Who To Follow At Ascot On Friday - 23/07/21

The feature race of the afternoon sees the Group Three Valiant Stakes over a mile and the returning Indigo Girl should be a class above this field if fully tuned up.

The three year old has been seen three times during her career, all as a juvenile and having now been off the track since October she returns in what looks a very winnable race.

Indigo Girl made her debut at Yarmouth on soft ground beating a fair field by three lengths last season and then improved from that at Doncaster next time out when taking the Group Two May Hill Stakes.

She then stepped up to Group One company for the first time in her life in the Fillies' Mile at Newmarket and she was a narrow second to the smart Pretty Gorgeous.

Her form far out weighs the rest of the field and if spot on for her return should win.

John & Thady Gosden could be set for a good week in England with some nice winners throughout the week already and on Friday at Ascot they have some big chances.

In the first race of the day the team field Ephrata who does need to improve from his debut, but this race looks a big opportunity to go close.

Gosden's big chance of the day comes in the feature Group Three event with the returning Group One runner up Indigo Girl looking to get her season going.

The Gosden's, as ever, have beenin fine form over the last two weeks running at a strike rate of 17% after having seven winners from 42 runners.

You will not find many better jockeys in form at the moment than the dual champion jockey Oisin Murphy and at Ascot on Friday he has a lovely book of rides.

The first big chance on the day comes in the Maiden Stakes with Bouyant for Martyn Meade having finished a good third on debut and can build on that.

He then sits on the favourite in the stayers handicap with Blow Your Horn offering some nice form over this trip and in the Group Three event he joins Dreamloper for Ed Walker, who does need to bounce back but does offer some good form this term.

Murphy has been electric over the last two weeks, landing 16 winners from 59 rides which sees him pose a 27% win rate.