Limato To Be Crowned King Of Commonwealth

Friday sees the inaugural running of the highly valuable Group 1 Commonwealth Cup (3.40) – a race that has been developed to attract the best 3yo sprinters around.

Limato To Get Back On Track?

That has certainly proved the case with the likes of Henry Candy’s classy, Limato (7/2), looking to get back to winning ways having lost his unbeaten record at Haydock last month (6f, good). Prior to that defeat, Limato won his first five races, including a Group 3 over Friday’s C&D in April (good to firm), when beating Tendu (14/1) almost 2l.

Limato then stepped up to Group 2 company at Haydock three weeks ago, going down by only 1l to Adaay (8/1), though the ground was on the soft side.

A return to firmer ground at Ascot will be more in Limato’s favour, and he should go close.

American Raider

Also amongst the leading fancies is Wesley Ward’s American raider, Hootenanny (9/2), winner of the Listed Windsor Castle here 12 months ago (5f, good), before Breeders’ Cup Juvenile glory in October (1m, firm). This classy colt made a winning return in a minor event in the States a few months ago (5.5f, good), and looks to mean business once more with Frankie Dettori in the saddle.

Ascot Form Respected

Another who did well at last year’s meeting here was Tiggy Wiggy (11/2), runner-up in the Queen Mary (5f, good to firm), before Group 1 glory at Newmarket later in the autumn (6f, good to firm). Trained for the Guineas this term where he was a creditable third (weakened a furlong out), Richard Hannon’s filly will appreciate this drop back to sprinting on Friday and gets a 3lb allowance.

Anthem Alexander (7/1) – who also gets an allowance – was the conqueror of Tiggy Wiggy here last year, before losing twice to the same rival later that year, and showed she was still in form when winning a Group 3 on her reappearance at Naas a few weeks ago (6f, yielding). Edward Lynam’s filly returns to Ascot for another clash with Tiggy Wiggy, and rates decent value.

Double-Figure Prices

In terms of value at double-figure prices, then John Gosden’s filly, Tendu (14/1), who was beaten 3l by Tiggy Wiggy at Newmarket in September, really caught the eye when finishing strongly into second behind Limato over C&D in April (6f, good to firm). The step back to 5f didn’t suit at York last month, but everything should be in place for another crack at Limato on Friday.

Similar odds of 12/1 can be got about Charles Hills’ Muhaarar who was a Group 2 winning juvenile (6f, good), before adding a Group 3 on his reappearance (7f, good to firm). Things didn’t work out when beaten 7l in the French Guineas last month (1m), but he is another who will be suited by 6f on fast ground.

Recommended Bets

A lot was thought of Limato prior to his defeat last time when the ground just went against him, but Ascot’s firmer surface should be more to his liking, and a big performance looks to be on the cards.