Royal Ascot: Trackman gets stuck into Day 4 at the Royal Meeting with his best bets and all the paddock talk
THERE’S many a good tune played on an old fiddle….
Six-year-old Stradivarius put up a pulsating performance to win his third Gold Cup for high-flying Frankie Dettori and John Gosden on day three of the Royal Meeting.
And the layers make him a 5-1 shot to complete the four-timer in 2021.
That’s a long way off, but if `super Strad’ makes the gig it’ll take an act of parliament to get him beat.
Jolly Jim Crowley could walk on water and booted home another winner when Molatham foiled a monster punt on Aidan O’Brien’s Monarch Of Egypt (16-1 to 4s) in the Jersey Stakes.
But spare a thought for Ryan Moore on the runner-up. Laughing Boy did everything bar piggy-back the Irish gamble and his colt traded at 1-25 before being chinned close home.
Mind you, Ryan bounced back to nick the Chesham Stakes on king-sized Battleground.
This jet-propelled juvenile has got muscles on his eyebrows and impressed the boys at Paddy Power who make him a 10-1 shot for next year’s 2,000 Guineas.
Meanwhile, the Golden Gates Handicap was a family affair with Highland Chief springing a 20-1 shocker for joint trainers, Paul Cole and his son Oliver.
Unfortunately, `Old King Cole’ was absent as Oliver explained: “Sadly, my father is at his best friend’s funeral, which is why he didn’t come. I did say to him today I thought we’d get an Ascot winner.”
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Those northern boys are used to braving the elements and yesterday’s rain was manna from heaven for Yorkshireman Tim Easterby.
Tasty Tim has a crackerjack on his hands in Art Power and reckons the big grey has a huge chance in the opener (1.15) today.
He said: “I’m really looking forward to running Art Power…..The wetter the better for him!”
Roger Varian could win with the stable cat and his Pierre Lapin (10s to 7-2) has been hammered in the Commonwealth Cup (3.35).
You won’t see a better looker than this speedball and I’m told connections already have the champagne on ice.
Trackstar
SANTIAGO (4.10) looked a proper stayer last year and will love this 1m6f trip.