Ascot: Kiyoshi can kick-start season in Listed company

Charlie Hills-trained Kiyoshi has failed to live up to the promise shown as a juvenile this season but a return to Berkshire could provide just the tonic needed.

Can she bounce back into form?

Here are our selections for the first day of Ascot’s King George Meeting.

NAP – KIYOSHI – Woodcote Stud EBF Stallions Valiant Stakes (Fillies’ Listed) (15:55)

It’s been a touch campaign so far for our nap.

Injury prevented the talented three-year-old from taking her place in this year’s 1000 Guineas.

Meanwhile, the daughter of Dubawi subsequently struggled in both her seasonal reappearance in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and then the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket.

However, on last season’s form we expect KIYOSHI to take care of more limited opposition on her return to the track where she landed last year’s Albany Stakes.

Gifted Girl is another chance who’s lost her way somewhat since landing a decent handicap at this track in 2013.

Elsewhere, Euro Charline was a creditable third in the Coronation Stakes, a result that’s likely to see Andrea Atzeni’s runner earn market favouritism.

NB – IFFRANESIA – Vartan Ravenscroft October Club Charity Handicap (17:00)

Gabbiano returns to defend the renewal title he earned last year.

But a succession of defeats since then, albeit in classier company, is enough to put us off here.

Clive Cox’s in-form Perfect Muse could be the sprinter to watch out for as he goes in search of an impressive hat-trick.

However, we’re going to side with the equally progressive IFFRANESIA on this occasion.

A promising campaign on the all-weather has been backed up by two victories on turf with first-time headgear at Doncaster last time out doing the trick.

Lively Longshot – KASHGAR – John Guest Brown Jack Stakes (Handicap) (15:20)

Joe Fanning won this contest aboard 12/1 shot Broxbourne last year. Could we be in for another big-priced winner?

Jockey Adam Kirby will ride fancied chance Hassle, an Ascot winner last time out, while Richard Hughes’ Elidor is also sure to attract attention.

But one to watch out for could be the more attractively priced KASHGAR in the hands of Luke Morris.

Accustomed to this trip the resolute five-year-old was a 2m victor at Chepstow on his previous appearance.

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