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Eyre anticipating bold Ascot show from Just Frank

3 minute read

Three-year-old goes for gold on handicap debut.

Picture: Edward Whitaker/Pool via Getty Images

Les Eyre is expecting a big run from Just Frank  in the tote+ Exclusively At Tote.co.uk Handicap at Ascot.

The three-year-old will be making his handicap debut on Friday as a two-time winner, having taken a novice race at Thirsk in September before going on to land Newmarket's £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes by four and a half lengths the following month.

A step up to Listed company saw him finish second behind Lipizzaner in the Doncaster Stakes, with his seasonal reappearance resulting in sixth place at the same level as he contested the Cammidge Trophy Stakes on Town Moor in March.

Just Frank is rated 5lb higher than his rivals, with a mark of 100 leaving him to shoulder 9st 7lb, but Eyre reports his charge to be in good health and he is not concerned about conditions either.

"He's in good form, he looks to have trained on nicely," said the Beverley-based trainer.

"So long as it doesn't go too soft, it'll be fine for him, and we fully expect him to run a big race.

"He goes on most (ground), but I think his preference would be for just a bit of cut in the ground."

Just Frank has form over both six and seven furlongs, but his trainer still regards this latest assignment as an acid test of his abilities over the longer trip.

"We've got to try him some time," he said.

"I know he's won over seven but in a much lesser race, (so) we'll find out where we're going come Friday."

At the other end of the handicap is Karl Burke's Stylish Performer, who will be making his turf debut.

The Dandy Man gelding has run three times to date, finishing second on his racecourse debut and then winning twice over seven furlongs.

All three of those performances were on Wolverhampton's Tapeta surface, but Burke hopes he can transfer his talents to Ascot.

"We're very hopeful he'll run a big race – obviously he's got to reproduce on turf what he's done at Wolverhampton," said the Middleham trainer.

"His speed figures are excellent around Wolverhampton and he's a tough little horse.

"We don't really know, but I wouldn't think he'd want it (the ground) too soft.

"Good ground would be fine, so we hope it doesn't rain too much there and the track dries out more – that's why we didn't send him to Chester.

"He's a nice, progressive horse, and we'll find out how good he is on Friday."

Mark Johnston's King Zain also lines up, with Roger Charlton represented by Beautiful Bertie and William Haggas fielding the unbeaten Aldaary.

Richard Spencer's Big Narstie and Owen Burrows' Twaasol complete the field of seven.

Elsewhere on the card, Total Commitment jointly heads the weights in the tote+ Biggest Dividends Handicap for Simon Hodgson, together with Archie Watson's Going Places.

Richard Hughes' Crimson Sand bids for a hat-trick in the tote+ Pays You More Handicap, having won twice on the all-weather this year so far.

Clive Cox's Bertie's Wish has also banked two all-weather victories this year and goes for the tote+ Placepots Pay More Handicap, with the top-weight being Roger Varian's Invincible Swagger.


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