Racing: Tie the big draw in handicap lucky dip

After the panoply of yesterday's big parade, Ascot's card this afternoon is more of a village fete. The Berkshire course's claims to this being a festival meeting would carry greater weight if the high-class Group races on the programme were more evenly distributed over the three days, but the demands of sponsors have meant that all the golden eggs were in yesterday's basket.

Three competitive handicaps form the centrepiece of today's card, but even the "quantity rather than quality" argument does not stand up. The day's most valuable contest, the bookmaker-sponsored mile-and-a-half event, has not attracted enough runners to make each-way betting to fourth place an option, and the two better-class races have an aggregate nine competitors.

The most populous field is the 30-strong line-up for the mile handicap, a coconut shy of a race, whose past seven winners have started at 33-1, 16-1, 14-1, 10-1, 20-1, 33-1 and 25-1. Perhaps the two to concentrate on are a pair drawn on opposite sides of the track, Tony Tie (3.45) and Perfect Storm. Tony Tie, a six-year-old with a sterling record in this sort of race, makes the long journey from Glasgow and may well be back in the south next weekend for the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket.

He came in 13th at Ascot 12 months ago from a high draw but lost his chance after being hampered when about to produce a challenge. "I think he was unlucky then," said trainer Jim Goldie. "He's high enough in the weights, but he's in very good order at the moment and from his low draw, and given luck in running, I think he'll go very well."

Tony Tie's need to come from off the pace makes trouble in running an occupational hazard, but given a clear run he can gain the reward his durability and consistency surely merit.

Perfect Storm, an unexposed three-year-old, is nominated as the danger. Following two promising efforts in the spring he was sidelined for the summer by a leg injury but, after a sighter at Sandown, confirmed his wellbeing at Newbury eight days ago with a fast-finishing second place over today's distance.

A dip into the bran tub of the £70,000 Tote Exacta Stakes produces Charley Bates (4.20, nap), who has alternated between handicap and minor Pattern company this year. He may well become a Cup contender when more mature as a four-year-old, but this year the longer trips seem to have stretched his stamina. He scuppered his chance when favourite for the Ebor by pulling too hard when taken on a solo run wide of his rivals by today's jockey, Frankie Dettori, but a strong pace over Ascot's stiff 12 furlongs should suit him well.

The five-furlong handicap may provide compensation for The Tatling (3.10) after his narrow defeat in the Ayr Gold Cup eight days ago, and the remaining three contests should be a Mark Johnston benefit through Systematic (2.00), Love You Always (2.35) and Itemise (4.55), who at one point held an entry in the Fillies' Mile.