2.00 Ascot
Rebellious Guest 11/1
George Margarson's 4 year old Rebellious Guest has found life tough in difficult seasons but he shaped with much more encouragement on his last start and off a mark of 85 I think he could prove a big threat in this open looking contest. A very decent juvenile that saw him an impressive winner on his 2 starts outside of Group Company, Rebellious Guest's 4 runs as a 2 year old earned him a rating of 99 and he's largely struggled since then. He had 3 starts as a 3 year old (twice Group 3s) and it was a largely disappointing campaign although he was seen running on late in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot to be beaten less than 5L at Royal Ascot last year and he started off this year rated 97. In his first 3 runs this year in ultra competitive handicaps (all at Ascot; twice C+D) he finished out with the washing but there was definitely a lot more encouragement on his latest start at Yarmouth off a mark of 88. Well supported on course from 14/1 into 17/2 for the shrewd Margason operation, Rebellious Guest was held up keen in a race that was slowly run for the most part under Jamie Mackay. Still with quite a bit to do, Rebellious Guest was hampered when looking for a run but after receiving one smack behind the saddle he stayed on nicely under a sympathetic ride to beaten a little under 5L in 5th which was undoubtedly his best run for a long time. That race looks like it will work out strongly with the winner Ocean Tempest destroying what looked a competitive handicap at Chester off 4lb higher whilst the 6th Albaqaa ran a solid race in the Silver Cambridgeshire subsequently. I think the handicapper has been very, very kind to drop Rebellious Guest 3lb to a mark of 85 and his 4 runs this year have seen him fall 12lb to what looks a mark he can definitely be competitive off. On the back of his new rating, Rebellious Guest can ease again into a Class 4 contest for the first time and although it looks a competitive handicap on paper this will definitely be his easiest task for a long time and I'm hoping today he can score again for the first time since his 2 year old days. Although he has to shoulder top weight of 9-7, only 6lb separates the 18 runner field so its not too bad and regular 2 year old pilot Tom Queally gets back on board for the first time this year. Drawn in stall 7, Rebellious Guest has options from his pretty central position and there seems quite a bit of pace on in the race which will suit his hold up style. George Margarson has his yard in good form at the moment and he landed a touch at Wolves in style last night and I'm hoping he can make it 2-2 for October with Rebellious Guest today. I think a little ease in the ground will help Rebellious Guest a lot (although I wouldn't want it very soft) and if building on his latest run now dropped in grade I'm hopeful of a very big run from this lightly enough race 4 year old and hopefully he can land this prize and kick on again to somewhere back to his best.
