The 2nd of 5 days here at Royal Ascot sees another 6 races, with the feature being the Group 1 Prince Of Wales Stakes, whilst for handicap lovers, the 30 runner Royal Hunt Cup will be a great watch.
2.30: Jersey Stakes
The mount of Frankie Dettori, Castle Harbour, heads the market here off the back of an unbeaten record winning both of his starts to date. The most recent of those was a Class 3 handicap and it’s worth noting that he holds a Group 1 entry in the Sussex Stakes. I’d personally be against him at the prices especially as he takes on others with Group and Classic form to their name.
Of those in form so far this season, Ibn Malik and Thikriyaat both make some appeal. The first named won the Free Handicap on his one and only run this term but Paul Hanagan prefers to take the mount on Thikriyaat, who is 3 from 3. He has won his last 2 narrowly, by a neck each time, and should go very well.
However, I prefer the horses carrying penalties for winning in Group company and I expect the winner to come from the top 3; Herald The Dawn, Ribchester and Gifted Master. Herald The Dawn has some good 2 year old form but ran a disappointing race in the 2000 Guineas on his seasonal reappearance. The drop in trip will suit and I wouldn’t put anyone off backing him at 16/1. Gifted Master has won 5 of 6 races and wasn’t disgraced behind a rapidly improving Quiet Reflection last time out. This ground will suit but I’m not sure a stiff 7 furlongs is what he needs, especially as he will attempt to make all.
The one I prefer to side with is 2000 Guineas placed Ribchester. He’s seen the track 5 times and finished 2nd on his 2nd run, the 6 furlong Gimcrack. Since then, he’s been out 3 times on rain softened ground and probably has the best form on offer here; winning the Mill Reef, 2nd in the Prix Djebel on his reappearance (later disqualified) before running a cracker to finish 3rd in the 2000 Guineas, behind Galileo Gold who won the big race on Day 1 at the Royal meeting. A drop back to 7 furlongs will be in his favour and with the ground in his favour, he looks the each way bet of the race.
WON – Back Ribchester (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 with Bet365 (1/4 odds 1-4 BOG)
Back it here:
3.05: Queen Mary Stakes
A 5 furlong charge down the straight track for juveniles is my idea of betting hell. The safest option is the US trained Lady Aurelia, especially with Frankie in the plate. The only concern would be whether the ground will suit. I’ll leave this one alone and move on to later races.
3.40: Duke Of Cambridge Stakes
I like Usherette in this, from the Andre Fabre stable, and it’s another race I’m keen to pass over. She’s won 5 of her 6 races, including the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes last time out. There are challengers galore, including Jazzi Top who needs to recover from a poor run behind Usherette last time out, French raider Maimara and Jim Bolger’s Lucida.
4.20: Prince Of Wales Stakes
The only Group 1 of the day, this race is all about Japanese raider A Shin Hikari. A repeat of his 10 length annihilation of Dariyan in the Prix D’Ispahan will be more than enough here. The biggest danger is Found but there’s no value to be had here so it’s best to sit back and see whether A Shin Hikari lives up to the hype.
5.00: Royal Hunt Cup
30 runners over 1 mile on the straight course; pick the winner from that lot! Well, actually I’m going to have a go at picking the winner and will be taking 1 from either side of the track. I think the pace may come from the low numbers but equally, I feel the ground may be better for the higher drawn horses.
From stall 1, I’m interested in Balty Boys. He’s a high class handicapper that has seen his mark fall in light of some tough assignments. He has some good course form and goes well in big fields; off a 3lb higher mark than today, he finished 4th in this last year and then followed that up with a 2nd off the same mark in another big field Ascot handicap. Add to that a 5lb claim by an excellent apprentice jockey and he looks primed to go well today despite poor form so far this year. He’s surely been aimed at this and he should go close.
In stall 31 is Donncha, another ridden by an apprentice, this time the 3lb claimer Tom Marquand. He finished 2nd off 4lb higher in the Doncaster Spring Mile before finishing 2 lengths 5th in the Hambleton when appearing unlucky. He never got a run that day and would have gone close with a clear run. All ground comes the same to our horse and he should be another to run a big race at a track that suits. His form in big field handicaps here reads 3rd of 20 and 4th of 20.
Back Balty Boys (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 15.00 with Boylesports (1/4 odds 1-5 BOG)
Back it here:
Back Donncha (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 15.00 with Bet365 (1/4 odds 1-5 BOG)
Back it here:
5.35: Sandringham Handicap
The closing race is a 26 runner 3 year old handicap that looks very competitive. Unbeaten Persuasive is the favourite but there are any number of dangers and this isn’t a race that interests me. If pressed, Make Fast will carry my money but I’ll be keeping my powder dry for the last 3 days.
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