Ascot Tips: Assail can make winning assault on Berkshire

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 six races from 1.50-4.45 on ground forecast to be 'Good'.

We've picked out a trio to follow for our Ascot tips, including a St Leger entry making his handicap debut for a powerful operation.

Horse Racing Odds

14:25 – Tactician @ 5/6

Tactician was sent off the well-backed favourite for a hot 1m6f handicap at Ascot 13 days ago and can make amends for his head defeat there in this 2m contest.

The son of Lope De Vega showed a tenacious attitude to fight a much more experienced type all the way to the line on his handicap debut, with the winner running well in a decent race at Newbury last weekend.

He has progressed with every start and gives the impression he will improve again for another two furlongs, given how well he stayed on last time.

He's up 3lb, but this contest looks weaker, and his lightly raced profile makes him of immediate interest with Andrew Balding's horses going well.

15:35 – Mutaawid @ 7/4

Shadwell runner Mutaawid has been left in the St Leger by John and Thady Gosden and can reward their faith by bagging this 1m4f handicap.

A brother to the stable's multiple Group 1 winner Mostahdaf, Mutaawid has been a slow-burner as he was beaten on his first three starts but put everything together at Kempton last time when first-time blinkers were replied.

He appeared to relish a step up to 1m4f that day and finished quickly in a contest run in a sound overall time.

He makes his handicap debut off a potentially lenient mark and looks the type to keep climbing the ladder. It is encouraging that Mostahdaf peaked as a five-year-old, and this horse can take the next step.

16:10 – Assail @ 7/1

All-weather form tends to translate well to Ascot and turf debutant Assail is taken to land the other 1m4f handicap on the card.

Despite running only four times (two handicap starts), Assail sets the standard on Racing Post Ratings in this field and gives the impression he is better than his mark, having found trouble in running when held up on his return from nearly six months off at Kempton last time.

The selection is 3lb better off with runner-up Waxing Gibbous, who had the benefit of a couple of recent outings and benefitted from a much smoother passage, always sitting close to the pace.

It paid to be handy there and it is probable Marco Botti's four-year-old has more up his sleeve granted greater luck in running under Silvestre de Sousa.

Today's Horse Races

Horse Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.