BANKSEA is a worthy ally as today's nap selection in the Weatherbys Handicap at Ascot.

The Luca Cumani-trained four-year-old was disappointing in the Royal Hunt Cup on his most recent start in June but he has been given plenty of time to recover from those exertions.

As such, Banksea should be much fresher than many of his rivals in this one-mile handicap, while he certainly has enough quality to go well in a race of this nature.

The son of Lawman was aggressively campaigned as a three-year-old and contested a raft of hot handicaps, including the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket last September.

Having undergone a gelding operation soon afterwards, he returned to the fray at Newbury in April and produced a superb effort to win the Spring Cup.

The form from that race looks watertight as runner-up Another Touch has since won a Listed race, while Fastnet Tempest claimed victory on his next two starts.

Banksea has only had 12 career outings, so it is a perfectly acceptable claim to suggest he might still be a progressive animal at this sort of grade.

He must shoulder top weight but a big show at Ascot under Ryan Moore will be needed to fuel dreams of a successful second assault on the Cambridgeshire.

GAWDAWPALIN should not be discounted in the preceding Victoria Racing Club Handicap.

Sylvester Kirk's four-year-old renews rivalry with Great Hall, who was a length and a quarter too sharp for the selection on Shergar Cup day.

But Great Hall is now 3lb higher in the weights, whereas Gawdawpalin runs off the same mark.

That should mean Kirk's representative has a fighting chance of reversing the form, especially as he was not helped by a wide draw in the Shergar Cup Challenge.

Gawdawpalin also won really nicely over course and distance in July on what was his first start since he was gelded.

There are clearly more races to be won with him and this looks a fine opportunity with Martin Dwyer in the saddle.

Keep close tabs on MAGICAL DREAMER as she rocks up for the 32Red.com Handicap at Haydock, where Daniel Muscutt takes the reins.

The Acclamation filly probably found the ground too heavy at Nottingham last time but she still did well enough to chase home the prolific Guishan.

Magical Dreamer will not be knocked off her stride dropping down to five furlongs and has happily been left alone by the assessor.

There is good money on offer in a one-mile nursery at Newcastle, with CODICIL expected to come out on top with Luke Morris on board.

Sir Mark Prescott's young filly is unbeaten in three starts but she is a tough horse to handicap as the daughter of Lawman does not win by far.

Indeed, she has only gone up 3lb for this next assignment and utterly deserves a crack at a good prize like this.