Luke Morris fancies his strong filly at Ascot this Saturday

WE’RE moving into autumn and a crucial time in the Flat season as everyone prepares for the big races between now and the end of the season.

Hopefully I’ll have plenty of opportunities for big rides and good wins over the coming weeks and there’s no doubt that Marsha’s the horse I’m most looking forward to riding.

I ride her in all of her work at home and she feels in really top order at the moment. I think the plan is to either go for the Scarborough Stakes at Doncaster next week or the Flying Five at the Curragh next weekend. Wherever she goes she should be exciting.

I’ve got a busy time of things this weekend with a double-header at Ascot and Wolverhampton on Saturday and I’m hoping for a few winners on the day.

2.05 Ascot – Socrates
He’s not a horse I know much about and this looks a deep enough maiden to be running in first time out. I suspect he’ll probably be one to keep an eye on for next time or the race after that.

2.40 Ascot – Ghalib
I’ve always thought he was better when he had a bit of cut in the ground but he’s run some decent races when the ground has been firmer too, so he’s capable of performing on it. He wears blinkers for the first time and hopefully they can squeeze out a little more improvement as it looks like the handicapper might be in charge at the moment.

I won on him the other day over 1m2f at Chelmsford and all he felt like he was doing was staying on at the end, so this step up to 1m4f makes sense. This is a valuable race so it’s worth a go for the first time in something like this and he’s well drawn in stall two. The faster ground will be in his favour as well and I think he’s a rock solid each-way chance.