The Group races get the majority of the attention across the Royal Ascot meeting, and with the stars on show there is nothing wrong with that, but the other attraction of the Royal meeting is the competitive handicaps on the schedule and there are four of them.
These are big races in their own right and so we have given them special attention with their own separate preview. We’ve delved into the form of all four races and have come up with bets in all of them.
1.15 Royal Ascot
Preview
The opener is the Silver Hunt Cup handicap for those failing to get into the main event run later on the card. With 22 runners & the evidence of Day 1, a high draw is favoured. Ouzo is the favourite for Richard Hannon & Ryan Moore and he has a good draw in 24. He ran a good race at HQ recently, races off the same mark here but is plenty short enough in the market.
His nearest rival on the book is Maydanny. He’s very lightly raced having won a Class 4 handicap but is up 10lbs so has it all to prove from a low draw. Sir Busker will find this tough off top weight & Brian Epstein is better at 7 furlongs.
Betting
That leaves us with Alternative Fact, a decent 5 year old, drawn high from a Ed Dunlop yard in decent nick. As a 3 year old, he was campaigned over further and didn’t achieve much but that’s largely because of an opening handicap mark of 101.
Last year, he did much better culminating in a win in a handicap off 86 (races off 90 here). Before that, he went into the notebook when running 9th in the Cambridgeshire behind Group performer Lord North from the wrong side of the track. On the face of it, his reappearance was disappointing but he was denied a clear run.
Stepping back in trip should help in this big field and the booking of Dettori, who’s ridden just one for the yard in the last 18 months, is a positive. He has ridden him once before as a 3 year old when 2nd, giving 4lbs to a winner who’s now rated 115 & has won a Group 1.
At decent odds, he should be tough to keep out of the money especially if the draw bias still exists.
Tips
PLACED – Back Alternative Fact (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 11.00 Betway BOG (1/5 odds 1-6)
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2.25 Royal Ascot
Preview
18 run is this mile and a half King George V handicap for 3 year olds. You need to be looking for something likely to be suited by the trip with very few having already gone this far in their short careers. Kipps has been well touted for this but he disappointed the other week at Haydock when losing out in a head bob. Whilst he races off the same mark, this is much tougher.
Bright Melody could prove to be Group class & looks certain to have a say here. He’ll be suited by the step up in trip but has a big weight for one so inexperienced. He’s been well backed, largely because he was one place behind Pyledriver last time out, who won a Group race on Day 1 of the Royal meeting.
Betting
Looking for something unexposed, the chances of Hukum cannot be ignored. He represents Sheikh Hamdan who had a cracking Day 1, and is ridden by Jim Crowley who had a similar good day, riding 3 winners.
On his 2nd and last start, you couldn’t fail to be impressed by the way he came from another county & flew down the home straight at Kempton over a mile to reel in the longtime leader. The jockey said he raced lazily for the first half of the race, unsurprising given he was sat in the stalls for fully 10 minutes. However, when he woke up, he quickened up in eyecatching fashion and won eased down. The trainer talked about the Derby after that & he’s still in there, with current quotes around the 33/1 mark.
This son of Sea The Stars should relish the step up in trip and, with a confirmed turn of foot & untapped potential, he looks overpriced here.
Tips
WON – Back Hukum (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 13.00 William Hill BOG (1/5 odds 1-5)
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3.35 Royal Ascot
Preview
The big handicap of the day is the 23 runner Royal Hunt Cup over the straight mile. Like the Silver Hunt Cup earlier, something drawn middle to draw should be advantageous. Lightly raced Lord Tennyson & in form Alrajaa are leading the market but have massive weights & it’ll be a good performance by either to win off their current marks.
Bell Rock & Montatham both won last time out so have their backers but their revised marks will make it difficult whilst Fox Premier comes from the foot of weights but is better over further & is unlikely to have the speed to land this.
Betting
Instead, we’re going double handed, the first being Dark Vision. He has a middle draw and this good 4 year old comes here with a big chance. As a 2 year old, he won his first 3 including a Group 2 & that led connections to run him in the 2000 Guineas as a 3 year old. He was outclassed there.
After that, he ran in big handicaps off a big mark but performed with credit, not least when 8th in the Britannia here off 105 (he was 3rd home in his group) & 6th in the Cambridgeshire from an awful draw. He also ran a cracker first time up this year when 2nd on the all-weather. He had the widest draw there, stall 1, which has a terrible record at the track. The 3rd has franked the form by winning since. The booking of Buick is another plus and, with conditions in his favour, he should go well.
The 2nd bet is one you cannot ignore in this race & that’s 6 year old Afaak. This Hunt Cup regular won last year & was 2nd the year before, and it would be no surprise to see him rack up a hat trick of top performances in the toughest of handicaps.
This year, he is drawn well in 18 and has Cieren Fallon on board who takes 3lbs off his back, effectively meaning he is running off 103. For comparison, his 2 previous runs in this were both off 103 so there’s reason to be optimistic. This is his first run of the year but he did win first time up in this race last year so there’s nothing to worry about on that score.
His yard is going well having had Battaash & Equilateral filling the 1-2 in the big Group 1 sprint on Day 1 and Charlie Hills will be bidding to land a 2nd Royal Ascot winner of the year in this.
Tips
WON – Back Dark Vision (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 13.00 Skybet BOG (1/5 odds 1-7)
PLACED – Back Afaak (e/w) for a 0.75/10 at 13.00 Paddy Power BOG (1/5 odds 1-7)
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4.40 Royal Ascot
Preview
The final race on the card is a new addition this year, the Copper Horse handicap over 1 mile 6 furlongs. Ranch Hand leads the market and was very progressive last term but his mark looks stiff whilst Fujaira Prince has a top chance if fit on his return from a year off. He was last seen when 3rd at this meeting 12 months ago. Collide is also well fancied but has a penalty & a monster weight to overcome.
Betting
It looks worth chancing Floating Artist for Richard Hannon here. This is the first time over the trip but it is expected to suit judged on what he’s achieved on the track. This could be the Group horse in a handicap scenario. He’s a horse that gets in off 105 here & it’s somewhat surprising he wasn’t tried in one of the Group races during the week.
After being stepped up to a mile and a half last year, he won a handicap here off 5lbs lower, staying on well late to pull clear. That’s a tick in the ‘track form’ box but it’s his next run that impressed most. He was 1 length 4th in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood & could’ve finished closer with a clearer run although he couldn’t be considered unlucky. The quality of rival that day marked it down as a very good run with the 3 in front of him now rated 113, 110 & 100 whilst he also had 116 & 107 rated horses in behind.
His reappearance run wasn’t anything to write home about where, in a Listed race, he ran no better than midfield but had a strong pace bias to overcome. He also looked like he’d improve massively for the run.
Back in a handicap, with an extra 2 furlongs to cover & at a track he goes on, he’s very likely to run a good race at big odds.
Tips
PLACED – Back Floating Artist (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 13.00 888sport BOG (1/5 odds 1-5)
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