SPENCER’S JUMBO SET TO TAKE-OFF

VALUE SCOPE DAVE MITCHELL on Royal Ascot’s 5.00

THERE was a sensation in the Wokingham (5.00) 12 months ago when a horse drawn low actually won.

In fact, the winner Out Do came from trap one, with runner-up Steady Pace in six.

However, the percentage still tells you that you profit from aiming high here — it took until yesterday before low draws came good.

In a contest full of trends, our likely hero must fit these criteria: Drawn 10 and up.

Run in past six weeks. No worse than sixth last time out.

Aged four and five. No more than four runs already this season.

We have whittled the 28-runner field to a shortlist of seven — Mr Lupton, Tommy Taylor, Ice Age, Major Jumbo, Gilgamesh, Brian The

Snail and Ultimate

Avenue.

The first three all have too much on their backs to fit the recent weightcarrying stats. Brian The Snail was highly touted back in the day but has proved no better than a handicapper.

Gilgamesh comes into today in top form, having won over seven furlongs at York recently.

He’s on a career-high mark as a result but may lack the speed to do better than a place.

You have to love the fact that Jamie Spencer (above) is on MAJOR

JUMBO as he is the man to go to in big field-races on the straight course here.

The four-year-old has been flying home in five-furlong events this season but is best over six. He’s 28-1 in places — have 2pts each-way. ULTIMATE AVENUE has been slowly reaching a peak too, so have 2pts each-way on him at 25-1 with several firms.