Another great day's racing at Royal Ascot, the feature being won by French raider Ervedya nailing Found close home with the running on Lucida back in third - three very high class fillies all running their hearts out, great to see. Muhaarar was talked up plenty by his trainer, he said he was the horse he was most looking forward to running - having already had a winner, maybe the signs were there - a stunning performace, destroying a high class field, has the world at his feet now. Illuminate was another one very well talked up by trainer and jockey and she won the first very nicely. They went fast early doors but she quickened and won like a very exciting horse for the future - quotes already being thrown about for the Guineas. Other winners included Aloft in the finale, holding on from Keith Dalgleish's Tommy Docc that I mentioned being a big price yesterday when 66/1. The NB Vive Ma Fille led all the way to inside the final furlong where she hung quite badly and Fanning had to stop riding, frustratingly this had enough effect to see her nailed for 3rd close home denying healthy place money at 33/1. Watersmeet had earlier run a good race, but annoyingly finished one outside the places and the 50/1 IWAC ran like a 50/1 shot in all honesty! On to the fifth and final day.
Whilst Mahsoob looks a potential Group horse, I'm not letting Sennockian Star go off at 20/1 without a few of my hard earned on his back. He is one of the toughest handicappers out there, even by Mark Johnston standards and takes his racing so very well. He has won two of his last three and was only beaten two lengths in this last year. He now races off a 4lb lower mark and sneaks in off bottom weight. Franny Norton gets on particularly well with him, having been successful on three of the four ocassions he has ridden him. Worth also noting he is the only course and distance winner in the entire field. The re-opposing Collaboration has given him a decent beating a couple of times but he is better off at the weights here and can race under different conditions. Him and the unbeaten favourite, however will be well fancied to run well but this lad has to be in the mix with his usual front running style, on ground he has an exceptional record on.
Cracking renewal of the Hardwicke and Telescope is sure to be all the rage. However, Sir Michael Stoute runners have had a very strange week, three have been pulled up - whether it's desperate bad luck or something stopping them, I'm not sure. On best form he is the one to beat but I'd much rather side with Luca Cumani's Postponed who has been crying out for a return to a mile and a half. He ran a screamer over an inadequate trip in ground conditions that weren't ideal last time out when only beaten half a length in the Group 1 in Ireland - the form being advertised earlier in the week with the very unlucky Grey Gatsby going down by a nostril in the Prince Of Wales Stakes. He is 2/2 when racing over further than 1m2f and the never out of form yard of Luca Cumani can notch their first success of the week at Royal Ascot here. 7/2 is a very fair price as the rest shouldn't be good enough unless Eagle Top comes on leaps and bounds for his disappointing reappearance run.
I have to say I rarely back any Aidan O'Brien trained horse - usually because it is underpriced and overhyped but I still think there is a bit of juice in the price of Due Dilligence tomorrow in the Diamond Jubilee. He's clearly been prepared for this since he was a close 2nd in last year's renewal and you can totally ignore his reappearance run. Despite the big field and seemingly competitive nature of the race, there are only one or two that really stand out as top notchers and this lad is one of them. If the favourite is as good as the Australian's seem to think he is, then we will only be getting place money returns but at 7/1 he is a very solid each way bet here. With the best jockey in the world in the plate and O'Brien horses under him running to form figures of 321161121421 this week, he has to be the play as the favourite is a total unknown.
I've been waiting for Huntsman's Close to run again since his superb reappearance run when short-headed at Newmarket. He has really improved since joining Roger Charlton and he is well up to winning a big handicap like this. He sneaks in off near bottom weight off a rating of 98 which may underestimate him despite this being a career high mark. He won the Silver Cup at Ayr on his final start last year and seems to enjoy racing in big fields. The Wokingham was a nominated target early in the season and he looks to have a favourites chance with the very talented William Buick in the plate. The trainer had a very nice filly run a close second in a big handicap earlier in the week and he'll be hoping this lad can go one better. 12/1 available but is 11/1 paying 6 places with one firm so I've backed him with them. Of course you need a lot of luck in running but everything looks set for a big run.
Selections:
15.05 Sennockian Star 20/1 ew (4 places) 2ND
15.40 Postponed 7/2 3rd
16.20 Due Dilligence 7/1 ew
17.00 Huntsman's Close 11/1 ew (6 places) NR
THT
Friday, 19 June 2015
Thursday, 18 June 2015
Royal Ascot Day 4
A double on day one, a treble on day two and another treble on day three at Royal Ascot for man of the moment Ryan Moore, what a jockey he is, and it could have even been another if he had gotten a bit more luck in running in the feature on Kingfisher. Pandora ran a shocker and was eased right out of it as if something was amiss - better was expected. Curvy was the winner - frustrating as I had it between the two. The big handicap I also liked two but went with the wrong one again, Emirates Airline never involved, Rotherwick my other fancy ran a big race for fifth in the Britannia. Scottish ran a screamer in the last but just couldn't quite get up, nice horse to keep onside. Overall ended the day with a small loss but as it was only half stakes not too much damage done at all. On to day four where I've gone for a huge Johnston double and an overpriced Ralph Beckett filly.
The Albany is a total minefield and it's becoming a cliche this week but I usually try and avoid these events unless one really stands out. Illuminate, the favourite, was given a glowing reference by her trainer earlier in the week and could well turn out to be a very nice filly but there are seven other horses that have ran just once and won so 3/1 isn't the type of price I would take in a field like this with so many unknowns. Races like these aren't shy of throwing up a few big priced winners and I'm hopeful of more of the same this year. Miss Moneypenny is the horse in question. She ran an encouraging race on debut running on strongly close home after being badly bumped coming out of the stalls and the winner advertised the form with a very bold showing in the Queen Mary earlier in the week. She then progressed to win her maiden on her second start before being chucked in the deep end at Epsom in the Woodcote. Buratino formlines are working out well already and the subsequent Coventry winner dotted up there but this filly was in the mix for the places behind. That was a solid run and Beckett doesn't enter his horses unless he thinks they have a genuine chance of bringing home some prize money. She's related to 2yo 6f Group 1 winners and while she probably isn't quite up to that level herself, she can put her experience to good use here and shouldn't mind the open track having run at HQ on debut. Don't get me wrong, she is an outsider, if she was 20-25/1 I would have probably thought fair enough and passed her over. However, at 50/1 I can't resist a very small each way punt although being paid only three places is very frustrating in a race like this. Just a tickle for me and the IWAC for day four.
The penultimate race on day four is a mile and a half handicap and the one I like the look of is Mark Johnston's Watersmeet. They grey son of Dansili has shown significant improvement this year rising through the handicap to the tune of 26lbs. His improvement is showing no signs of stopping and despite being up in the weights he can give Joe Fanning his first winner of the week. He completed a quick-fire hattrick at the start of the season before looking the likely winner 1f out in a competitive Newmarket handicap before hanging terribly inside the final furlong and completely throwing the race away. His tendency to hang is a slight negative, especially at a wide open track like Ascot but he was better last time when resuming his progress winning a similar handicap to this one, beating a very decent field. While he probably needs to improve a few pounds again, the front runner is the one to go with each way with bookmakers paying four places and will need a very good showing here if he is to take up his engagement in a Newmarket Group 2 next month. I make him the best each way bet of the day and he gets the NAP treatment.
Vive Ma Fille has been quietly progressing at what in time may have turned out to be an inadequate trip. She has been screaming for a step up in distance, shown clearly by her last run where she was badly outpaced before rallying well and finishing with a rattle to come 2nd by the reopposing winner (who looks pricey at 66/1). She has long been under consideration for a run at Royal Ascot and connections clearly feel they have seen enough to warrant a place here. She has a few pounds to find but this new trip can be the making of her and she can make a bold bid for the same trainer/jockey that won this race last year with a similar horse moving up in trip from around 1m4f. How Aloft can be bordering even money is a farce, only ever raced at a mile and been off 237 days - also the trainer has turned to a tongue tie and cheekpeices - hardly encouraging and despite posessing the best form as a 2yo he is a joke of a price in my opinion. That said Moore/O'Brien are in scintillating form so may let this one get away without pressing the pink button. Fabricate I am more worried about, progressive, well regarded and likely to stay but with that one at 7/1 and this filly at 33/1 I know what I'll be backing.
Selections:
14.30 Albany Stakes - Miss Moneypenny 50/1 each way
17.00 DOE Stakes - Watersmeet 14/1 each way (4 places)
17.35 Queens Vase - Vive Ma Fille 33/1 each way
THT
The Albany is a total minefield and it's becoming a cliche this week but I usually try and avoid these events unless one really stands out. Illuminate, the favourite, was given a glowing reference by her trainer earlier in the week and could well turn out to be a very nice filly but there are seven other horses that have ran just once and won so 3/1 isn't the type of price I would take in a field like this with so many unknowns. Races like these aren't shy of throwing up a few big priced winners and I'm hopeful of more of the same this year. Miss Moneypenny is the horse in question. She ran an encouraging race on debut running on strongly close home after being badly bumped coming out of the stalls and the winner advertised the form with a very bold showing in the Queen Mary earlier in the week. She then progressed to win her maiden on her second start before being chucked in the deep end at Epsom in the Woodcote. Buratino formlines are working out well already and the subsequent Coventry winner dotted up there but this filly was in the mix for the places behind. That was a solid run and Beckett doesn't enter his horses unless he thinks they have a genuine chance of bringing home some prize money. She's related to 2yo 6f Group 1 winners and while she probably isn't quite up to that level herself, she can put her experience to good use here and shouldn't mind the open track having run at HQ on debut. Don't get me wrong, she is an outsider, if she was 20-25/1 I would have probably thought fair enough and passed her over. However, at 50/1 I can't resist a very small each way punt although being paid only three places is very frustrating in a race like this. Just a tickle for me and the IWAC for day four.
The penultimate race on day four is a mile and a half handicap and the one I like the look of is Mark Johnston's Watersmeet. They grey son of Dansili has shown significant improvement this year rising through the handicap to the tune of 26lbs. His improvement is showing no signs of stopping and despite being up in the weights he can give Joe Fanning his first winner of the week. He completed a quick-fire hattrick at the start of the season before looking the likely winner 1f out in a competitive Newmarket handicap before hanging terribly inside the final furlong and completely throwing the race away. His tendency to hang is a slight negative, especially at a wide open track like Ascot but he was better last time when resuming his progress winning a similar handicap to this one, beating a very decent field. While he probably needs to improve a few pounds again, the front runner is the one to go with each way with bookmakers paying four places and will need a very good showing here if he is to take up his engagement in a Newmarket Group 2 next month. I make him the best each way bet of the day and he gets the NAP treatment.
Vive Ma Fille has been quietly progressing at what in time may have turned out to be an inadequate trip. She has been screaming for a step up in distance, shown clearly by her last run where she was badly outpaced before rallying well and finishing with a rattle to come 2nd by the reopposing winner (who looks pricey at 66/1). She has long been under consideration for a run at Royal Ascot and connections clearly feel they have seen enough to warrant a place here. She has a few pounds to find but this new trip can be the making of her and she can make a bold bid for the same trainer/jockey that won this race last year with a similar horse moving up in trip from around 1m4f. How Aloft can be bordering even money is a farce, only ever raced at a mile and been off 237 days - also the trainer has turned to a tongue tie and cheekpeices - hardly encouraging and despite posessing the best form as a 2yo he is a joke of a price in my opinion. That said Moore/O'Brien are in scintillating form so may let this one get away without pressing the pink button. Fabricate I am more worried about, progressive, well regarded and likely to stay but with that one at 7/1 and this filly at 33/1 I know what I'll be backing.
Selections:
14.30 Albany Stakes - Miss Moneypenny 50/1 each way
17.00 DOE Stakes - Watersmeet 14/1 each way (4 places)
17.35 Queens Vase - Vive Ma Fille 33/1 each way
THT
Wednesday, 17 June 2015
Royal Ascot Day 3
Well what a frustrating, yet profitable day yesterday was. All three selections came 2nd at each way prices, beaten under a length in total between them. The Grey Gatsby was definitely the most unlucky, boxed in by Dettori on the Gosden runner until mercifully, the gap came and the Kevin Ryan stable star chased after Free Eagle who had got first run. The line came a stride too soon, and Spencer will certainly have been venting his frustrations in the weighing room no doubt! Before that, Fadhayill ran a screamer in the Jersey stakes, beaten half a length by the trainer's son, who led home a Hills family 1-2 in the opener. Later on in the card, Temptress showed her potential, quietly weaving her way through the field on the far side but just getting done close home by GM Hopkins of the never out of form Gosden yard and yet another winner for Ryan Moore who doubled up on the day. The Charlton filly is certainly one to keep in your notebooks, she will be plying her trade in pattern company from now on. All in all another very solid day, that's four placed and one winner from six selections so far, all at each way prices, hopefully more of the same going on into the later part of the week.
The Ribblesdale and indeed the entire day three card looks very competitive and pretty tricky to solve. The progressive Curvy now has the services of Ryan Moore and at 8/1 I can totally understand those siding with her in the each way market. The Irish 1000 winner does look very much the one to beat however, and looks likely though far from certain to stay. The Cumani filly is the exact type of horse the trainer excels with and that one looks likely to run a big race but I'm siding with Pandora, at a bigger price than all those mentioned above. I won't be going mad, but her last run took a huge boost when Star Of Seville won a very competitive Prix De Diane in France the other day and she is certainly no 12/1 shot here with further improvement expected. Connections had once considered the Oaks but have really had this race lined up ever since her run in the Musidora. She is a big filly, is expected to improve for the step up in trip and can give Charlie Hills his second winner at this year's Royal Meeting.
There is a bit of a gamble brewing on War Envoy in the Britannia and I can sort of understand why. There are plenty of improving and unexposed types elsewhere and it is an utter minefield so just a small each way punt for me. Rotherwick can go well to boost that Jack Hobbs/Stravagante formline even more but one I like at a bigger price is one of the Godolphin foursome. Emirates Airline had two runs as a two year old, both disappointing efforts considering his price in the market on both occasions. The summer break/gelding operation and step up in trip from sprinting seemed to work the magic when he won with any amount in hand in a Chelmsford handicap on reappearance. He has since ran once more, finishing a length behind Dissolution, who is favourite for the race after this at time of writing and that form could turn out to be okay. This is before you consider that the 10f trip stretched him that day and he was far too keen - a strongly run race over this trip could be exactly what this horse needs to be shown to best effect. He also gets a hood first time which can only help his cause and should help him to settle a little better. If everything comes together he could run a very big race under Harry Bentley - backing his mounts would have you operating at a very impressive £85 LSP this season. As I say, just a small bet and you need a lot of luck but paying 6 places at 28/1 he is worth a play. (33/1 available but only 4 places)
The closing handicap on Day 3 has the aforementioned Dissolution as favourite and he has already been popular and no longer an each way price for me. He has solid claims stepping up in trip but at 11/1 so does Scottish. He was only just nailed by Mr Singh of Gosden's yard two starts back, who runs in a Group 2 later in the week. He improved from that run to make all last time beating off another Gosden inmate who has since made a mockery of a mark of 86 making Socttish look fairly treated off 91, especially now moving up in trip which looks sure to suit. The worry in a field of this size is that the competition for the lead may be fierce but I don't think he has to lead to be seen to best effect. This is a step up in class but the Balding inmate is open to improvement and the jockey nominated him as one of his best rides of the week (already had a winner) Paying four places, he looks worth an each way play at 11/1 in the finale.
A note of caution - a very trappy day today so I'm playing at half stakes and done a little each way trixie as well as each way singles - don't give all the profit we've made in the last two days straight back to the bookies! Much better racing later in the week to wait for.
Selections:
15.40 Ribblesdale - Pandora 12/1 each way
17.00 Britannia - Emirates Airline 28/1 each way (six places)
17.35 King George V - Scottish 11/1 each way (four places) 2ND
THT
The Ribblesdale and indeed the entire day three card looks very competitive and pretty tricky to solve. The progressive Curvy now has the services of Ryan Moore and at 8/1 I can totally understand those siding with her in the each way market. The Irish 1000 winner does look very much the one to beat however, and looks likely though far from certain to stay. The Cumani filly is the exact type of horse the trainer excels with and that one looks likely to run a big race but I'm siding with Pandora, at a bigger price than all those mentioned above. I won't be going mad, but her last run took a huge boost when Star Of Seville won a very competitive Prix De Diane in France the other day and she is certainly no 12/1 shot here with further improvement expected. Connections had once considered the Oaks but have really had this race lined up ever since her run in the Musidora. She is a big filly, is expected to improve for the step up in trip and can give Charlie Hills his second winner at this year's Royal Meeting.
There is a bit of a gamble brewing on War Envoy in the Britannia and I can sort of understand why. There are plenty of improving and unexposed types elsewhere and it is an utter minefield so just a small each way punt for me. Rotherwick can go well to boost that Jack Hobbs/Stravagante formline even more but one I like at a bigger price is one of the Godolphin foursome. Emirates Airline had two runs as a two year old, both disappointing efforts considering his price in the market on both occasions. The summer break/gelding operation and step up in trip from sprinting seemed to work the magic when he won with any amount in hand in a Chelmsford handicap on reappearance. He has since ran once more, finishing a length behind Dissolution, who is favourite for the race after this at time of writing and that form could turn out to be okay. This is before you consider that the 10f trip stretched him that day and he was far too keen - a strongly run race over this trip could be exactly what this horse needs to be shown to best effect. He also gets a hood first time which can only help his cause and should help him to settle a little better. If everything comes together he could run a very big race under Harry Bentley - backing his mounts would have you operating at a very impressive £85 LSP this season. As I say, just a small bet and you need a lot of luck but paying 6 places at 28/1 he is worth a play. (33/1 available but only 4 places)
The closing handicap on Day 3 has the aforementioned Dissolution as favourite and he has already been popular and no longer an each way price for me. He has solid claims stepping up in trip but at 11/1 so does Scottish. He was only just nailed by Mr Singh of Gosden's yard two starts back, who runs in a Group 2 later in the week. He improved from that run to make all last time beating off another Gosden inmate who has since made a mockery of a mark of 86 making Socttish look fairly treated off 91, especially now moving up in trip which looks sure to suit. The worry in a field of this size is that the competition for the lead may be fierce but I don't think he has to lead to be seen to best effect. This is a step up in class but the Balding inmate is open to improvement and the jockey nominated him as one of his best rides of the week (already had a winner) Paying four places, he looks worth an each way play at 11/1 in the finale.
A note of caution - a very trappy day today so I'm playing at half stakes and done a little each way trixie as well as each way singles - don't give all the profit we've made in the last two days straight back to the bookies! Much better racing later in the week to wait for.
Selections:
15.40 Ribblesdale - Pandora 12/1 each way
17.00 Britannia - Emirates Airline 28/1 each way (six places)
17.35 King George V - Scottish 11/1 each way (four places) 2ND
THT
Tuesday, 16 June 2015
Royal Ascot - Day 2
Cracking opening day at Ascot. Ryan Moore stole the show with a treble but arguably the most impressive perofmance of the day was Buratino who we made our NAP in the Coventry. Always travelling well, he hit the front at the furlong pole and Buick needn't have carried his stick, hugely exciting horse going forward. Sole Power just had too much to do and his ageing legs couldn't make up the ground quick enough in the Kings Stand, but he ran creditably finishing a close enough 5th. Noble Silk was the IWAC and ran a very good race to finish fourth in the Ascot Stakes, landing some tidy each way profit at early price of 33/1. All in all, a very solid start. On to day two.
Ivawood is the red hot favourite in the opener and Richard Hughes has called him the banker of the week. While he obviously has a leading chance, I'm keen to take him on with a solid each way alternative. Two of the last five runnings have been won by fillies and with FADHAYILL coming back in trip to 7f, it may be another that takes the Jersey stakes this year. She was only beaten a length by Lucida on her final 2yo start and reappeared with a huge run in the Guineas to finish 5th, this despite a front bandage causing all sorts of problems in the final furlong. She drops in class and drops in trip and has always been very well regarded, she can run into a place at the very least here and may give the favourite most to think about, Grab 10/1 while you can, it won't last.
It's always nice to get a big price about a runner with the best form going into a race (like Buratino yesterday) and it's the case again tomorrow in the Prince Of Wales Stakes. Kevin Ryan has often said that THE GREY GATSBY doesn't get the credit he deserves, and judged by the fact you can get 13/2 about a multiple Group 1 winner who is rated 6lbs higher than his nearest rival in the race, suggests he may be right. Yesterday Solow boosted the form of his 2nd In Meydan two starts back and while his run in Ireland was underwhelming, he was only beaten two lengths. Jamie Spencer can be hit and miss but will hopefully get it right tomorrow, he is very possibly the each way bet of the entire meeting and I certainly wouldn't put you off a sizeable each way punt. That said I'm backing him for the win - on 2014 form he would be different gravy to these, it isn't the strongest renewal, and while Free Eagle is an unknown quantity, 11/4 makes no appeal compared to the grey, no brainer for me and my NAP on day 2.
A 30 runner handicap is the type of race I barely even look at but when you feel there is a potential Group level horse running off near bottom weight, you have to have a play. TEMPTRESS is the horse in question. She absolutely dotted up on reappearance over C/D of which she is 2/2. She was only raised 7lbs for that performace which is a huge underestimation in my eyes. Roger Charlton's filly looks to have really come on over winter and he was quoted as saying 'we will definitely be looking to get some bacak type with her,' in a recent stable tour. This is a (very competitive) handicap and she looks sure to run well before going on to bigger and brighter things later in the season. She's the least exposed runner in the field and highly progressive, the ideal profile for a race like this, she'll be coming late and fast. The progressive Speculative Bid is the main worry but going back up to 1m may be his undoing in ths stronger race and at a smidgen bigger, I'm happy to side with Temptress at 14/1.
Selections:
14.30 Jersey Stakes - Fadhayill 10/1 each way 2ND
16.20 Prince Of Wales - The Grey Gatsby 13/2 2ND
17.00 Royal Hunt Cup - Temptress 14/1 each way (5 places) 2ND
THT
Ivawood is the red hot favourite in the opener and Richard Hughes has called him the banker of the week. While he obviously has a leading chance, I'm keen to take him on with a solid each way alternative. Two of the last five runnings have been won by fillies and with FADHAYILL coming back in trip to 7f, it may be another that takes the Jersey stakes this year. She was only beaten a length by Lucida on her final 2yo start and reappeared with a huge run in the Guineas to finish 5th, this despite a front bandage causing all sorts of problems in the final furlong. She drops in class and drops in trip and has always been very well regarded, she can run into a place at the very least here and may give the favourite most to think about, Grab 10/1 while you can, it won't last.
It's always nice to get a big price about a runner with the best form going into a race (like Buratino yesterday) and it's the case again tomorrow in the Prince Of Wales Stakes. Kevin Ryan has often said that THE GREY GATSBY doesn't get the credit he deserves, and judged by the fact you can get 13/2 about a multiple Group 1 winner who is rated 6lbs higher than his nearest rival in the race, suggests he may be right. Yesterday Solow boosted the form of his 2nd In Meydan two starts back and while his run in Ireland was underwhelming, he was only beaten two lengths. Jamie Spencer can be hit and miss but will hopefully get it right tomorrow, he is very possibly the each way bet of the entire meeting and I certainly wouldn't put you off a sizeable each way punt. That said I'm backing him for the win - on 2014 form he would be different gravy to these, it isn't the strongest renewal, and while Free Eagle is an unknown quantity, 11/4 makes no appeal compared to the grey, no brainer for me and my NAP on day 2.
A 30 runner handicap is the type of race I barely even look at but when you feel there is a potential Group level horse running off near bottom weight, you have to have a play. TEMPTRESS is the horse in question. She absolutely dotted up on reappearance over C/D of which she is 2/2. She was only raised 7lbs for that performace which is a huge underestimation in my eyes. Roger Charlton's filly looks to have really come on over winter and he was quoted as saying 'we will definitely be looking to get some bacak type with her,' in a recent stable tour. This is a (very competitive) handicap and she looks sure to run well before going on to bigger and brighter things later in the season. She's the least exposed runner in the field and highly progressive, the ideal profile for a race like this, she'll be coming late and fast. The progressive Speculative Bid is the main worry but going back up to 1m may be his undoing in ths stronger race and at a smidgen bigger, I'm happy to side with Temptress at 14/1.
Selections:
14.30 Jersey Stakes - Fadhayill 10/1 each way 2ND
16.20 Prince Of Wales - The Grey Gatsby 13/2 2ND
17.00 Royal Hunt Cup - Temptress 14/1 each way (5 places) 2ND
THT
Monday, 15 June 2015
Royal Ascot - Day 1
A scintillating five days racing are in order with several of the world's best horses on show. Filled with mouthwatering clashes, potential superstars and multiple Group 1 winning performers strutting their stuff - it is sure to live up to it's reputation yet again. Here are my selections for Day 1 of the best flat racing festival in the world.
Godolphin have a strong hand on the opening day of the festival with Night Of Thunder and the more intriguing Steady Pace hoping to give the boys in blue a better time of it than last year with just the one winner over the five days in a handicap. That said, I was really taken aback with Buratino's performace in the Woodcote at the Derby meeting, especially as he missed the break and was then a little keen early on. Despite that race not usually being associated with Coventry winners, he has always been held in the highest regard by his trainer who has an exceptional bunch of 2yos at his disposal. The way he travelled and then sprinted clear was very much in the style of a Coventry winner in my mind. Ascot, is of course a very different track but he ran well here on his second start and also won well at Newmarket so he should handle it just fine. The market for this race is formed upon hype and potential, but this fellow has arguably the best form on offer and can improve further still. At 8/1, he rates the best each way bet on Day 1 to me.
Sole Power can make history by winning the sprint for a third time, and with 4/1 still available in a place or two, he is well worth backing to do just that. Despite being an 8yo now, he is still one of the fastest horses in the world and looks too classy for the rest of these. You can completely ignore his reappearance run, 6f on soft ground was never going to suit him and he wasn't knocked about either. 5f on rattling ground is ideal and he loves Ascot, in my mind he's a 9/4 shot and even that's being generous. Muthmir ran a career best last time and he looks the only real danger, though hasn't run here before and has flopped on big wide open tracks in the past - it's Sole Power's to lose.
Noble Silk has always promised a big handicap prize and this could be his day in the 2m4f Ascot Stakes. He shapes as if this new trip will bring the best out of him, usually galloping on strongly in the closing stages from well off the pace. He will come on a bunch for his reappearance when he wasn't knocked about and that will have him set up perfectly for this. Oisin Murphy has ridden him twice before, winning last time he was in the saddle. He has course form too having come 3rd over an inadequate trip doing all his best work at the finish. He likes to weave his way through a big field and this race should really suit him. He will be coming through the field late, and at a general 25/1 but still 33/1 in a place, he rates a cracking each way proposition with firms paying four places. Fun Mac may be the one to be most wary of judged by his demolition job on reappearance - this new trip could help him too but at 7/1 vs this fella at 33/1, it's a no brainer.
Selections:
3.05 Coventry Stakes: Buratino 8/1 each way - WINNER
3.40 King's Stand Stakes: Sole Power 4/1
5.00 Ascot Stakes: Noble Silk 33/1 each way (4 places) PLACED
THT
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