Hi all,
Another seven-race card at Royal Ascot which gets underway at 1:15 with a new race the Silver Hunt Cup, a consolation race for those horses who miss out of the Hunt Cup due to the limitation on the number of runners in the big field handicaps on the straight course.
Royal Ascot Preview – Day 2
1:15 – Silver Royal Hunt Cup Handicap (A Consolation Race For The Royal Hunt Cup) (Class 2) – 1m
Ouzo was steadily progressive last season winning three times in the first half of the season. Returned to action with a career best effort when runner up to Bell Rock at Newmarket 10-days ago. Can race off the same mark today and has a big chance of going one better here from stall 24.
Brian Epstein, a stablemate of Ouzo, has a good attitude. A winner over 7f at Musselburgh last June he returned from 374-day break when runner-up to the well handicapped Cap Francais at Haydock 8-days ago, nicely clear of the third. Can race off the same mark here and looks competitive.
Maydanny lightly raced for his age made a winner handicap debut on just his third career start at Yarmouth 14-days ago. Handicapper has raised him 10lb for that success but this half-brother to Elarqam is open to more improvement. Looks set for a big run if his low draw isn’t an inconvenience.
Alternative Bid seems to be at his best on softer ground as he showed when winning a 1m 2f handicap at Newmarket in November. Didn’t get the best of runs on the inner on his seasonal return at Haydock 10 days ago. A strongly run mile on a stiff track could suit and trainer is among the winners in recent days.
Verdict: Richard Hannon looks to have a strong hand in the race with Ouzo and Brian Epstein at the prices I just favour the latter.
1pt win – Brian Epstein – 11/1 @ Paddy Power
1:50 – Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3) – 1m 2f
Juan Elcano out ran big odds to finish 5th in the 2000 Guineas. Raced like the step up to 1m 2f will suit and comes into the race with the best form.
First Receiver finished in the places on both his two two stars as 2-year-old. Showed he had trained on from two to three with an impressive win at Kempton 15-days ago. The colt needs to improve again to win this but that’s more than likely.
Russian Emperor got up in the final strides to win at Naas in his seasonal return. Didn’t seem to get the best of runs when finishing runner up in the Derrinstown Derby Trial just 8 days ago. Capable of better if this race doesn’t come too quick,
Berlin Tango has a 4lb penalty to carry for winning the Classic Trial at Sandown but he’s improved well for two to three and is smart colt. Runner-up Pyledriver boosted the form when winning the King Edward VII yesterday.
2:25 – King George V Stakes (Handicap) (Class 2) – 1m 4f
Plenty of unexposed three-year-olds who could be much better than their handicap marks.
Kipps a good winner at Lingfield in December looked set to make a winning return to action on handicap debut when just touched off at Haydock 10 days ago. Can race of the same mark here and better ground should suit.
Win O’Clock takes a big step up in class after making a winning handicap debut at Haydock 9-days ago. Has 4lb a penalty to carry for that success but is open to more improvement for the step up to 1m 4f.
Convict ended last season with a win in a 1m 2f nursery at Newmarket in October. A half-brother to 1m 6f winner Hamish he looks the sort to do better with age. Might prefer softer ground.
Arthurian Fable placed on his final two starts as a juvenile. Stepped up on that form on his seasonal reappearance when beaten a short head at Newmarket 10-days ago. Races of the same mark and should stay 1m 4f.
To Nathanial has won his last two starts both at Kempton. First start on turf for the son of Nathanial who is gong the right way.
Hukum shaped with encouragement on his racecourse debut at Newbury and built on that promise two months later when winning at Kempton. Takes a big step up in trip for his return to action but he’s bred to appreciate middle distances.
Verdict: In a race where there are a plenty who can improve for the step up to 1m 4f both Kipps & Win O’Clock are strong contenders. Arthurian Fable also looks on a good mark for his step up to 1m 4f and has each-way claims.
1pt win – Win O’Clock – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt each way – Arthurian Fable – 14/1 @ Bet365 (paying 4 places ¼ odds)
3:00 – Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) – 1m2f
Just the seven go to post for this Group 1 contest. The recent rain has come at the right time for C&D winner Addeybb. The 6-year-old went ‘Down Under’ in the spring to win two Group 1’s in Australia. The softer the ground the better for him and he’s a big player if over his travelling exertions.
Headman is another who will be suited by some ease in the ground. Lats seasons London Gold Cup winner was well placed to win two Group 2’s in France last summer. The colt could only finish 5th to Magical when well fancied for the Irish Champion Stakes. Despite that run he looks a potential Group 1 horse for a trainer who won this race in 2013.
The one they all have to beat is Japan, third in last year’s Derby,won the King Edward VII Stakes at last year’s Royal Ascot before going onto land the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp and the International Stakes at York. Only 4th in the Arc on his final start but there should be more to come from him as a 4-year-old.
Verdict: I’m hoping that Headman has improved from three to four, as his trainer expects, and he can surprise Japan on his seasonal reappearance.
1pt win – Headman – 8/1 @ William Hill
3:35 – Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) – 1m
Lord Tennyson is the least exposed of the 24-runner strong field. The 4-year-old only made his racecourse debut in February when running out an easy winner at Chelmsford. Finished second in a Newmarket Listed race 12-days ago. More progress expected but this will be tough.
Besides Lord Tennyson trainer John Gosden also saddles Alrajaa & Beatboxer. Alrajaa comes into the race having won his last four starts. Putting in a career best effort on RPR’s when winning at Lingfield back in November. Seasonal reappearance of 9lb higher but could still be progressive.
Montatham showed the benefit of a winter gelding operation when putting in a much-improved performance to win at Newmarket 11-days ago. Hiked up 8lb for that win but there could be more improvement in the 4-year-old. Jim Crowley has opted for Alrajaa.
Afaak, second in 2018, went one better winning this 12 months ago last season on his seasonal reappearance. Cieren Fallon takes off a handy 3lb which means the 6-year-old can race off last seasons winning mark. Can’t be ruled out in his bid for back to back wins.
Dark Vision a very useful 2-year-old (Group 2 winner) found life tougher at three. But he’s dropped down markedly in the weights and showed his well being when finishing runner-up at Newcastle 15-days ago.
Pogo won on his second run last season. Made a highly encouraging seasonal appearance when finish strongly to take second over 7f at Newmarket 11-days ago. Return to a mile will suit and he’s drawn high. Could get in to the places at big odds.
Another who could run into the places if the showers arrive is Indeed. The 5-year-old looks to have plenty of weight for his seasonal reappearance but his trainer still thinks he could be Group horse. A winner at Chelmsford & Newmarket last season he was badly drawn when well fancied for the Golden Mile at Goodwood. First run for 228-days but he finished runner-up in the Spring Cup at Newbury on his first start of 2019. Another with each way claims if the going is on the easy side of good.
There could be more to come from Bell Rock who made a winning handicap debut at Newmarket 10-days ago. A strongly run stiff mile suits the 4-year-old and although he has a 5lb penalty to carry for his Newmarket win could be open to more improvement.
Willie John is interesting on his handicap debut. The 5-year-old has only had seven career starts and was fairly highly tried last season. Best effort came when runner-up to Elarqam in a 1m 2f Goodwood Listed race. Drop back to a mile could suit as there is plenty of speed on the dam’s side.
Verdict: Dark Vision has dropped down to a good mark. Afaak likes the C&D and won this race 12 months ago on his seasonal reappearance. Last time out Newmarket winners Bell Rock & Montatham need respecting as does Willie John dropping back to a mile. Pogo & Indeed could run in to the places.
1pt each way – Indeed – 22/1 @ Paddy Power (paying 7 places 1/5 odds)
4:10 – Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) – 5f
This first 2-year-old race of the meeting and it looks a cracker.
Likely favourite is the Aidan O’Brien trained colt Chief Little Hawk. A winner at Navan 7-days ago. He looks a smart colt but the going won’t be as fast at Navan. Aidan O’Brien & Ryan Moore have a great record when teaming up at Royal Ascot with juvenile colts – 7 winners from 18 runners 39% + 31.24 A/E 1.8 113 placed 72% (+42.04 each way).
Wesley Ward runners always need respecting and he saddles two in Sunshine City & Sheriff Bianco. The former won at Gulfstream on his debut and the latter finished runner-up on his debut at Churchill Downs. Trainer has won this race twice since 2009.
Of the home team I like the Clive Cox trained juvenile Get It. The colt showed good speed on his racecourse debut when runner-up to Eye of Heaven in a fast time at Newmarket 13-days. A reproduction of that run makes him potentially overpriced here. Clive Cox has just had the one runner in this race which finished 4th in 2015.
Verdict: Who knows what the Wesley Ward horses are like? The quicker the ground the better for them and they have probably had a better prep than the home juveniles. Chief Little Hawk ran out a good winner on quick ground at Navan last week and represents a trainer & jockey combination who have an exceptional record in juvenile races at the meeting. Get It showed plenty of speed in a good time when runner-up to a smart one at Newmarket. More ease in the ground would be a concern but he looks to have been underestimated by the market.
4:40 – Copper Horse Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 6f
Another new handicap specially arranged for the meeting concludes day two and it’s a tricky one.
Amazing Red holds no secrets with the handicapper but hails from the inform Ed Dunlop stable. He has the benefit of a recent run at Newmarket and Cieren Fallon has been booked to take off a useful 3lb. Not without an each-way chance over a distance that suits.
Collide has improved on the all-weather, winning both two starts in 2020. Last win came at Chelmsford, 8 days ago, when he proved his stamina for 1m6f. Up 5lb but is progressive and could defy it if he can replicate his recent improvement on turf.
Fujaira Prince won his seasonal reappearance last Spring before placed efforts in a valuable handicap at York and here in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes. Has won first time up for the last two seasons so fitness shouldn’t be an issue. Steps up to 1m 6f today but isn’t a certain stayer on pedigree.
Selino improved for the fitting of the visor winning at Redcar and Wolverhampton. The handicapper has put the 4-year-old up 12lb for his latest success which makes life tougher but he probably remains open to more improvement.
Ranch Hand is another who is proven on a rain softened surface He ran poorly when favourite for the Cesarewich but is better judged on his two-length beating of Trueshan at Haydock over today’s distance, off 5lb lower. There could be more to come from the 4-year-old this year.
Mark Johnson saddles two in Themaxwecan & Hochfield. Themaxwecan is a strong good looking long bodied type was steadily progressive stayer last Summer winning twice over 2m, here and at Goodwood. Ran too bad to be true in the Cesarewich on his final run last season. Shaped with encouragement on his seasonal return behind Moon King at Haydock and there could be more to come from the 4-year-old this year.
Hochfield has a different profile to his stablemate. His best form has come on easier ground and he looks attractively weighted on his best form in 2018. A 409-days absence to overcome here.
Verdict: A tricky race to finish off the card. Fujaira Prince has the form to go close if he stays today’s extra distance. Collide is progressive but has to replicate his all-weather improvement to turf. Ranch Hand could do better as a 4-year-old as can Themaxwecan who shaped with promise on his seasonal reappearance.
1pt each way – Themaxwecan – 14/1 @ William Hill (paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
Cheers
John