Five horses who will relish the testing conditions at Ascot

Tom Park identifies five horses likely to appreciate the soft ground at Ascot . . .

Duretto
Long Distance Cup (1.25)
All four of Andrew Balding's five-year-old's wins on turf have been on ground softer than good and he sluiced through the heavy ground to beat Across The Stars at Chester last time. He has a bit to find on form with the principals in this but is certainly worth considering if it turns testing.

Quiet Reflection
Champions Sprint (2.00)
Karl Burke's flying filly has been beaten just once on ground softer than good and that was when she was a juvenile. Her best performance came when bolting up in the Sprint Cup on soft ground last season and she should relish any cut in the ground.

Bateel
Undefeated on ground with soft in the description, Bateel is a winning machine on testing ground and was impressive in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille last time. She has won her last three starts – two of which were on soft ground – and will be tough to beat if the heavens open.

Here Comes When
On the figures, Andrew Balding's seven-year-old has no chance of beating the likes of Ribchester and Churchill. That was also the case at Goodwood last time, but when the ground turned testing Here Comes When came to the party and got up to beat the floundering Ribchester by a neck. Only a fool would write him off repeating the feat.

Brametot
A winner of six of his nine starts, Jean-Claude Rouget's French raider has never run on ground faster than good and is used to soft conditions. Although beaten on soft ground in the Arc last time he produced a career-best performance on RPRs and the prospect of rain will no doubt please connections.

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