Testing conditions will suit Musick House

Musick House can oblige at a big price in the £12,000-added Duke of Edinburgh Handicap at Ascot today. Very testing conditions are going to make winner finding harder than ever but the soft ground can bring out the best in Gay Kelleway's colt.

The four-year-old has not sparkled lately but not so long ago he was considered a smart prospect when in the care of Peter Chapple-Hyam.

Last year, he scooted up in a Haydock maiden on good to soft ground before taking his chance in the Irish 2000 Guineas, a race won by his half brother Rodrigo de Triano.

But Musick House could only finish eighth and by the start of this year found himself in handicap company.

He ran well to be under four lengths fourth to Craigievar - on soft going - at Haydock in May but after failing to progress, joined Kelleway during the summer.

Although his last two runs have been uninspiring, it's possible that give in the ground and the re-application of blinkers could bring about a transformation. Kieren Fallon is booked to ride.

French raider Reine Wells can oblige at what should be decent value in the day's feature, the £50,000-added Princes Royal Stakes.

This is not a high-quality Group race. Saafeya is stepping up from narrowly winning a class C handicap, Graceful Lass's best effort is a second in Listed company, while Bombazine and Delilah only have maiden wins to their names.

Reine Wells will love the heavy ground, having ploughed through the mud to win at Saint-Cloud last year.

Pascal Bary's filly finished a creditable fifth to Whitewater Affair in a Group Two at Deauville last time and although it would be misleading to describe her as head and shoulders above these rivals, she is the one with consistent proven form at this level.

Ayr Gold Cup fourth Azzizi can gain valuable consolation in the Willmott Dixon Handicap over the minimum trip.

Lightly raced this year, Charlie Egerton's five-year-old was unfancied at Ayr but ran a cracker behind Wildwood Flower.

Earlier, he was second to Cretan Gift in a Group Three race in Ireland and, although clearly not the easiest horse to train, deserves to pick up a decent prize.

Amateur Seamus Durack, who has ridden winners over jumps, landed his first victory on the Flat when striking on Dauphin at Ascot yesterday.

The young Irishman seized his chance on his first ride for Willie Musson by taking the final of the Bollinger Champagne Challenge Series. The combination ploughed through the heavy ground to hold New Inn by a length and a quarter with course specialist the Queen's Whitechapel back in third.