SILK SET FOR STAYING PRIZE

NOBLE SILK GOES FOR GOLD IN THE £30,000 PRIZE JOHN GUEST BROWN JACK STAKES AT ASCOT

Lucy Wadham can claim a nice prize at Ascot when Noble Silk goes for gold in the John Guest Brown Jack Stakes.

A good stayer with a decent-sized engine, he must have cracking chance in this two-mile affair that is worth a not-too-shabby £30,000.

The seven-year-old grey has not won for quite a while - May 2014, to be precise - but he has turned in some pleasing efforts since then.

No better was that illustrated than on his sole start of the season at this track on July 8, when he was a fast-finishing sixth in a 14-furlong handicap.

Wadham must have been well chuffed with that run, which obviously convinced the Newmarket handler that going back up to two miles is now the way forward.

This is a step up, but Noble Silk has fared promisingly in this company before and won a similar sort of staying race at Haydock off exactly the same mark of 91.

With the capable Josephine Gordon taking off a handy 3lb, his chance is most certainly not compromised by the prospect of fast ground in Berkshire.

It is worth taking a punt on Mix And Mingle upon her return to action in the Listed Carraig Insurance EBF Stallions Breeding Winners Valiant Stakes.

Trainer Chris Wall thinks the world of this one, who got to within two and a half lengths of Nathra in the Nell Gwyn at the start of the season.

She then did pretty well to finish seventh in the Guineas, especially as she was pinched for room late on.

Mix And Mingle has since been out of spotlight, but this looks a nice re-introduction for a 104-rated filly who is surely good enough to win a race like this.

Ideally suited by fast ground, there is every chance this three-year-old daughter of Exceed And Excel might be available at sweet odds.

Diploma can graduate with Listed honours in the British Stallion Studs EBF Lyric Fillies’ Stakes at York.

A solid fifth in the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot, over a distance that was short of her best, the three-year-old Dubawi filly looks the class act on the Knavesmire.

Her profile is also enhanced by the fact Diploma let rip over course and distance in May when she won a hot handicap by three and a quarter lengths.

Phoenix Beat could be the one in the Maritime Cargo Services Fillies’ Handicap at Newmarket.

Gay Kelleway’s consistent filly was a tad disappointing over an extended 10 furlongs at Yarmouth last time, but she seemingly failed to go the distance.

Her trainer would seem to think that way, at any rate, as Phoenix Beat is back over a mile at Headquarters.

Frankie Dettori, who is edging ever closer to a 3,000th domestic career winner, is obviously a bit of an eyecatcher in terms of a jockey booking.