Saturday 19th June 2021

I've not updated on Ascot all week apart from Wednesday when the once fancy so far, Real World bolted up at 33-1 in the Royal Hunt cup. Backed into 18-1, things weren't going to get much better than that and with all the rain that's fallen, I’ve not placed another bet since until today.

Horses with soft ground form is the only way to go, I think a low draw is also required if that helps you out.

I've backed Masekela in the 2:30 and Stag Horn in the 6:30 plus done an EW double. Each horse is proven on soft.

Masekela we don't know how good he is, but of the more fancied horses, Masekela is the only one proven on bad ground. Oisin Murphy has said all week how much he's looking forward to riding him, so that will do for me. I got a bit of 5-1, now priced 9-2.

Stag Horn ran very well on his seasonal debut on good to firm, this would have been far too quick for him. On form, Stag Horn has the beating of The Grand Visor, beat him by 9 lengths. Whilst aged just four, he's still very unexposed over a marathon trip.

The favourite, Falcon Eight was just two lengths ahead of The Grand Visor last time out when winning the Chester Cup. Falcon Eight was impressive, but flopped on his one start on soft so far.  Everything looks right for Stag Horn, he should run well. 9-2 EW is the best price around, has been much bigger.