Well we got Royal Ascot off to a good start today with 4 winners from the 6 races. Tomorrow looks a little more difficult but hopefully we will be able to dig out a winner or two.
The Jersey Stakes (2.30) has only gone to the market leader once in the last 10 yaers so it may be worth looking for an outsider. Rodrigo de Torres, Mon Cadeaux and Kaptain Kirkup are 3 that could just pull off a surprise. Mon Cadeaux seemed to struggle with the track at Epsom last time and Ascot should suit him better. I will settle for him each way.
Spacious won the Windsor Forest Stakes (3.05) last season at 10/1 and seeks to follow up tomorrow. She has only been out of the first 3 in 4 of her 13 career starts and is no forlorn each way chance. The two obvious contenders though are Strawberrydaiquiri and Antara. The former is an admirable type and seems to keep improving. German import Antara made a good impression on her UK debut winning at Epsom in a Group 3 and should be even better on a more conventional track. This is quite a difficult one to call but I narrowly prefer Antara to the Stoute filly with Spacious to fill the third spot.
The 3.50 has attracted a talented field with perhaps Twice Over, Mawatheeq and Glass Harmonium the pick of the home team. Twice Over and Mawatheeq were first and second in the Champion Stakes last season and Twice Over went on to finish 3rd at the Breeders Cup so that looks solid form. Glass Harmonium is a course and distance winner and has already won a Group 3 this year. This trio are certainly respected but for my selection I am going for the French challenger Byword. He was only beaten half a length by Goldikova last month and being lightly raced could well be open to further improvement.
The 30 runner Royal Hunt Cup (4.25) always takes some sorting out but I did find the winner last season with Forgotten Voice who attempts to follow up off top weight. He is 12 lbs higher than last season which might just anchor him sufficiently. The consistent Mia’s Boy has been running in pattern class company since finishing 6th in the Lincoln and is another that is possibly just a little too high in the handicap. There are any number in with a chance but my two against the field would be Mull of Killough and Riggins. The former has been a bit unlucky since finishing 3rd in the Lincoln and looks to have a nice race in him. Riggins has always been a talented horse but has been difficult to keep sound. He ran well in third on his seasonal debut having joined Andrew Balding from Luca Cumani’s yard.
Maqaasid was an impressive winner at Sandown last month and on that form sets the standard in the 5.00. Swiss Dream and Marlinka could fill the minor placings. In the 5.35 I fancy Safina with the main dangers likely to come from Timepiece and Pollenator.
Selections elsewhere; Hamilton 2.55 – Cross Key: Kempton 7.10 – Buffett; Ripon 9.20 – House Point.
Today’s picture, courtesy of Kate Tann is of Soviet Song, a past winner of the Windsor Forest Stakes.
ahorse 