Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I conclude my review of Royal Ascot. Today I turn my attention to some future winners from the meeting.
Royal Ascot: Future Winners
I have seen plenty of pundits say that this year’s Royal Ascot was too competitive for profitable punting. Personally, I think big-priced winners are good for punters. You don’t need much of a strike rate at those odds to make a decent profit as evidenced by my 33/1 winner on day one.
Overall, I thought it was a great meeting. One of the most entreating for years, with many pointers for the future. I’m confident there’s money to be made from last week’s action with the rest of the summer in mind.
I have started but not yet completed my look back at the races. My list stands at thirty and here are some of them.
Tuesday
I’m not sure how good the juvenile races although I think River Tiber was an above average winner of the Coventry Stakes.
The one to catch my eye further down the field was Bobsleigh who finished a 3 length 6th of 20. The gelding who had won the Woodcote Stakes (6f) at Epsom on his previous start was slowly away but still produced a solid effort. He’s entered in the ‘Super Sprint’ at Newbury and even though that race is over 5f he doesn’t lack speed and likely fast pace of the race will suit.
Novel Legend ran well from his higher mark when a 4 length 7th of 19 to Ahorsewithnoname in the Ascot Stakes. The race turned into more a test of speed than stamina which wouldn’t have suited him. He didn’t the clearest of passages when making his effort 2f and was doing his best work at the finish. The 4-year-old remains a progressive staying handicapper but probably prefers more ease in the ground than he got last week.
Wednesday
Charlie Appleby didn’t have a good Royal Ascot. However, Adayar didn’t run to badly when a 4 ½ length 3rd of 6 to Mostahdaf in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales Stakes. A combination of quick ground and 1m 2f didn’t see him in the best light. He’s been aimed at next month’s King George a race he won in 2021. He’s a general 10/1 for that race which looks fair to me given the return to 1m 4f is a big plus.
Plenty of future winners should come out of this year’s Royal Hunt Cup. One of them should be Awaal who finished a 4 length 3rd of 30. Runner-up in the Lincoln Handicap on his seasonal return he bounced back from a poor run in Longchamp Listed contest with an excellent run here. This was the quickest ground that 4-year-old had so far encountered, and he seemed to handle it well enough. However, the suspicion is that he’s a better horse with more ease in the ground. When he gets to race on his ideal ground, he wins a valuable mile handicap.
Thursday
King George V Handicap for 3-year-old’s should throw up plenty of future winners. The leaders went off to quick and that set the race up for those ridden more patiently. Handicap debutant Perfuse did best of those ridden prominently in sixth. The colt travelled through the race like he’s on good mark and can win again.
Others to note from the race are the James Ferguson pair of Land Legend (7th) & Wonder Legend (8th). The former didn’t have the best of starts but was suited by the pace of the race. That said he didn’t get the best of runs inside the final furlong and will be suited by a step up to 1m 6f. Wonder Legend was up with the strong pace and did well to finish as close as he did at the finish. A winner on soft ground on his previous start the ground was probably livelier than he would have preferred. He's only had five starts and remains capable of better.
Biggles did best of those drawn low when a 4 ¾ length 9th of 29 in the Buckingham Palace Stakes (7f) that concluded Thursday’s card. His best efforts prior to this had come with some ease in the ground. Despite being a 6-year-old, he’s lightly raced for his age and can land a decent handicap pot over 7f.
Friday
It looked a decent renewal of the Group 3 Albany Stakes won by Porta Fortuna. The one to take out of the going forward could be the two length third Soprano. An impressive winner on her racecourse debut at Newmarket. The filly improved on that performance here and after the race trainer George Boughey said he would train her for next year’s 1,000 Guineas. The last three 1,000 Guineas winner have beaten in this race including Cachet also trained by Boughey.
Harry Brown did best of those to race drawn far side when a 6 ½ length 9th of 26 in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap that concluded Friday’s card. He shaped like he can win a sprint handicap off his present mark on turf. Another to catch my was Frankness. The filly a much improved winner of a Goodwood Handicap (6f) on her previous start was slowly away and was also hampered 1f out. In the circumstances her 5 ¾ length 6th of 26 can be marked up. She remains on a winnable mark and will be suited by a return to 6f.
Saturday
Not looked at the final day’s races in detail yet but there are a few standouts at this stage. Mr Wagyu & Lion Of War.
Mr Wagyu’s turn is near to hand as he showed when a finishing a 2 ¾ length 7th of 27 in the Wokingham Handicap. He won the Scurry Handicap at the Currgah last July. Its likely that John Quinn will have that race in mind for the gelding once again. Others to note from the Wokingham include Summerghand & Lethal Levi. Summerghand who hit winning form in the second half of last season looks to be working towards a return to form. He’s likely to be down to his last winning mark after this. Lethal Levi was ultimately well beaten 15th but he was hampered 2f out and had no chance after. You can draw a line through this effort, and he’s better judged on last month’s runner-up effort at York.
Lion Of War enjoyed the return to 1m 2f when a ¾ length 2nd of 15 in the Golden Gates Handicap. He made his effort nearer to the far rail which wasn’t the place to be during the week. He continues to improve and although he will go up for this effort should remain competitive in valuable 1m 2f handicaps in the coming weeks.
Tuesday Preview
The quiet start to the week continues today. Strawman ran well enough when 3rd of 7 stepped up to 1m 4f at Ripon last week. A previous C&D winner he’s now 3lb below his last winning mark and won’t be far away back down to 1m 2f at Beverley (4:15).
At Newbury Noble Masquerade, who is normally to be seen at Windsor, likes quick ground. He’s run ok on three starts this season. Has to have a chance in the (7:15) if he gets his going.
Bastogne hasn’t won since his juvenile season. However, he made a solid return from a 375 day break on debut for his new yard when a 1 ½ length 3rd of 8 at Chepstow 17 days ago. The handicapper has given the 4-year-old a chance in the 8:25 (7f). If he can build on his last time out effort can make the places at the very least.
Newbury
8:25 – Bastogne – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (both paying 4 places).
Good luck with your Tuesday bets.
John