Ascot Tips: Will you be my American Bay?

With eight UK and Irish meetings taking place across Friday, there's lots of racing action to cater to all tastes. Amongst it will be the Flat card from Ascot, where they have seven races from 13:50-17:10 on ground forecast to be 'good to soft'.

In my Ascot Tips below, I've picked out a trio to follow at the Berkshire venue, including lightly raced three-year-old American Bay in the opener.

13:50 - American Bay @ 2/1

A 7f handicap kicks off the card at Ascot and this looks an excellent opportunity for American Bay to take us on a trip and break his maiden.

American Bay went close in a couple of novices as a two-year-old and finished an unlucky fourth on his handicap debut at Newbury three weeks ago on his comeback.

He travelled beautifully into that contest but found his path blocked repeatedly. Once he got out the bird had flown and he was mounting his challenge away from the action.

There is little reason to think that the run wouldn’t have brought him forward and, off the same mark and with this track likely to suit, redemption can be earned for the in-form Harry Charlton, who is 4-12 over the past fortnight.

15:30 - Dream Composer @ 13/2

The 6f handicap is seriously competitive, but Dream Composer has hinted a return to winning ways will be forthcoming imminently, so gets the vote.

Dream Composer was hampered early at Newmarket off a reduced mark two starts back and went close at Goodwood on his most recent outing from a 2lb lower rating.

The James Evans-trained six-year-old fluffed the start at the Sussex track and found himself too far back on the dash for home. However, he finished with aplomb and would probably have got up in another couple of strides.

Dream Composer has scored off this sort of mark at Ascot in the past and is 8lb lower than his last winning rating. If anything, 6f might suit him better nowadays, and, with Betfred paying an enhanced four places, he is worthy of each-way consideration.

16:35 - Break The Bank @ 4/1

While Break The Bank underwhelmed at Newmarket on his most recent outing, he is deserving of another chance in the mile handicap.

Break The Bank was slow from the gates and found himself poorly positioned away from where the action unfolded. His sixth-placed effort there is one to draw a line through, with the track not seeming to play to his strengths.

He is better judged on his impressive handicap debut success at Kempton in March and might just relish getting the chance to strut his stuff at Ascot.

Break The Bank’s top-class half-brother Beat The Bank produced some of his best performances at Ascot, efforts which comprise a narrow defeat in the Queen Anne at the highest level and two successes in the Summer Mile.

A mark of 83 seems almost certain to underestimate the selection after only five starts. He merits a check in Betfred's four places market.

Find more Horse Racing Tips here at Betfred Insights