The good to soft ground on Friday will be soft come this afternoon with heavy showers forecast this morning. I am keen to side with two lightweights drawn middle to high. On A Session is well known to us having raced twice at the Galway festival last summer when trained in Ireland. He is a tough horse who handles cut in the ground well. His best effort at the competitive Galway festival came when third to Current Option over the stiff seven furlongs on soft ground. On A Session finished just over a length behind Current Option who went on to win at listed and Group 3 level.

The runner up in that "Ahonoora" Handicap at Galway was none other than Njord who easily landed the Balmoral Handicap here on British Champions Day. On A Session impressed last weekend on his second run for new trainer David Barron. In that Thirsk Hunt Cup, On A Session raced on the front end and was only passed by the winner Storting at the furlong pole. He plugged on well for fourth place on good to firm ground. A low weight of 8-6 allied with a good high draw in stall 28 can see On A Session give a big win this afternoon.

Richard Fahey is due a win in one of these Ascot handicaps and runs two today. Of his pair it is Zip who looks to have the best chance especially if/when the ground turns soft. This horse ran well last season such as when a close second to Harrison Point at Beverley. He ended the season with a win at Doncaster on soft ground. Last week he won snugly at Newcastle over 7 furlongs ridden by Tony Hamilton. The handicapper has raised him 4lbs but that is negated by the booking of Laura Pearson claiming 5lbs.

The key is soft ground as this horse thrive on soft ground with a record of 2-4-2 from 11 runs. The trip and ground have come right for this inform horse and this might be his big chance of landing a valuable handicap with a feather weight of 7-11 on his back. There are not too many decent jockeys who can ride that low but Laura is good value for her claim having rode 18 winners this season so far.

Of the rest, well it is course form that is a big positive at Ascot. The likes of Raising Sand, Chiefofchiefs & River Nymph should run well but are priced up accordingly.