Royal Ascot looks like being even better than usual this year and the meeting starts with one of the highlights of the week, the clash between Goldikova and Canford Cliffs. It may be that the finishing speed of Canford Cliffs will prove decisive but I just favour the French challenger. She has won over 9 furlongs and with a fast pace assured and some ease in the ground she may be able to run the finish out of her rival. If the ground is riding soft then Cityscape would have serious place prospects.
I don’t have a strong view on the 3.05. Astrophysical Jet is one that I thought about but the ground may be just against this one. Prohibit runs well at Ascot and would be my each way selection.
You would think that Frankel would win the 3.45 judged on his runaway success in the 2,000 Guineas. That was a strange race though and it may even have taken quite a lot out of the horse. Wootton Bassett and Dream Ahead are possible alternatives but this is not a race that I would have a bet in.
I successfully tipped the winner of the 5.05 last season but Junior has more weight to carry this time and that may stop him from repeating his triumph. The lightly raced Ashbrittle and Nicky Henderson’s runner Veiled are my two main fancies this time.
Carlisle winner Worthington looks value at 12/1 in the 5.35.
The oldest horse running on the flat tomorrow is The Tatling (pictured below), still going strong at the ripe old age of 14. He has won on both his previous visits to Brighton and looks interesting in the 6.00 at the seaside track.
Picture courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.
ahorse 