The final day of Royal Ascot has some big races for us to enjoy and get stuck into as the biggest race meeting in the world draws to a close. There are three Group races on the card, each of which looks extremely competitive. We’ve gone through all three and picked out the best bets to conclude the week with.
3.05 Royal Ascot: Jersey Stakes
There’s 18 runners for this Group 3 contest for 3 year olds over 7 furlongs.
The favourite is likely to be the Godolphin horse Space Blues who comes here having won his last 2. Last time he landed the Listed Surrey Stakes at Epsom but only got home narrowly and has a stiffer track to contend with today.
So Perfect, from the yard of Aiden O’Brien, is next and she’s been mixing it in top company. She does however have a 3lb penalty having won a Group 3 last time out. Momkin is Roger Charlton’s runner and he has a chance having run 2 decent races this term. He was 2nd to Skardu in the Craven on his reappearance before finishing midfield in the 2000 Guineas. A step back in trip could suit.
Preference is for Urban Icon. He was a neck 2nd to today’s favourite Space Blues at Epsom on a track that, to me, didn’t seem to suit. His trainer, Richard Hannon, thinks Ascot will play to his strengths and I tend to agree.
He won both his starts as a 2 year old, by over 3 lengths on each occasion, but has yet to get off the mark this year. He was 3rd in a very warm looking Greenham, recording a good time in the process before doing well to finish 8th in the 2000 Guineas, 2 lengths in front of Momkin. Last time, he was 2nd in that Epsom race.
He’s an improving sort and, with conditions in his favour, should go well at an each way price.
Tips
PLACED – Back Urban Icon (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 10.00 Coral BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
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3.40 Royal Ascot: Hardwicke Stakes
A bare 8 line up in this Group 2 event over a mile and a half. The market suggests this is between the front 4 in the market and I tend to agree.
We should get a strong pace as there’s 3 who could conceivably make the running so it would be no surprise to see the staying types prevail over the speedier opponents.
Last year’s Derby winner is the current favourite and that horse is Masar. He’s clearly top class and the drying ground is in his favour. This is his first run since and it looks a good move to take in a race just below the highest level. If he’s fit, he will go close.
Defoe is a really admirable consistent sort who won his first Group 1 last time out in the Coronation Stakes when getting the better of Kew Gardens. In a game of fine margins, the negative is the ground. On Tuesday or Wednesday when the ground was at it’s worst, he’d have been the bet, but not now.
Mirage Dancer goes for Sir Michael Stoute who has won 6 of the last 10 runnings. That makes him one to fear but this horse is a Goodwood specialist having recorded 3 of his 4 career victories there.
The selection is Aiden O’Brien’s horse Southern France. He’s not won for over a year when landing a Listed contest on just his 3rd start. He’s not done an awful lot wrong since, having run 2nd to Kew Gardens in the Queens Vase next time out before finishing 3rd in the St Leger.
On his 2nd start this year, he ran Gold Cup winner Stradivarius close when going down by under a length, with 5 lengths back to the 3rd. It’s interesting that his trainer brings him back in trip when the rest of the world thought he would be going up in distance. He’s also said that this one is getting faster with age and feels this trip might bring about improvement.
He’s a long striding horse so this track should suit, as it did in the Queens Vase last year. With a fast pace likely, I expect his stamina will come into play too and he looks a very solid bet.
Tips
Back Southern France (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 5.00 Bet365 BOG (⅕ odds 1-3)
4.20 Royal Ascot: Diamond Jubilee Stakes
The big race on the final day is the 6 furlong Diamond Jubilee with 18 bidding to land this Group 1.
It makes for an interesting renewal with Tuesday’s King Stand winner Blue Point in the line up. He’s a worthy favourite and, with the step up in trip no issue, he looks sure to go close but is 2 Group 1’s in 4 days a step too far?
Le Brivido is another to race twice at this meeting having finished 5th in the Queen Anne. Different to Blue Point, he’s down in trip. He should have pace for this but I’m sure he’s good enough. Invincible Army, however, has a good chance. He’s 2 from 2 this year having won a Listed race on his reappearance before following up in the Group 2 Duke of York. He was only 9th though when well fancied for the Commonwealth.
I’m worried by the draw for The Tin Man as he’s drawn wide on the wings when they appear to come down the middle but he’s a good sort who loves Ascot and has won this race before. Emblazoned, who was 3rd in Commonwealth Cup last year, has a chance with Dettori up but he’s had a year on injuries and has only run once since when 2nd at Haydock on unsuitably soft ground. First time blinkers may do the trick.
The selection is last year’s 2nd in this, City Light. This French challenger has the assistance of Christophe Soumillon and bids to go one better after being so unlucky last year. He started very slowly but finished with a rattle and would have got up in another stride.
He’s not been as good since but 2 of his runs have been over 5 furlongs and I’m certain he’s better over 6. In his one start this year, he was 2nd to the very good Inns Of Court but the ground was on the soft side that day. With better ground, he’ll improve and, having been laid out for this race, he’s sure to be in the mix.
Tips
Back City Light (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 10.00 BetVictor BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
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