The glitz & the glamour. Top & tails, a Royal occasion, but most importantly, five exhilarating days of racing, where the world focuses on horse racing, and Ascot. Here is a preview of the first days action.
14:30 (Queen Anne Stakes, 1m, Group 1)
An interesting renewal, with Dubai hero Benbatl returning to these shores after winning the Dubai Turf last time out. The French charge comes courtesy of Recoletos, who won the Prix d’Ispahan, but his best distance seems to be 1m2f. This all sets up the race for Rhododendron. After coming 4th to Cracksman at Longchamp on season debut, the mount of Ryan Moore took the Lockinge under pressure from Lightning Spear in second. American raider Yoshida is one to note, with trainer William Mott confident of a good run after a Grade 1 win last time out at Churchill Downs (1m1f).
15:05 (Coventry Stakes, 6f, Group 2)
As ever, a wide open affair, Sergei Prokofiev is the market leader and is sure to run a big race for Aidan O’Brien. AOB also runs The Irish Rover who can’t be ruled out. Calyx was very green on debut at Newmarket but bolted up by 5 lengths for John Gosden and is the mount of Frankie Dettori so he’s sure to run his race. Others to note include the Godolphin pair of Burj & Dubai Legacy, the latter having only one start, as well as Ninethreetwenty, who has found enough to win twice this season. A recommended E/W play would be Indigo Balance, who tops the speed charts with his debut win at the Curragh and that form has been franked with the second & fifth horses winning their next starts
15:40 (King’s Stand Stakes, 5f, Group 1)
On paper, this seems to be a two horse race, the inevitable fast pace will suit the always improving Battash who got home late to pinch the Temple Stakes from Washington DC, Mabs Cross & Kachy. Michael Dods’ 4yo could still have more to offer, and with bookmakers offering 4 places, the fast finisher should be able to pinch a place, especially with a better start than she got in the Temple. However, the early pace of Lady Aurelia, and the ability to keep up the gallop should be enough to prevent all rivals. Wesley Ward’s filly has won at Royal Ascot twice already and although she hasn’t won since last year’s meeting, the American raider has enough to make it three from three at Ascot.
16:20 (St James’s Palace Stakes, 7f213y, Group 1)
Without Parole missed the 2000 Guineas after suffering with a bruised foot and John Gosden will be looking to make amends at Ascot. Tip Two Win did run, and did impress at Newmarket, finishing second behind Saxon Warrior and will surely run a big race for Roger Teal. Wootton went off favourite for the French Guineas but never looked like getting up when impeded inside the final furlong at Longchamp, and that form looks weak following Olmedo only managing 13th in the Prix du Jockey Club a fortnight ago. This leads to the Irish 2000 Guineas, and the winner that day Romanised shocked the betting world winning at 25/1 under Shane Foley, the colt was slowly away that day and was last going into the final 4 furlongs, but made steady progress to beat U S Navy Flag & Gustav Klimt going away at the Curragh.
17:00 (Ascot Stakes, 2m3f210y, Class 2 Handicap)
Willie Mullins’ Stratum leads the market, but he was 35 lengths behind the winner on his hurdle return in May. Dannyday looks like a real threat after his 4th place finish in comeback run over an inadequate trip. The tentative selection is Coeur De Lion who was gaining on Look My Way inside the final furlong in the Chester Plate over 2m2f and is only up 3lbs for that run and comes into the race off bottom weight. Willie Mullins trains four more runners, Lagostovegas is certainly the most interesting one under Andrea Atzeni. Another Willie Mullins runner, Chelkar is very interesting. Ryan Moore is booked but the five year old gelding has never raced beyond 1m2f, hasn’t been seen on a track since October 2016, however the pedigree is there to suggest a big run is possible.
17:35 (Wolferton Stakes, 1m1f212y, Listed Race)
Laraaib was two lengths behind a smart horse in Poet’s World in the Brigadier at Sandown last time out, that was his first run of the season and the son of Pivotal will only be making his sixth career start, so improvement seems inevitable for Owen Burrows’ colt. Sharja Bridge has made the frame in all five of his starts but takes the step up to Listed company and will need to find improvement to take this. Mirage Dancer won over 1m4f at Goodwood last time and it would appear that Sir Michael Stoute’s runner is better over that distance, the same can be said for Dash Of Spice, who came away from the field at the Derby meeting at Epsom last time out. Monarch’s Glen was sent off at 7/1 for the Dubai Turf but never got into it at Meydan, would be extremely dangerous if finding the form shown last season.
Tips
1pt Lucky 15: Rhododendron, Calyx, Lady Aurelia & Romanised
0.5pt EW Yankee: Indigo Balance, Mabs Cross, Laraaib & Coeur De Lion
General Sporting Rambles 