Island Of Life looks the bet of the day on Friday at Ascot in the Chelsea Thoroughbreds Charity Fillies’ Handicap (5.15).

The four-year-old was desperately unlucky when finishing third at Haydock a month ago, starting slowly but flashing home despite being short of room.

Prior to that, William Haggas’ inmate had landed a handicap at Sandown off 71, and despite being 8lb higher here, she can still operate in class four company for the time being.

Haggas is absolutely flying (36 per cent strike-rate in past two weeks) and with red-hot jockey James Doyle full of confidence after his Irish Oaks success, the pair can combine to take this handicap which closes the card.

At a bigger price, I’m going to take a chance on American Gigolo in the JGR Brown Jack Handicap (3.00).

The six-year-old has only had seven runs since joining Harry Fry last autumn, racking up a hat-trick of victories on the all-weather over the winter, the third of those when landing a competitive class two handicap at Newcastle which has worked out well, with third-placed Dubawi Fifty finishing second in the Ascot Stakes.

The ground was appalling when American Gigolo finished fourth on his flat turf debut at Musselburgh in March and was last seen finishing way down the field at Chester’s May Festival, with numerous winners coming out since to bolster the form, when sent off 4-1 favourite.

I’m happy to draw a line through runs at Chester – especially when caught deep in a 16-runner handicap – and this looks a far weaker race and represents a drop in class.

The drop back in trip to two miles should suit also, and there’s a good chance the excellent Fry can eek out some more improvement.

Atty Persse should be capable of regaining the winning thread in the JGR Handicap (4.10) which has attracted just six declarations.

This son of Frankel won last year’s running of the King George V Stakes, beating First Nation by three lengths, with the pair re-opposing here.

Roger Charlton’s four-year-old looked the winner on his reappearance in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock, tanking up the home straight but was one paced once asked for an effort, probably needing the run after 318 days off the track.

The old engine is still there however, and off just 1lb higher he can prove the class act in this contest before trying his hand in Group races. Again, in-form Doyle takes the ride.

Down at Newmarket this evening, Tom Dascombe could have found a nice opening for Five Helmets to get off the mark in the Nursery Handicap (6.40).

Dascombe’s juvenile ran with promise at Chester on his third start in maiden company and was unfortunate in defeat at Haydock on nursery debut, blowing the start before making steady late headway into a staying on fourth.

The step up in trip was set to suit at Chester a fortnight ago but Five Helmets raced wide throughout and couldn’t lay a glove on eventual winner Revich.

As always with nurseries, there’s a host of unexposed types in here from established yards, but Dascombe’s charge has more race experience than all-bar-one of his 10 rivals and can make that pay at a big price under Martin Harley.