Golden Gates can open up for Fahey’s Seasett

PRICEWISE

AFTER being declared on fast ground there is every chance of many non-runners in the two big handicaps on the final day of the royal meeting, but one horse who won’t be troubled by conditions is the Richard Fahey-trained Seasett in the Golden Gates Stakes (5.35).

This horse has really taken off since encountering soft ground, winning at Nottingham with a strong finish, then being unlucky not to win the Silver Bowl at Haydock last time.

Seasett had to wait for a run just as the winner went clear at Haydock and was cutting back the deficit all the way to the line.

Everything points to Seasett improving a great deal at 1m2f as he is from a family of strong stayers, and with the ground ideal he looks by far the best bet of the day.

It doesn’t look the strongest Wokingham (5.00) ever run and there aren’t many sprinters in the line-up with the potential to improve too much.

One that could is Fresh, who handles soft ground well and has a good record at the track having won over course and distance last time.

Pendleton, the narrow runner-up that day, has easily won a big race at York since and is definitely one to consider here. However, there are few trainers with a better record in the best sprints than James Fanshawe, and Fresh looks well capable of improving again.

Furthermore, the one thing that stands out in Fresh’s form is his ability to hit the line hard and, as most of the speed is drawn middle to low, he will have the race set up perfectly for him.

The Jamie Spencer-ridden Chiefofchiefs is another who should be finishing strongly, while King’s Lynn is obviously well handicapped but whether 6f on testing ground will suit him is debatable.

If there is a high-draw advantage it could be worth chancing Ropey Guest ata huge price from stall 21. He always goes well at Ascot and ran as well as could be expected in the Buckingham Palace earlier in the week.

Hey Jonesy took in both races last year and Ropey Guest was bang in contention on the far side on Thursday in a race that was dominated by those drawn high and on ground which was much too fast for him.

Ropey Guest has never had the chance to run in a 6f handicap on soft ground and Tom Queally will no doubt

follow the front-runner Punchbowl Flyer, who is drawn close by.

The Queen Alexandra Stakes (6.10) will be more like the Eider than a Flat race, and although he’s a strong stayer I doubt whether Chester Cup winner Falcon Eight will be at home in the conditions.

The 2019 Ascot Stakes winner The Grand Visir should be at home on the ground and he was a close second in this race last year, while the classy Morando will be dangerous if he were to stay the trip, which is possible judged on his staying-on fourth in a Group 2 on Champions Day.

Throw in Archie Watson’s strong stayer Stag Horn, Stratum for Willie Mullins and last year’s hero Who Dares Wins, and this becomes a far more competitive race than usual.