Ascot Placepot: Friday October 5

Ascot is the venue for today's Placepot.
Timeform's Matt Gardner heads to Ascot on Friday in hope of landing the Placepot...
14:20 - We can be almost certain that there will be a further non-runner in this event, taking the field below 16 runners and leaving us with just three places to aim at. We can be confident that Tartiflette and Subtle Knife will see us through however, the former a fairly consistent filly who shaped better than the bare result on her latest start at Newmarket, meeting plenty of trouble. It is difficult to criticise Subtle Knife's record since she was sent handicapping in May, winning three of her six starts and finishing second on each of the remaining occasions, and she has to be of interest once more.
14:55 - Had Captain Cat had a more recent outing I'd be fairly content to stick him in as a banker, as he has progressed well in three runs so far and was impressive when winning at Newmarket on the latest occasion. The lack of a recent run is a concern, so it is worth seeking a bit of insurance with Gaul Wood, who has been steadily progressive and took his form to another level when winning at Sandown last time.
15:30 - The pair to side with in the third leg are Silver Lime and Party Line, with the former showing he is still on the up when putting up his best effort yet over C&D last month, finishing third to Ahzeemah. Party Line is at home in today's conditions and followed her wins at Beverley and Thirsk with solid efforts in defeat on her next two starts, looking stretched by a mile and three quarters last time. A return to today's trip will suit, and she can make the places.
16:05 - Biographer, Sir Graham Wade and Signed Up should fill the places here (it may be worth a sneaky tricast) but in an attempt to save lines we are going to select only the first mentioned, who takes the eye on looks, is progressing well and finished an excellent second in the Melrose at York on his latest start.
16:40 - Whether this proves to be a stroke of genius or leaves me looking a bit foolish is yet to be established, but I'm going to take on the Mark Johnston-trained Red Orator, as his record to date is pretty patchy and he cannot afford to be below form today. Instead we are going to side with Hawkeshead, who put up a career-best at Haydock last time and may have more yet to offer granted a stiffer test, and Ardlui, who was better for his reappearance when finishing second at Chester last time and has to be respected.
17:15 - The final leg could safely be negotiated by selecting just Born To Surprise, with a 5 lb rise for his Doncaster win looking nowhere near enough to stop him going close here, but we'll also stick in Magic City in hope of landing a bit of a coup. The three-year-old looked a potential top-notcher when routing his rivals on debut at Newbury last year and, although he disappointed during the rest of that campaign, he ought to strip fitter for his return, behind Born To Surprise, last month and he could go well.
Selections:
14:20 - 16, 17
14:55 - 5, 6
15:30 - 7, 10
16:05 - 1
16:40 - 4, 9
17:15 - 2, 16
= 32 lines