It's Kingston Town Classic day at Ascot this Saturday and all eyes will be on boom galloper Western Empire, to again witness his brilliance.

Just how good is he?

The Group 1 feature is well supported by the A.J.Scahill Stakes at Group 3 level, where the likely leader looks set to "ping the lids" and race away with it.

Track Conditions 

The Ascot track is currently rated a Good 4 with the rail out 8m for the entire circuit.

Fine conditions are predicted in Perth for the remainder of the week and on Saturday.

Ascot is a large track, which typically presents plenty of opportunites for both on and off speed profiles.

Ascot Race 5 - A. J. Scahill 1400m (G3 WFA)

The Map

There looks to be genuine speed engaged here and you can expect them to burn early.

Massimo (3) could be the most likely to "ping"and take it up, with Vital Silver (6) also out to find an on-speed position early.  

Red Can Man (4) and Solaia (2) both have good natural speed and will attempt to go forward then take the sit if they are out-sped.

With a potential warp speed tempo, it could set up well for the run-on profiles of Stageman (1) and Valour Road (7). 

The Favourite 

Comfort Me ($3.80) comes via the Group 1 Railway Stakes last start, where he placed 2 of 16 behind the potential superstar Western Empire.

He drops back in distance (1400m) and grade here, which are both in his favour.

Clearly the best form horse and he just needs to cope with possible "afterthought" status, to be very hard to beat 

 Best Racing Tips

I'm with Massimo who simply loves this distance (9:3-4-1) and looks to be much more well credentialed compared to his opposition.

He should "ping" straight to the lead and if he can bluff the others out of challenging early, he may receive some on-pace favours. 

Comfort Me has the Western Empire form and although a few come out of the same race here, he finished closest to the boom horse.

If he has trained on since, expect him to be one of the strongest late and he could be the one. Small query as to if he is now over the top, but happy to gamble he's right. 

Stageman comes out of the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes over the 1200m, therefore you can expect him to be one of the sharpest in this field.

I expect them to go back in an attempt to save him up to ensure he runs the 1400m right out.

If he gets the right run and a nice tow in, he could unleash hell over the final 100m.

Red Can Man has a touch of class and did run midfield in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield last start.

That's strong form for this!

He also comes via the Winterbottom (1200m), however does love this track and 1400m distance (5:2-1-1). Could be too good.

1^st Massimo   

2^nd Comfort Me

3^rd  Stageman

4^th  Red Can Man