ROYAL Ascot is less than a week away. It’s crept up quickly: in fact I don’t think we have recovered from Funtime Frankie and his Golden Horn… which sounds a bit like a naughty movie. More mundane matters today although the perennial search for winners continues. Hopefully the long trip from Newmarket to Beverley…

…can pay off for AVENUE DES CHAMPS. He was a decent course and distance winner last time and has a strong chance of following up today. The gelding has been a slow learner but is finally on an upward curve.

SCRUTINY (4.00 Beverley) hit the crossbar on his last run and it could be his turn to get his head in front today. Formerly with William Haggas, he is a consistent type and he looks a solid bet as long as the ground is not too quick for him.

Elsewhere I’m hoping to get to Haydock today where Bartholomew Fair, who didn’t get home in the Lingfield Derby Trial, contests a class 3 handicap, which will be more up his street.

Be lucky!