A winner at the course yesterday will have put Frankie Dettori in the right frame of mind for the 11th anniversary of his Magnificent Seven at Ascot and I reckon he has a cracking chance of notching a winner in the big seven-furlong handicap at 3.40 with Docofthebay.

It was no disgrace to be beaten by the well-handicapped The Illies at York last time over a mile and I am sure that a breakneck seven furlongs is much more suitable for Docofthebay. The Illies has gone on to frank the form along with several others from the York race and I also like the fact that Docofthebay has a win over the course and distance to his name. His best form has been on a fast surface but he has several good runs on ‘good’ and the straight course at Ascot drains so quickly that, without further rain, the ground should be close to that.

Dettori won’t be riding seven winners this time as he has only six rides, culminating in Full House in the finale at 5.30. He is closely matched with Odiham on their running here at the Royal meeting and Odiham is much better at this shorter trip so I must have a few quid on that rival, who will not mind the cut in the ground on the round course.

Samurai Way is likely to go off a very short price but he has fewer secrets from the handicapper than Rajeh, who is trying this trip for the first time. If he can run up to his mile-and-a-half form at the longer distance, he will be hard to beat and is another who will carry my support.

Eddie Fremantle

Racing Correspondent

The Observer Newspaper