In the Redcentric Apprentice Handicap (5.10) at Ascot on Wednesday, Stuart Kittow’s lightly-raced 4-year-old Duelling Dragon looks one to follow until beaten. Unraced as a juvenile, the son of 2,000 Guineas winner Henrythenavigator made steady progress last season and started where he left off at Leicester earlier this month, winning convincingly from Wilde Inspiration over 7 furlongs. The runner-up did that form no harm at all when winning a 0-105 contest, over a mile, at Haydock last Saturday, so an 8lb rise in the weights may not stop Duelling Dragon from following up.
Both his wins so far have come over 7 furlongs, but he wasn’t stopping on the straight course at Leicester, which rises gradually for over two furlongs from halfway, and he shouldn’t be inconvenienced by faster underfoot conditions either. Trainer Stuart Kittow is 0-5 on the Flat at Ascot and jockey Kieran Shoemark is 0-1 for the yard but, there is, as they say, a first time for everything and negative statistics shouldn’t detract from Duelling Dragon, who otherwise appears to have an outstanding chance.
Karl Burke’s Holy Roman Emperor filly Skinny Love translated her progressive form on Polytrack back to turf at Redcar last time and may be the pick of the opposition, but she lacks the scope of Duelling Dragon, who may be able to take this on the way to better things.
Selection: Ascot 5.10 Duelling Dragon to win