an 11-month absence, but if ridden as confidently by Hayley Turner as she was here before, then a strong late run can be expected from a filly who looks made for Ascot.
Posted at 1500 BST on 02/10/20
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