Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I begin my review of Royal Ascot 2023.
The sun shone down on racegoers for the final day of Royal Ascot. It’s been five days’ of sizzing action on the track. A poor week for punters & big name tipsters and dare I say for many of them they will be glad it’s over. No complaints from me as it was a profitable royal meeting.
Royal Ascot Review
Over the next two day’s I’m going to look back at events at Royal Ascot.
A tough Royal Ascot for punters overall with a 150/1 winner earlier in the week and an 80/1 winner on Saturday.
The action was compelling on the track and the meeting lived up to the hype as it normally does. However, I do have a couple negatives to report.
Firstly, although the ground was being officially described as good to firm from Wednesday to Saturday on times it was more like good.
Second, when they watered on Thursday night, they did try to even things out because you had no chance if your horse was drawn low on the straight course on Friday.
Except for a Horsewithnoname on Tuesday it also proved difficult to win the round course handicaps if you went up the far rail. As the winners seemed to come down the middle. I’m not sure if the ground was truly even across the track due to watering. Osin Murphy brilliant on Shaquille in the Commonwealth Cup but why did he make his effort on the far rail.
It’s tough enough but when you have the draw bias changing day to day in the big field handicaps it becomes more akin to equine bingo.
Frankie Reaches 80 but Ryan takes jockey’s crown.
Frankie Dettori riding at his final Royal Ascot reached 80 winners at the meeting. He wanted to get to the 80 and he did it. That some achievement but when you think Lester Piggott rode 116 Royal Ascot winners when the meeting was four days it puts his number in some context.
It wasn’t Frankie who took the riding honours though. The top jockey over the five day’s was Ryan Moore with six winners. The last of those winners came courtesy of Dawn Rising in the Queen Alexandra Stakes that concluded the meeting. The winner was being ridden along coming to the home turn but found plenty for his jockey’s urgings. It was another world class ride from Ryan who had a very willing partner in the winner.
A good week for Archie Watson but one to forget for Charlie Appleby.
Aidan O’Brien and John & Thady Gosden shared the training honours with four winners each. Aidan’s final winner came on Saturday when Age Of Kings won the Jersey Stakes at 22/1. However, Aidan had six seconds which clinched him the leading trainer award.
It was also a good week for Archie Watson & Hollie Doyle who combined for three winners. The last of them coming when Saint Lawrence won the Wokingham Handicap on first start for the trainer.
Spare a thought for both Charlie Appleby and Andrew Balding. Appleby was 0-18, 2 places and Balding 0-25, 3 places over the five days.
Star Performances:
Here are my standout performances from each of the five days.
Tuesday
River Tiber’s win in the Coventry Stakes and stablemate Paddington following up his Irish 2,000 Guineas win in the St James Palace Stakes. The latter will stay further than 6f and looks like Dewhurst horse. Paddington just keeps on progressing and it will take a good one to beat him in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.
Wednesday
Mostahdaf’s turn of foot to win the Prince Of Wales Stakes on Wednesday was brilliant. If and it’s a big IF he can reproduce this performance in the International Stakes, he will be tough to beat.
Gregory won what looked a strong Queen’s Vase on paper. The colt will likely go for the St Leger if the ground is good but long term, he looks a future Ascot Gold Cup winner.
Thursday
Courage Mon Ami overcame inexperience to win the Ascot Gold Cup. He got a great ride Frankie Dettori. The Gosden’s have quickly found their Stradivarius replacement and they also have the above mentioned Gregory. Courage Mon Ami back to defend his crown in next year’s race. Hopefully we’ll also get to see him race against last year’s winner Kyprios at some point.
Friday
Tahiyra showed us why she’s the best 3-year-old mile filly in Europe when winning the Coronation Stakes. I hope we can get to see her race against the likes of Paddington and Chaldean sometime this season.
Shaquille produced a remarkable performance to win the Commonwealth Cup. Given he lost 6 or 7 lengths at the start I’m still not sure how he managed to win going away at the finish.
King Of Steel, runner-up in the Derby paid another compliment to winner Auguste Rodin when striding away with the King Edward VII Stakes. A big brute of a horse who is still learning about the game, but this success already stamps him as a high class middle distance colt. I can’t wait for a rematch with Auguste Rodin.
Saturday
Pyledriver last season’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes over C&D overcame a 336 day absence to win the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes. He’s a quirky sort who wanders around when hitting the front and that was in evidence once more on Saturday. This year’s race is likely to be tougher, but he’s bang on course to try to retain his King George VI & Queen Elizabeth crown.
Monday’s Preview
After the events of last week today’s racing has the feeling of being after the Lord Mayor's show. It’s a Monday evening in June so I’m heading to Windsor for today’s preview.
I have started to look back at the videos last week’s races. There will be plenty of winners to come out of the meeting. In Tuesday’s column you’ll find some of my Ascot eyecatchers.
Windsor
6:35 – Lequinto was a ¾ length 2nd of 9 over C&D 7 days ago. Twice a C&D winner in the past the 6-year-old is 6lb below his last winning mark. He does need a very strong pace to chase though which might not get here.
My pick though is another previous course winner in A Sure Welcome who is 5lb below is last winning mark and can get into the places on ground that suits.
The Charlie Johnson & Joe Fannng combination have got good chances in the next two races with Alpina Express (7:10) & Montevideo (7:40). The former made all to win at Carlisle 7 days ago and can complete the hat trick if as likely he gets an uncontested lead. Montevideo should also get an uncontested lead on handicap debut in the 1m 2f handicap.
8:10 – Desert Illusion has run well on her last two starts and should go well again. However, she probably does need the first time visor, replacing the cheekpieces, to sharpen her up more staying at the minimum trip.
Liosa seemed to improve on handicap/stable debut when a 1 ¾ length 4th of 8 here (6f) three weeks ago. This is a slightly lesser race and he’s lightly raced enough to think he could be capable of a bit better.
Monday Selection:
I was going to out up Liosa but the early 15/2 disappeared and he’s now a best priced 7/2. Those odds don’t offer anything on the value front so I’m leaving him alone for now. Instead, I’m going with A Sure Welcome.
Windsor
6:35 – A Sure Welcome – 14/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.
Good luck with your Monday bets.
John