David Cummings' Daily Racing Tips

VELOCIRAPTOR could be the one to give the short-priced favourite something to think about, and at around 7/1-8/1 he makes plenty of each-way appeal.

Hugo Palmer's colt showed a fair bit on debut before taking a good step forward at Chester, where he travelled strongly over 7f and put the race to bed nicely. He was then asked a much tougher question in Listed company at Salisbury, stepping up to a mile, and he never really looked as comfortable before finishing fourth.

I'd be inclined to forgive that. Dropping back to 7f looks much more important, as it's the trip over which he has produced his best performance, while today's good-to-firm ground is similar to the surface he encountered when winning at Chester.

His debut form has substance too. He finished behind Haffner that day, but shaped with plenty of promise and clearly learned from the experience given how readily he won next time.

Night In Vegas is obviously the one they all have to beat, but he's had a busy campaign and now has to prove himself over 7f. Zigazig Ah has a similar question to answer after doing most of her racing over shorter.

VELOCIRAPTOR, on the other hand, has already shown that a strongly-run 7f suits him and there should still be more to come after only three starts. With David Probert aboard and the return to his best trip in his favour, he looks a solid each-way alternative to the market leaders.

ERNST BLOFELD looks to have a great chance of building on his excellent Mallard second, with the drop back to 1m4f holding no fears.

Hamad Al Jehani's four-year-old has been knocking on the door in some good handicaps and ran another cracker at Doncaster last time. He dictated at a steady gallop over 1m6½f and kept on well after being headed, eventually finishing 1¾ lengths behind Valedictory.

That was from a mark of 95 and he's only 1lb higher today, while the booking of promising 5lb claimer Harry Vigors more than compensates for that small rise.

There shouldn't be any worry about coming back in trip either. ERNST BLOFELD won over 1m4f at Kempton earlier in the season and has enough pace for this distance, while Newmarket's stiff finish should ensure his stamina remains an asset.

Evanesco is respected at the top of the market, but ERNST BLOFELD arrives in good nick, has already proved himself in competitive Class 2 company and remains on a workable mark.

With Vigors taking 5lb off and conditions looking right, ERNST BLOFELD should be bang there again.

RIVER KING looks ready to take another step forward after an excellent return at Doncaster and has already shown that a big-field Ascot handicap brings out the best in him.

Richard Hannon's four-year-old had been off for nearly three months before finishing fourth of 17 over a mile at Doncaster last time. He travelled well for a long way and shaped very much like a horse who would sharpen up for the outing, so dropping back to 7f with that run under his belt looks ideal.

His Royal Ascot fifth earlier in the season is the key piece of form. RIVER KING had to use plenty of petrol early to get across from his draw, led a 28-runner field and was still bang there entering the final furlong before the closers got to him. To finish only a little over three lengths behind Mezcala after doing so much work early was a cracking effort.

Crucially, he remains on the same mark of 95 today, while his peak RPR of 117 suggests there's scope for him to be better than that rating. He has also shown he handles some ease in the ground, which Sean Levey believes actually suits him better than the quick conditions he encountered during the summer.

Stall two is the obvious concern, particularly if the action develops towards the stands' side, but RIVER KING has enough tactical speed to give Levey options and the jockey knows him particularly well.

Levey himself believes the Doncaster run should have him spot on and rates RIVER KING his best chance on the Ascot card. Back over 7f, fitter for his comeback and still on the mark from which he ran such a big race at the Royal meeting, there should be plenty more to come.

QUANTUM QUEST looks the sort who could gallop these into submission, with three miles and a proper stamina test playing firmly to his strengths.

Henry de Bromhead's six-year-old made an excellent start over fences at Punchestown in June. He looked to have a bit on his plate turning for home, but once stamina began to count he really came into his own, taking over between the final two fences and staying on strongly to win by 1¾ lengths.

There was plenty of substance to that performance and, more importantly, it confirmed what his hurdles form had already suggested – this is a horse who keeps finding when others have had enough. He had previously won twice over staying trips over hurdles and connections always felt chasing would bring out more in him.

His RPR of 140 from Punchestown sets a strong standard and there should be more improvement to come after just one start over fences.

Fou De Toi is an obvious danger after winning nicely at Kilbeggan, but QUANTUM QUEST has already proved himself over today's three-mile trip and looks tailor-made for a race where stamina should come increasingly into play.

JJ Slevin knows him extremely well and, if he can get QUANTUM QUEST jumping and into a nice rhythm, I'd expect him to be doing his best work when they turn for home. He looks a very solid staying novice with more to come.