With so much high quality racing this week I have used a bit of common sense for once and have got started bright and early – so forgive me if, by the time you read this, I have already given you a hat-full of winners – or none at all. All I can say is this is intended as a bit of fun and my thoughts on the contests that matter – not a tipping article (I hate that phrase), but something to read for a bit of consideration as you decide to go your own way, follow the runes the way I have cast them, or just sit there nodding your head in agreement. *Update – 2 winners and a few places so all is good in my World.
Seven more races to talk through so no room left for waffle and on to the 24 runner Silver Royal Hunt Cup (1.15pm) which looks as trappy to solve as you would expect for a “consolation” race. Somewhere in this line up there may yet me a Group class beast masquerading as a handicapper but if there is, then I can’t see him or her for looking. Most seem well exposed and unlikely to offer up massive improvement (something will no doubt prove that assumption wrong), with Maydanny the possible exception. Clearly a late maturing four-year-old, he finished second on his first two starts before running away with a Yarmouth handicap off a mark of 80 at the start of June, though the handicapper has put him up ten pounds for that which will hardly aid his chances. That was, however, his first start in close to a year and followed a gelding operation, and if he improves as hoped he may yet be the one here in a race I might not be betting in.
Next up we see a real test of the English 2000 Guineas form as fifth placed Juan Elcano steps up to a mile and a quarter in the Hampton Court Stakes at 1.50pm. Only beaten four lengths that day I can see why he tops the odds at present and his breeding clearly suggests this trip will be right up his street (by Frankel out of a Daylami mare). He should prove very tough to beat if he can repeat that effort of course, though do keep an eye on Kenzai Warrior who finished behind him in ninth at Newmarket after a very slow start but is far better than that, and could shake them all up if he gets out of the stalls on anything like level terms. First Receiver would be another to consider and is owned by The Queen (imagine how the crowd would have reacted if he wins had there been one), but all in all it’s Juan Elco for me in a decent looking renewal of a Group Three event.
Moving ahead to the King George V Handicap over a fraction shy of a mile and a half at 2.25pm and if there aren’t future Group race winners in this field, I will be very surprised. Eighteen runners have been declared and with fourteen of them finishing in the first four home when last seen, we know we are in for another highly competitive race. To Nathaniel carries a five pound penalty as he looks for his hat-trick after wins at Kempton in January and then June and seems sure to put up a big effort under Rab Havlin for John Gosden, as will Win O’Clock who won easily last time despite a slow start – but in a much lesser contest. Bright Melody looks a major player in first-time cheekpieces if we assume they bring about the necessary improvement, but I will side with Hukum who still holds an Epsom Derby entry. A winner over the Kempton mile in November he ought to be better over further this season as a son of Sea The Stars and with positive vibes coming out of the Owen Burrows stable, he may well hit the frame at a double figure price in a race possibly best watched.
Japan rather spoils things being the odds-on favourite ahead of the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at 3.00pm but then again, he did come home fourth in last year’s Arc after winning the Grand Prix de Paris in July and the Juddmonte International at York after a ding-dong battle with Crystal Ocean in August. He certainly doesn’t shy away from a fight when needed but there is no guarantee he will be cherry ripe here and his price is very skinny. That said he should still win but if there is a chink in his armour, then Barney Roy could exploit it. Deemed a World beater at two he hasn’t really lived up to that tag since despite wins in Dubai this January and March, but if they have him spot on again now then he could well give a massive scare to favourite backers if ridden to be produced at the last moment.
On to the Royal Hunt Cup proper next and I can confidently state that some of these are simply not handicappers and belong in better races. Lord Tennyson could be anything after just the two races but has a bit more to find here leading me to Alrajaa who looked a horse going places when rattling off four in a row last season. Although upped ten pounds for his last success he looked better with every start and if that man John Gosden has him primed up for this renewal, I will be happy to back him each way at 10/1 or so and can’t see him finishing out of the first four home barring a lack of fitness (or trouble in running).
At 4.10pm we have the first two-year-old race of the 2020 meeting with the Windsor Castle Stakes over five furlongs, and what an intriguing line up. Eight unbeaten runners makes form study next to impossible after just the one outing each, with Sunshine City heading the betting for the excellent Wesley Ward who has enjoyed so much juvenile success here over the years. The daughter of Creative Cause won her only outing so far at Gulfstream Park over four and a half furlongs in a ridiculous time of 53.80 seconds after coming from off the pace and if she gets the added few yards here, she could well be a class above with her fillies’ allowance an added bonus. 4/1 seems generous enough to me but if you are looking for one at a bigger price do at least consider Astimegoesby who was caught close home over a sixth furlong on debut, and may take some catching dropped back to the minimum trip.
One race left to end day two and a new mile and three-quarter handicap which currently sees 16 runners meaning a place the first four (do check on the day though for your bookmakers’ terms and any non-runners). This is not a race I have any real confidence about with plenty of decent looking sorts making their seasonal returns, but if I had to have a bet (and I don’t), then Shailene would be the one (in the absence of original fancy Hereby. Who failed to get in to the line-up. The step up in trip may be just what the doctor ordered after a one paced fourth over shorter on his return, but with that run under his belt and off a pound lower in the handicap, he has as good a chance as any – though you might be better off making a cup of tea instead.
Tired of reading? – you can hear mine and Ron Robinson’s Royal Ascot opinions for days one to three here https://www.postracing.co.uk/2020/06/15/ron-and-sean-discuss-days-1-2-and-3-of-royal-ascot-2020/ free of charge, of course.
Sean’s Suggestions:
Hukum each-way 2.25pm Royal Ascot Wednesday
Sunshine City 4.10pm Royal Ascot Wednesday
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