Well Balios saved the blank on what was otherwise a tough day at the office, unless of course you are Ryan Moore. Riding like a man possessed!
I have very little time this evening so I’m going to fly through this!
14:30 Chesham Stakes (Listed): Ballydoyle is obviously to be feared on name alone, but I’ve gone for Tonkinese who shaped well behind Air Force Blue on debut and improved to score well on his second start for Mick Halford.
15:05 Wolferton Handicap (Listed): Mahsoob is on the up and up but the price is madness. One for an each way bet against the field is Collaboration who is improving all the time and might not be too far away here.
15:40 Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2): At the prices I’ll be siding with Postponed. I really liked his run behind Al Kazeem.
16:20 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1): If the rumours are true, Due Diligence is a very quick horse. It was worth noting that two of the firms that have Coolmore connections, no prizes for guessing, were shotest price about this fella antepost.
17:00 Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap): Huntsmans Close could improve from debut and with a stands side draw could be worth an each way bet.
17:35 Queen Alexandra Stakes: Nap of the day is Wicklow Brave. Tricky at the start under NH rules but this is his type of race for the taking.
Bearing in mind there is overnight rain forecast these selections could change if I have time so keep an eye on this or indeed on twitter.
Curvy, 8/1 into 9/2 was a very nice touch. Bartel got no luck and Scottish could only muster 2nd place in what was an admirable run. Forgotten Rules was game but ultimately disappointing. Doubtful if we’ll see him on that kind of ground again, but he surely has plenty of big races ahead of him.
I’ll drive on, it’s been a long day.
14:30 Albany Stakes (Group 3): Wesley Ward brings another interesting type to the table in the shape of Laxfield Road. She absolutely bolted up at Keeneland back in the spring and no doubt the old California sunshine will have her more forward than her European 2yo counterparts. Frankie on board as opposed to Rosario is a relief. Poor old Joel scuppered Ruby Notions chance out of the gate with his American style ‘balls-to-the-wall’ from the gate ride.
15:05 King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) Strvagante flogged to the Qataris…good craic. I’ll be with Balios here who after only two starts has been crying out for a step up in trip. He gets it here, and with a shade of improvement could be the value play of the race in my eyes.
15:40 Commonwealth Cup (Group 1): The addition of this race to the Royal Ascot schedule has divided opinion, but I for one think it is great to see the 3 year old sprinters given something to aim at instead of having to be forgotten about until they are strong enough to be competitive with the older sprinters. Hotenanny looked an absolute monster in the Windsor Castle here last year. I have never quite bought the Limato hype….it could be to my detriment once again as he has almost answered every question asked.
16:20 Coronation Stakes (Group 1): I really like the way Lucida showed herself in the Guineas, even though it was in defeat. A game and honest filly who sees out a mile well. If it comes down to a battle, she’ll fight for you and she should improve from that seasonal debut at Newmarket.
17:00 Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap): Pfffffffff…..hard not to be clichéd about a handicap like this….so it’d fair to say plenty of these have chances. One against the field is Igider who looks like he may have more in the locker after a good win at Donny last time out. Graham Lee can ride too.
17:35 Queen’s Vase (Listed): Second in the Racing Post trophy, Aloft makes his 3yo bow in this and at 7/4 I’ll be looking elsewhere. One against him for an each way bet is Great Glen who was still learning in as listed contest at Goodwood last time and should improve again. He’ll relish the trip too.
Well, it turned out to be a very nice day indeed for yours truly. Whilst Ivawood didn’t quite fire, Acapulco, Free Eagle, Osaila and a second placed Temptress helped me get over it fairly quickly. If only Euro Charlene had loaded!!
They are watering at Ascot this evening as the ground went firm in places this afternoon. My heart of hearts would question that decision but my ante post portfolio breaths a sigh of relief for Forgotten Rules in the big one.
Let’s get down to it.
14:30 Norfolk Stakes (Group 2):King of Rooks is beginning to look like a bit of a certainty after Buratino looked mighty fine in the Coventry. Even money is an ok price and I’ll have to get involved. Frankie “Ascot is my place” Dettori looks set to have a fair chance to make it 51 Royal Ascot winning rides with this son of Acclamation.
15:05 Tercentenary Stakes (Group 3): Jessie Harrington’s Big Bad Bob filly put in a fair performance in the Irish Guineas. The extra 2 furlongs here should help, as will her weight allowance and 7/1 is too tempting to pass up. Bocca Baciata for me.
15:40 Ribblesdale Stakes (Fillies’ Group 2): Connections of Pleascach have plenty to shout about after classic victory in the Irish Guineas last time. However, the step up to 1m 4f for this particular filly may be just a touch too far into the unknown at her price. The one I like here is David Wachman’s Curvy. She was a good winner when beating the boys over 1m 2f the last day and I just think she could have a better shout than her price might suggest. Granted, she has to improve, but I’ll side with her in the hope that she might.
16:20 Gold Cup (Group 1): They water the course this evening and I’m sure every single DKW and Moyglare connection will be hoping that it can hold the moisture until about 16:30 just in case they go off late. Forgotten Rules as a mere 5 year old has the potential to develop into one of those stayers that grabs the publics imagination. We are talking about a horse that could win the Champion Stayers race on Champions Day on his second start under flat rules and the third start of his life. His Navan return was admirable and he will no doubt improve. If this lad can get the job done there will not be a dry eye in the house, and no doubt Robbie McNamara will be at the front of everybody’s minds win lose or draw.
17:05 Britannia Stakes (Handicap): Two against the field here for each way bets. I’ll be hoping Bartel can overcome inexperience and handle the large field. He could be a bit more than a handicapper. Make It Up with young Edward Greatrex’s 7lb claim helping the cause, could out run his price for an each way bet.
17:35 King George V Stakes (Handicap):Scottish has the look of a 3 year old going places for Andrew Balding. After a good win at Newbury the last day, that form was franked by the second placed Keble who came out and absolutely dotted up at Goodwood next time. Scottish on Handicap debut here could be ahead of our dear friends at the BHA.
So thats it for Day 3 folks.
Solid foundations laid for the week. Heres hoping we can build on them.
Solow got the day off to a rosy enough start, but Air Force Blue and Sole Power failed to oblige. An ante post bet on Gleneagles has the p/l looking healthy overall, but on the day itself I would consider it a pretty lacklustre punting performance.
‘Twas a great day to be racing today, but heat, heavy tailcoats and top hats don’t mix well. I’ll be keeping this relatively brief.
14:30 Jersey Stakes (Group 3): Hannon and Hughes have the clear 7/4 favourite here in the shape of Guineas third, Ivawood. Next best is Bossy Guest at 9/1….yes 9/1. Thats a pretty baffling cavern in the market considering they didn’t finish too far apart from each other at Newmarket, but favourite wins it for me, but I might have to pass at that price. Might. Class horse. Well, at least in my book.
15:05 Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2): Hoping this market livens up a bit. Plenty of the big name tipsters going for Easton Angel here, so maybe, just maybe Acapulco will drift a smudge. Very good noises being made about this filly from all quarters.
15:40 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2): I have to take on Integral at even money. Euro Charlene gets 5 lbs from the favourite and is only 3 lbs behind on ratings. A Grade 1 winner at Arlington and a decent showing behind Solow at Meydan last time, Marco Botti’s filly could represent a nice bit of value. Frankie takes the ride.
16:20 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1): I’m a fully paid up member of the Free Eagle fan club, and whilst it may seem unorthodox to side with him on his seasonal debut, bar the Grey Gatsby it’s not a great race if you call a spade a spade. Ryan Moore’s defection adds doubt to the second favourites chances so it’s all aboard the Free Eagle express! One time Arc fancy Ectot is interesting but it could be a bit quick for him.
17:00 Royal Hunt Cup (Handicap): I was very taken by the winning seasonal bow of Roger Charltons filly Temptress. She’ll have improved no doubt and seems to relish the quicker surface. With a bit of luck she’ll be in with a squeak. If you’ll allow me a second each way shout, Munaaser could be worth a second glance.
17:35 Sandringham Handicap (Listed): I’d rake or leave this now from a punting perspective. Osaila could be classy enough to overcome top weight at a decent price, but I’ll be keeping it small and each way.
So that’s it for Day 2 folks.
Before I finish, I’d like to extend my sympathies to the families and friends of the group of Irish students in Berkeley, California. An awful tragedy.
It’s been too long. I feel like I open with that line way too often, but this time it really has! The flat is well and truly in full swing and not a single post from yours truly…shameful carry on really! I could blame a number of factors, but the blame only really falls on myself, when you boil it down! (See that. I’ve kind of set that self loathing undertone. I live in London now maaaan. I’m edgy and sh*t).
I had this argument with somebody over a few pints recently, actually. If you are into horse racing, because it is such a relatively “off piste” sporting interest from the mainstream, does that then make the racing fan a hipster of sorts? I, clutching at the straws of a sniff of coolness, of course argued that it did and despite my incredibly uncool appearance and demeanour I was, in fact, a veritable hipster, minus facial hair style and an iota of fashion sense. I was then absolutely crushed by the rebuttal that horse racing is, arguably, still an agricultural interest to an extent and that I was nothing more than an uncultured bogger trying to re-invent myself in a new country…… I went home and had a good cry after that. Tough stuff to hear. They do say the truth hurts. Especially after a few pints.
Well, it’s good to be back talking to you anyway! We’ve got a massive week of fantastic racing ahead at the Royal meeting and I, for one, cannot wait! I’ll be here all week so hopefully we can string a few winners together and pay for a few drinks next weekend!
Anyhow, without further ado, lets have a look at the card!
14:30 Queen Anne Stakes: A very good renewal, in my own honest opinion. It’s a question of whether you are going to side with the foreigners or the locals. Well the French horse and the Sha Tin expert definitely set the bar pretty high. In my heart of hearts I would be of the opinion that Able Friend would be more than likely to suffer from a touch of the ‘Silvianaco Contis’! In other words, an unknown entity on a stiffer straight track and may well calve, not to mention the fact that he’s racing on the other side of the world for the first time in his life. Solow for me is the bet of the week at 6/4 and is playing a protagonists role in my ante post portfolio. Needless to say if he gets rolled I’ll be a fairly sick puppy.
15:05 Coventry Stakes: Harking back to day one of this years Cheltenham festival, day one of Royal Ascot could well prove to be panic stations for the bookmakers if the favourite backers get their way again. Round two has been the recipient of plenty of rare praise from his trainer. Its fair to say the quotes from Jim Bolger about this son of Teofilo have been absolutely glowing. However, of the favourites on this card, this is the one to take on. Not my type of bet. Air Force Blue at the price could prove to have an air of value about him. His maiden has worked out pretty well and at the price I’ll be siding with connections who have an exceptional record in the race.
15:40 King’s Stand Stakes: Regular readers of this blog will know where my loyalties lie over a quick 5 furlongs at Ascot. Personally, I feel that Sole Power is the best 5 furlong sprinter in the world on good ground or faster. His run in Meydan was very very good. Don’t mind that Curragh run, at all. With a bit of luck in running he could produce a pretty admirable King’s Stand treble.
16:20 St James’s Palace Stakes: I’ve burnt myself pretty badly trying to pick holes in Guineas winners in the past. Kingman rings bell. Yeah, I can be a fool. But I’m firmly in the Gleneagles camp this time. The Curragh run was perhaps his most admirable. Pure class got him there. He is just too good to oppose here.
17:00 Ascot Stakes: An open enough affair. The one that stands out to me is Charlie Fellowes charge Lycidas. Staying on all the time over two miles when at winning at York the last day. The third horse that time came out and won on reappearance franking the form and I just think this 6 year old could be a shade better than a mark of 93, even though he’s improved a lot in his last couple of runs. Hopefully he’s not at the end of his tether yet!
17:35 Windsor Castle Stakes: 27 two year olds go toe to toe over 5 furlongs and in reality anything is possible. I remember seeing Hootenanny in the pre parade ring last year looking like a Belgian Blue in comparison to the other juveniles. I’ll probably keep the powder dry until I get a look at them but let’s just say the Californian sunshine does wonders for a thoroughbred…. With that in mind, Wesley Wards Ruby Notion has to get some serious consideration. Class can overcome size, but if this filly is looking anyway chunky I’ll be backing her.
Turf Talk 