And the rains fell just to make life that bit more difficult! As if trying to find winners at a meeting as competitive as Royal Ascot wasn’t tricky enough the turf is getting softer by the minute, but it is summer after all and with a drying wind and a bit of sunshine, it could all turn back the other way by the end of the afternoon.
All I can say is we will still look through the card, but if we can find a few winners now it will be akin to a miracle so do please bet with reduced stakes accordingly or as you see fit - though I have not changed my opinion on the first race one iota. Art Power is a class act who they consider is Group One class at home, and they seriously considered a tilt at the Commonwealth Cup which suggests he could be a good thing here off a mark of 97 in a handicap. His five and a half-length novice romp at Newcastle told us all how good he could be and with a win on soft ground at York as a juvenile, the ground should not be an issue regardless. Drawn nineteen he looks to be on the favoured side as things stand, and if he can get to the lead early as expected I doubt he sees another horse from then on, with Silvestre De Sousa tasked with doing the steering.
After the poor showing (and market drift) of my Wesley Ward suggestion on Wednesday I approach the Albany Stakes at 1.50pm with trepidation more than confidence. Flying Aletha did impress when winning in comfort at Gulfstream Park but that was on dirt and there is no proof whatsoever that she will be able to transfer that ability on to the grass. If she does, she probably wins but at the prices I prefer a little tiny bit on Golden Melody for William Haggas. Well bought at 52,000 guineas the daughter of Belardo quickened up nicely on good to soft ground to win her debut at Haydock, and that ability to handle cut is enough for me to swing my vote in her favour today.
Two-year-olds again next with the five furlong Norfolk Stakes and a red-hot favourite in Eye Of Heaven who may well give Frankie Dettori yet another Ascot winner. 3/2 at the time of writing (isn’t that 6/4 in normal betting language?), Mark Johnston’s colt did win first time out at Newmarket but only by three-quarters of a length, though he did look to have more to offer if needed. The third (Tactical) improved to win the Windsor Castle on Wednesday to give the form a better look but he is far too short for my liking, and I will take him on to pennies with the unraced but highly regarded Ventura Tormenta each way. Trained by Richard Hannon, the son of Acclamation was bred by Kevin Blake and is reported to be flying at home (aren’t they all), and if he isn’t too green he could yet give the favourites a bit of a race at a huge price.
The Hardwicke Stakes over a mile and a half (ish) at 3.00pm is supposed to be the sort of race I am confident in solving, but not this year I’m afraid. Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck ran perhaps his best race since when runner up to Ghaiyyath at Newmarket in the Coronation Cup and may well find this company just that little bit less exacting. He has won on soft ground which is a positive but the form of Elarqam got a major boost yesterday when Lord North ran away with the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes by three and three-quarter lengths. My selection was just a short head behind the Gosden beast at Haydock in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes over two furlongs shorter and if he gets home on his first ever attempt at this trip, he looks to have an outstanding chance.
Three-year-olds only for the Commonwealth Cup next and an intriguing line-up making this for me, one of the races of the afternoon if not the entire week. Pierre Lapin ended last year unbeaten after two starts including the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury in September and looked just the sort to do even better this season once he fills out his frame. He seems sure to go well but has no experience of cut in the ground which is a bit of a concern and enough to put me off for this race at least. Kimari was second to Raffle Prize here last year in the Queen Mary for Wesley Ward on similar ground and has to be considered as does Mums Tipple who ran a stinker in the 2000 Guineas but is sensibly dropped back to six furlongs today. All should go well but I have a penchant for Lope Y Fernandez who represents the all-powerful Aidan O’Brien Ryan Moore double act. Third to Siskin in the Irish 2000 guineas a week ago he was in front at the furlong pole that day and if he has the pace to lay up with them in the first few furlongs, that form could be more than enough to see him come home in first place this afternoon.
A mile and three-quarters for three-year-olds next and without a distance winner in the field we are pretty much selecting blind in the circumstances. Born With Pride heads the betting for William Haggas, which is presumably based on her list of top race entries more than her seventh over a mile and a quarter at Kempton earlier in the month. The fact that she was pulled out on Tuesday because of unsuitable ground (good to soft) has to be worrying and for that reason alone I would be happy to take her on. I honestly would not dream of having a bet here but it is good to see connections keep the faith in jockey Stevie Donohoe after he won on board On Guard at Yarmouth, and as he looks as if he may well have more stamina than the majority of these, he would be a very tentative each way option for those who feel the need to get involved financially.
One last race for Thursday and poor old Hereby, my selection for a race earlier in the week, looks likely to get balloted out for the second time at Royal Ascot. He currently sits as second reserve and could well get in with the recent rain seeing plenty of late non-runners, and if he does he would be the selection. Sadly, that is anything but guaranteed so we need to look elsewhere, and West End Charmer is the obvious one. An easy winner at Newmarket on his seasonal debut he runs today with a four pound penalty, and if he gets the added couple of furlongs as expected, he should prove very difficult to beat with William Buick in the saddle once again.
Sean’s Suggestions:
Art Power 1.15pm Royal Ascot Friday
Lope Y Fernandez each-way 3.35pm Royal Ascot Friday
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