Royal Ascot again takes centre stage tomorrow. I don’t have any strong opinions on the first two races although I wouldn’t be surprised if Bullet Train ran much better in the 3.05 than he did in the Derby where surely something was amiss.
The Coronation Stakes at 3.30 looks quite tricky. Music Show has quite solid form. After winning the Nell Gwynne she ran well in the 1,000 Guineas from a hopeless draw before acquitting herself well in the Irish equivalent where she finished 3rd. She is a good yardstick in this race and you would imagine that she will be involved in the finish. Lillie Langtry was 5th in that Irish Guineas finishing well after not getting a clear run. As that was her first run of the season she can be expected to improve although the stable have not been in top form this season. Jacqueline Quest was disqualified in the Guineas and the race awarded to Special Duty who went on to sort of frank the form by winning the French classic, albeit once again the steward’s room. Of the rest Lady of the Desert has not been able to reproduce her form of last year and may find her stamina stretched anyway while Tabassum will have to defy a long absence from the track. This is a tough call but I am inclined to just give the edge to Lillie Langtry.
Course and distance winner Rainbow Peak sets the standard in the 4.25 and is a confident selection.
The well bred Total Command has plenty of stamina in his pedigree and is a tentative selection in the 5.00 although he would possibly want easier ground. That just leaves us with the little matter of a 30 runner handicap at 5.35! Suruor and Webbow have been on my list to follow since their runs at the Chester May meeting. The former is usually best after a recent run and it is 42 days since his last outing. He has also done his winning in smaller fields so I will leave him out on this occasion. Webbow is suited by a big field and although he is probably better at a mile this is a stiff 7 furlongs and he would be on my short list. He likes fast ground as well. Bangalore Gold impressed when winning over a mile at The Curragh in a big field handicap on fast ground and should handle this shorter trip OK. I have been following Dubai Dynamo all season but he has risen in the weights as a result of his successful run and may just be weighted out of it. Run for the Hills has the ability and may well be suited by this trip. He is a possible outsider. Bangalore Gold is the selection with Webbow worth an each way interest at a bigger price.
At Newmarket Man of Action looks the one to be on in the 8.10.
Today’s picture is courtesy of the artist Margaret Barrett.
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