ROYAL ASCOT 2.30 THE Queen Anne Stakes is going to be a proper Barney. It brings together the top milers for a cracking dust up down Ascot’s straight course and I reckon big-hitting BARNEY ROY is the one to go into battle with. He missed the whole of last season having been retired to stud […]
ROYAL ASCOT
2.30
THE Queen Anne Stakes is going to be a proper Barney. It brings together the top milers for a cracking dust up down Ascot’s straight course and I reckon big-hitting BARNEY ROY is the one to go into battle with.
He missed the whole of last season having been retired to stud but he failed to fire with the fillies and was sent back into training having been parted from his stallion equipment.
His form this season has come in Listed races but it suggests his old ability is still there. He finished runner-up behind improving Zaaki over today’s track and trip before overcoming traffic problems to strike at Longchamp.
He won the St James’s Palace Stakes on this day a couple of years ago and I reckon that was a decent vintage. His nose second behind Ulysses in the Coral-Eclipse was anther example of his class and that proven stamina for 1m2f should come in handy today.
This race is sure to be run at a strong pace and it should set things up nicely for the Godolphin ace.
No less than nine runners from the Lockinge butt heads again. Mustashry came out on top that day and there was no fluke about it. He’s just the sort of older horses Sir Michael Stoute excels with but he did have the advantage of being race-fit.
Tough filly Laurens finished runner-up and she should have improved for her comeback at Newbury. It’s hard to see how she won’t run well but she likes the race close to the pace at that might not be the ideal position.
Last year’s winner Accidental Agent made an equally promising reappearance in third. He suffered injury problems after his surprise success 12 months ago so should have come on a lot for his Lockinge effort. Eve Johnson Houghton’s stable star is one of the big players.
Le Brivido got into trouble back in fifth and was finishing as fast as anything. He won the Jersey Stakes for Andre Fabre at this meeting in 2017 and has since joined Aidan O’Brien. There’s a lot in his favour but I’m not totally convinced he wants a stiff mile. Last year’s runner-up Lord Glitters is best of the outsiders.
3.05
I’M a GUILDSMAN in the Coventry Stakes. His young trainer Archie Watson has made a big impression with his juveniles. Last year he won the Windsor Castle at this meeting and this season he has made a superb start with his team of two-year-olds.
Guildsman could well be the best of them. There was a whole lot to like about the way he brushed his rivals aside to score by six lengths on his debut at Goodwood 11 days ago.
The ground was soft that day so his dominance might have been exaggerated but I’m not so sure. He took a time to get organised in the early stages and his class was obvious the more the race progressed. Any more rain would obviously be in his favour but he won’t have any problem with good ground.
Aidan O’Brien has won this prize three times in the last eight years. In that time he’s only once failed to get a horse to finish in the first three and his quartet of youngsters in today’s race gives him a great chance of extending that record.
Arizona looks the best of his team after a super-impressive eight-length Curragh demolition following his promising debut.
Form lines give stablemate Royal Lytham a bit to find but he’s likely to improve a fair bit for his debut win at Navan ten days ago.
Threat is another contender with solid claims in a typically-open race. The Newmarket maiden he won on his debut was only a four-runner race but it looked a quality contest. The way he strung them out over 5f on fastish ground was really impressive and today’s extra furlong could suit him even better.
I also liked the way Maxi Boy came home at Yarmouth and he could well benefit if the leaders go off too quick in the early stages.
3.40
IT’S time to get Cross in the King’s Stand Stakes. MABS CROSS is way over-priced to land Royal Ascot’s top 5f prize. She proved herself well up to the top level last year and Michael Dods’ flying filly has been better than ever this term.
Last year’s running of this race – when she was third behind Blue Point and Battaash – gives her a little ground to make up but I’m sure she’s improved since then.
That might have been masked a little this season as she has been burdened with a penalty in Group 2 races having beaten Battaash and Soldier’s Call in the Prix de L’Abbaye at Longchamp on Arc day last year.
That makes her Palace House defeat of Equilateral and Sergei Prokofiev at Newmarket’s Guineas Meeting extra special as she was giving weight away to the colts.
It was a similar story in the Temple Stakes when she couldn’t live with an on-song Battaash when she was trying to giving Charlie Hills’ speedster a couple of pounds. She gets the 3lbs sex allowance today and the stiffer track is also a valid reason why she might just get her revenge.
There’s no doubt Battaash is very good on his day. I was a little disappointed he couldn’t add another Group 1 to his haul last season as I was expecting him to develop into one of the greatest 5f sprinters. That didn’t happen and shows he might need everything his own way to show his very best.
Blue Point beat Battaash and Mabs Cross in this race last year when the leaders went off too fast. He was able to sit on Battaash’s tail and pounce up the final climb. He’s looked very good in Dubai this year. Two of his three wins over there came at 6f but he seems better over today’s shorter trip in Britain.
His claims are obvious but he was a couple of lengths behind Mabs Cross when my fancy was beaten a nose by shock winner Alpha Delphini in the Nunthorpe at York last season.
It’s pretty obvious there’s not much between the trio and I’m confident consistent Mabs Cross is the most likely to bring her A-game to today’s race.
It’s hard to know what to make of Enzo’s Lad, Imprimis and Houtzen but this is a race that foreign raiders have done well in over the years. I just think we have a vintage bunch of 5f sprinters and they will be hard to master on their own turf.
4.20
SKARDU should leave his mark on the St James’s Palace Stakes.
He came from the rear against the track bias to win the Craven Stakes on just his second start in April and similar tactics worked when he was third – first home of those to race in the main pack down the middle of the track – in the 2000 Guineas.
I fancied him for the Irish version and he didn’t run at all badly when fourth behind Phoenix Of Spain. His draw in stall two might well have counted against him as James Doyle was almost forced to race more prominently or face a wall of horses down the Curragh straight. That clearly didn’t suit him and I’m sure things will pan out a lot better today.
This race is sure to be run at a decent gallop as frontrunning Fox Champion will have to be aggressive in the early stages to get over from the widest stall. With French raider Shaman likely to go forward along with one of
Aidan O’Brien’s three runners I would be surprised if this wasn’t set up for something ridden patiently.
That could count against Phoenix Of Spain. He wasn’t far off the best last year when runner-up behind Too Darn Hot and Magna Grecia in top prizes. Charlie Hills was unable to get him to the 2000 Guineas but he made up for lost time when making most of the running in the Irish version.
Jamie Spencer is almost certain to have him up with the pace and, while that isn’t a huge negative, I’m worried about him backing up such a huge effort at the Curragh just 24 days later off the back of a troubled preparation.
Too Darn Hot is another who has had a difficult spring. He also missed the Newmarket Classic and then found his stamina giving way when second behind Telecaster in the Dante.
It was a surprise to see him out just nine days later in the Irish Guineas but he ran a solid race from a wide draw to chase home Phoenix Of Spain. The impression is that John Gosden’s champion two-year-old just hasn’t progressed over the winter.
Too Darn Hot’s stablemate King Of Comedy is interesting. He should probably be unbeaten and there was a lot to like about his Heron Stakes win at Sandown last month. That might only have been a Listed race but the manner of victory was very pleasing.
He did take a bit of persuading to go to the start that day and his temperament might not be great but he’s got ability. Circus Maximus looks the best of O’Brien’ trio but dropping back to a mile didn’t look an obvious move for the Derby sixth.
5.00
Get bowled over by a Batt in the Ascot Stakes. It’s hardly surprising the last nine winners of this race had recent jumps form considering it’s run over a few yards short of a stamina-sucking 2m4f.
That stat doesn’t help the chances of Time To Study, Ulster and Mancini but it does point to BATTS ROCK.
He was useful for Michael Bell and he won his first two Flat starts after moving to Gordon Elliott. It’s fair to say he hasn’t quite lived up to expectations over hurdles but, despite breaking his duck at Downpatrick last month, he doesn’t really look to be enjoying it.
This will be the first time he’s raced over this far and I’ve a feeling it will suit him. The booking of Frankie Dettori is hardly going to do him any harm, either.
Willie Mullins has won this race in three of the last four years and his horses filled four of the first five places 12 months ago. His only runner this year, Buildmeupbuttercup, predictably heads the market.
He faced some stiff tasks on the Flat in Britain when trained by Mick Channon having won a couple of bumpers. His hurdles form has tailed off a bit after a promising start but given his trainer’s record he has to be respected.
Mullins trained Arctic Fire when he was runner-up behind Faugheen in the 2015 Champion Hurdle and he went back to Cheltenham to win the County Hurdle two years later.
He switched to Denis Cullen last summer and I’m surprised he’s such a big price considering he made a winning return to the Flat at Killarney last month. In his pomp he would’ve been favourite for a race like this.
Snow Falcon was fancied for the Cesarewitch a couple of years ago. A high draw did for him there but he’s developed into a smart staying chaser since then. He should go well.
Not Never hasn’t run on the Flat since leaving Hugo Palmer for Gary Moore back in 2016. He’s done plenty of winning at a moderate level over jumps and he made successful chase debut a couple of weeks ago. He might not have the class of some of his rivals but he is pretty consistent.
5.35
THERE’S a El of a bet in the Wolferton Stakes. ELARQAM didn’t quite live up to the high expectations last season but he’s the type to do well as a four-year-old.
Last year started well for Mark Johnston’s ace with a fourth behind Saxon Warrior in the 2000 Guineas. That was as good as it got but he had a breathing operation during the winter and it looks to have done the trick if his smooth Goodwood win in a decent Listed contest is anything to go by.
He’s copped a nice draw and should be able to get a nice position before making his class tell where it matters.
Magic Wand knows what it takes to triumph at Royal Ascot having landed the Ribblesdale at last year’s meeting. She’s not been able to get her head in front since but she has been campaigned exclusively in top-level races.
They have been all around the world and she clearly takes her racing well having run in America, Dubai and France since her last British effort when fifth behind top-class Sea Of Class in the Yorkshire Oaks. The draw has not been so kind to her and that tips the balance towards Elarqam.
Addeybb will need plenty of rain to hit Ascot. He has to have it soft but he had his conditions when bitterly disappointing in the QEII on Champions’ Day at this track in October.
The ground was also in his favour at Chester last month but he had little chance being ridden from off the pace in a small field when the prominent racers dominated the finish.
I was tempted to chance Oasis Charm. I see him as the best of the three Godolphin runners despite James Doyle having a different opinion.
It’s no negative having Adam Kirby in the saddle and Charlie Appleby’s ace has a great record when returning from a break.
Mountain Angel takes a jump in class having landed a brace of Epsom handicaps this season. He wouldn’t mind it if it did rain and he’s certainly worth a pop at this prize.
Last year’s Irish Derby hero Latrobe is likely to find this on the short side and Star Of Bengal will need all of Frankie Dettori’s magic to get a position from stall 15.
ASCOT
2.30 Barney Roy
3.05 Guildsman (nb)
3.40 Mabs Cross (treble)
4.20 Skardu
5.00 Batts Rock (nap)
5.35 Elarqam
BEVERLEY
6.00 World Title
6.30 Fragrant Belle
7.00 Ornate
7.30 Creek Island
8.00 Ironclad
8.30 Glacier Fox
9.00 Ventura Royal
BRIGHTON
5.50 Ladweb
6.20 When Comes Here
6.50 Dream Catching
7.20 Your Mother’s Eyes
7.50 Oliver Hardy
8.20 Hedging
8.50 The Lamplighter
STRATFORD
2.20 Evita Du Mesnil
2.55 Goldslinger
3.30 Deputy Jones
4.05 Ronava
4.45 Maliboo
5.20 Eolian
THIRSK
1.40 Barbarella
2.10 The Stalking Moon
2.45 Equidae
3.20 Came From The Dark
3.55 Alkaraama
4.35 Dragons Voice
5.10 Loolwah
5.45 Debawtry
