Hold onto your hats and get ready for an exhilarating display of racing prowess in the Victoria Cup at Ascot today. With a whopping 23 runners charging up the straight course on soft ground, the excitement is palpable.

Trainer George Boughey has not one but two hot contenders in the race, both of which are topping the betting markets. And it's not hard to see why! Baradar showed immense promise in his recent run at Doncaster's Lincoln race, just missing out on the mile in heavy ground. With a perfect 7-furlong distance and a stiff finish, this talented son of Muhaarar looks rejuvenated since joining Boughey's yard and is wearing a first-time tongue tie to further enhance his performance. And with a handicap mark of 97, Baradar is set to capitalize on the handicapper's generosity.

But that's not all. Totally Charming, another of Boughey's runners, is poised to turn heads as he seeks redemption following a near-miss at the Irish Lincoln race on soft/heavy ground. This lightly-raced 5-year-old boasts an impressive strike rate of 5 wins out of just 12 runs, with his latest victory at Doncaster on heavy ground. And with a UK mark of 101, 3lbs lower than his Irish Lincoln rating, Totally Charming is primed to give his competitors a run for their money. With a middle draw from stall 13 and the talented Billy Loughane on board, the options to go high or low.

So buckle up and get ready for some heart-stopping moments as these two talented runners, along with the rest of the field, battle it out for victory in the Victoria Cup.

Ascot 2:40

0.5 point each way Baradar 7/1 Skybet 7 places else 7/1 generally, 6 places.

0.5 point each way Totally Charming 11/2 Skybet 7 places else 11/2 generally, 6 places..

Best of Luck, Nicky