Carpenter Returns At Ascot

Impressive debut winner Master Carpenter returns to the track tomorrow in an incredibly competitive conditions event at Ascot. Despite been outpaced in the early stages at Leicester, he made good headway two furlongs from home and wasn't asked a question by Andrea Atzeni as he pulled away from his rivals inside the final furlong to win by two and a half lengths. He clocked an excellent time and the form has worked out well, with the third, fifth and seventh all winning next time and the runner-up and fourth were second on their subsequent outings.

His pedigree (related to ten furlong winners) suggests that he will improve as he steps up in trip and his homework confirms that might be the case and he may just find five, especially against some useful sorts, on the sharp side. He was slightly flattered at Leicester as the leaders went off hard in front and the uphill finish on soft ground certainly played into his favour. While he should be fine on quicker ground over a trip, the quick drying nature of Ascot (currently good to soft) won't be ideal and although he should be sharper with the experience of a run, he may just lack the speed to make an impact. There are few suitable opportunities to run maiden winners at this time of year and it will certainly tell us if he has Royal Ascot potential.

It's hard to be too judgemental about the opposition, with three of them winning their only starts and all were impressive in their own way. Both Anticipated and Justice Day clocked good speed figures when winning at Windsor and Newbury, while the Kempton race won by Montagine was a very competitive event. With Far Gaze more exposed but getting a four pound allowance, none of the five can be ruled out and it's easily the most competitive two-year-old race run this season. It's nice to go to Ascot with a fighting chance and as long as he isn't disgraced, we will be happy as we know he's only going to get better the further he goes and he's an exciting horse to have in the yard.