ROYAL ASCOT 2.30 I’M expecting a Surprise winner of the Albany Stakes. LAST SURPRISE could hardly have been more impressive on her debut at Lingfield a couple of weeks ago. She picked up well in the closing stages to put three-and-a-half lengths between her and runner-up Quiet Place. Simon Crisford’s filly was helped by the […]
ROYAL ASCOT
2.30
I’M expecting a Surprise winner of the Albany Stakes. LAST SURPRISE could hardly have been more impressive on her debut at Lingfield a couple of weeks ago.
She picked up well in the closing stages to put three-and-a-half lengths between her and runner-up Quiet Place.
Simon Crisford’s filly was helped by the leader racing a little keen in the early stages but I’m still convinced it was a smart performance.
It’s a slight concern that the pace might be more towards the far side but Frankie Dettori should be able to get across into the middle.
Galadriel is drawn even higher. She made an eye-catching debut at York when chucked into a Listed race first time up.
She came home well to finish fourth having looked clueless in the early stages and I’m expecting her to go well if she gets enough of a tow by the stands’ side pacesetters.
American trainer Wesley Ward has only had one horse place in this race so it’s clearly not a contest he generally targets with his better youngsters.
He went close with Kimari in the Queen Mary on Wednesday but his three other runners didn’t perform too well. The soft ground was probably to blame for those disappointing shows and Ward always has to be feared given his record in the week’s races for two-year-olds.
His Nayibeth is the better of his pair if the betting is to be believed, although Chili Petin also won her only start. How that compares with the British and Irish runners is not easy to work out and Ward has had most of his success in the speed-favouring 5f races.
Aidan O’Brien won the Windsor Castle Stakes with a maiden and his So Wonderful has yet to hit the target in two starts.
Stablemate Precious Moments has stronger claims but she’s likely to do better when stepped up in distance.
The form of Silent Wave’s all-the-way Goodwood win doesn’t look anything special but she did what she had to do. It was a nice debut but this daughter of Oaks runner-up Secret Gesture might find a few too quick for her.
3.05
THE King Edward VII Stakes should be JAPAN easy. He charged home when beaten just half a length by stablemate Anthony Van Dyck in the Derby.
His jockey Wayne Lordan dropped his whip in the closing stages and, while it didn’t cost him victory, it hardly helped.
He was only fifth best in the betting of Aidan O’Brien’s seven Derby contenders having been slightly disappointing when fourth in the Dante.
An improved show in the Epsom Classic wasn’t a total shock as he was very weak in the betting on his comeback in the York trial and the track was awash with rumours about his fitness.
Presumably, stablemate Jack Yeats is in there to make the pace for Japan so he should get the job done. I’ve a feeling he might progress into one of the best middle-distance three-year-olds this summer.
Bangkok went into the Derby as one of the best British hopes but he only beat one home and that was the other big home-trained fancy Telecaster.
He had burst on to the scene when beating Telecaster in a Doncaster maiden before landing Sandown’s Classic Trial. The form of his defeat of Technician didn’t look all that strong and that view was probably borne out at Epsom.
It’s stretching it a long, long way to think he can reverse that form with Japan if both horses run anywhere their best.
The races Pondus has won on his last two starts on contrasting ground might only have been novice races but they’ve both worked out really well. He made most of the running at Sandown three weeks ago and came right away up the straight to score by five lengths.
That was a performance of a Group horse and he could be even better trying 1m4f for the first time. I see him as the biggest danger.
Private Secretary has done nothing wrong this season. He completed a hat-trick of wins with victory in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood last month. The bare form isn’t anything to get too excited about but he continues to progress.
He looks a tough sort, stays well and he shouldn’t be too bothered by the ground. I’ve a feeling he might just lack the class of Japan but it will be hard to knock him out of the frame if all eight declared runners line up.
3.40
COIN it in by backing TEN SOVEREIGNS in the Commonwealth Cup. Aidan O’Brien’s ace was the best juvenile over sprint distances for my money last season. It wasn’t hard to spot his talent early on.
He breezed home by a whopping seven lengths on his debut before following up in equally-impressive style when returned to the Curragh for a Group 3 in September.
It was hardly a surprise to see him sent off odds-on for the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes four weeks later. Although he only beat Jash by half a length, he was well on top at the finish.
It was surely with more than one eye on the breeding potential that Ten Sovereigns was allowed a crack at the 2000 Guineas as the mile trip always looked likely to stretch his stamina.
Predictably that was the case as he faded up the final climb to finish fifth behind stablemate Magna Grecia. Given that the first two raced up the stands side and Ten Sovereigns only folded in the closing stages there’s a case for saying he showed more talent than any of the other runners.
With the return to 6f certain to suit, he looks to have an outstanding chance.
Jash’s only defeat – when runner-up up behind Ten Sovereigns – was probably his best run. He kicked off this season with a Newmarket Listed win over 7f. The return to 6f is going to be no problem at all but the easier ground might just blunt his speed.
Charlie Hills won the first running of this race four years ago with Muhaarar. He has a chance of lifting the pot again with Khaadem. He progressed throughout last season and his Newbury Listed win came in the manner of horse capable of holding his own at a much higher level.
Advertise bombed out in the 2000 Guineas but it’s too early to be giving up on Martyn Meade’s star. He was runner-up behind Calyx in the Coventry Stakes, notched up a Group 1 win in Ireland and then chased home Too Darn Hot in the Dewhurst.
His pedigree is all about speed but it’s not particularly encouraging he has blinkers on for the first time.
4.20
THERE’S no stopping HERMOSA in the Coronation Stakes. She’s gunning for a Group 1 hat-trick having caused a surprise in the 1000 Guineas and then followed up from the front in the Irish version at the Curragh.
She was decent last season but no star. My fancy finished placed in three Group 1 races without being able to get her head in front where it matters but she has improved a huge amount since then.
Being drawn out in the widest stall is a slight problem but she is sure to be ridden prominently and should be able to get across.
She does face competition for the lead but I’m not sure she has to make the running. It just suits her as she will obviously stay further than today’s mile trip.
If they decide to take her on up front it might suit her even better as she can sit on their shoulders and use her stamina down the straight.
Pretty Pollyanna – one of the best juvenile fillies of last season – made a cracking comeback when runner-up behind Hermosa in Ireland. She has four lengths to make up but that’s not impossible given she was slow to come to hand in the spring. Her main problem is the easy ground as she’s unproven on anything softer than good.
Frankel’s niece Jubiloso looks a smart filly. She was impressive in a good Chelmsford maiden in April before bolting up by seven lengths when making all the running at Newbury.
To give weight and a thrashing to a bunch of boys was some performance and I’ve no doubt she’ll win good races. It’s not easy to go from novice races to the top level in one jump and her inexperience worries me a little.
Castle Lady won the French 1000 Guineas on heavy ground. That form doesn’t look anywhere near as strong as Hermosa’s victory in the British and Irish Classics.
I’m more interested in Twist ‘N’ Shake for an each-way tickle. She was mugged close home by smart prospect Magnetic Charm in a York Listed race at the Dante Meeting and she’ll appreciate today’s easier ground.
5.00
KEEP calm and back NONCHALANCE in the Sandringham Stakes. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if John Gosden’s filly develops into a Group performer.
After showing plenty of promise on her debut at Wolverhampton she has taken apart good novice races at Haydock and Newmarket.
The first of those came over a mile before dropped back to 7f so, although she stays today’s trip fine, she has a nice bit of pace to go with it. That’s a potent combination.
Stablemate Whimbrel was left behind by Nonchalance at Haydock before striking on Chelmsford’s all-weather. She’s only getting 7lbs from my fancy and I can’t see that being anywhere near enough.
Magnetic Charm brings Group form to the table having finished off last season with a fourth behind Fleeting in the May Hill. There was an awful lot to like about her comeback defeat of Twist ‘N’ Shake in a York Listed contest but giving weight away to a raft of potentially smart prospects won’t be easy.
Desirous is bred to be smart and she showed a good level of form last season. It’s fair to say she was well handicapped for her comeback win at Goodwood and this is a tougher race but she has the profile of a filly capable of holding her own in this sort of class.
No one rides Ascot’s straight course better than Jamie Spencer. He won this race 12 months ago and he again teams up with trainer Ed Walker with Hotsy Totsy. She has breezed home on her last two starts over 7f and I can’t believe today’s extra furlong will be a problem.
Invitational, Layaleena and I’m Available are others to keep a close eye on in a red-hot race that’s sure to throw up a stack of decent horses.
5.35
PUT your faith in a Prince in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes. FUJAIRA PRINCE won twice from three starts last season at a lower level and he kicked off this term with a smooth Doncaster win.
His neck second behind First Eleven – when Corgi and Collide filled the other places – is decent form. The winner is sure to be contesting Group races later in the season so that York contest is likely to prove really solid form.
That was Fujaira Prince’s first try at 1m4f and he certainly didn’t lack the stamina. As a half-brother of Stayers’ Hurdle winner Nichols Canyon, this distance should be just what he needs to continue his progression.
Baghdad has to be high on the shortlist. He had Corgi, First Eleven and Cross Counter behind him when winning the King George V Handicap at last year’s Royal Ascot. That makes sure he ticks a lot of boxes required to land a race like this and he arrives here having struck at Newmarket’s Guineas Meeting.
Arthurian Fame had the assistance of Hayley Turner when landing a female jockeys’ race at Leopardstown. That edge should not be underestimated and he’s likely to be vulnerable today.
Secret Advisor hasn’t run for the best part of a couple of years but fitness is hardly going to be a problem with Charlie Appleby doing the training. He won the Melrose Handicap over 1m6f at York when last seen having finished third behind top stayer Stradivarius in the Queen’s Prize at this meeting in 2017. There’s a lot of class in his form but he will probably be better over further later in the season.
Sea The Lion is another who might want a bit further. He has plenty of wins over 1m4f in the book but his third in the Ebor says there’s a decent amount of stamina in there.
Ben Vrackie ended last season with a decent third behind Rock Eagle at Newmarket. He has the size to do even better this season and he certainly isn’t without a chance. His pedigree suggests the easier ground won’t be a problem but his best efforts have been on genuinely quick ground.
ASCOT
2.30 Last Surprise
3.05 Japan (treble)
3.40 Ten Sovereigns (nap)
4.20 Hermosa
5.00 Nonchalance (nb)
5.35 Fujaira Prince
AYR
5.55 Bollin Ted
6.30 Alright Sunshine
7.05 Spark Of War
7.40 Asian Angel
8.10 Tommy G
8.45 Jeffery Harris
9.15 Colour Contrast
GOODWOOD
5.50 Elysium Dream
6.20 Sovereign Beauty
6.55 Just Benjamin
7.30 Sapa Inca
8.00 Kodiac Pride
8.35 Cape Cavalli
MARKET RASEN
1.50 Fast Art
2.20 Hurricane Rita
2.55 Masteen
3.30 Indian Reel
4.05 Darcy Ward
4.45 Impressive Duke
5.20 Belfast Banter
NEWMARKET
5.05 Trulee Scrumptious
5.40 Edmond Dantes
6.10 Electrical Storm
6.45 Osho
7.15 Antico Lady
7.50 Breathtaking Look
8.25 Logician
8.55 Honey Gg
REDCAR
1.40 Brown Eyes Blue
2.10 Audarya
2.45 Production
3.20 Imperial State
3.55 Give It Some Teddy
4.35 Aghast
5.10 Brigadier
