Advised Ante-Post Bets
Canford Cliffs: Queen Anne Stakes 5-4
Delegator: Golden Jubilee Stakes 5-1
ReviewI end the week -3 points down to level stakes for the thirty races throughout the meeting with six winners and and each-way bet (Docofthebay) having come off; I put up three second placed finishers as well so again a case of close but no cigar at the Royal Meeting.
It has as ever been a great week (baring those idiots getting all handbags - at least learn to fight if you're going to have one) with some of the best horses in the world on show and I am already looking forward to some terrific racing again in 2012.
Saturday
Another bad day at the Royal meeting yesterday (found a couple of winners elsewhere in the evening) so I go into the last day looking to win a few quid back; made that bit harder with the news that Delegator has been taken out of the Golden Jubilee.
First up we have the Listed Chesham Stakes. I have watched the videos and Maybe made a big impression winning at Naas on her debut and should be hard to beat here with the step up to seven furlong likely to suit and she gets the 5lb sex allowance as a filly.
The Group Two Hardwicke Stakes looks slightly below par to me this year which would explain why Await The Dawn is likely to go off odds-on. The O'Brien colt looks too good for his rivals with the fully exposed Campanologist looking his biggest danger.
With Delegaor now a non-runner the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes looks a bit more of an open affair. The Aussie Star Witness has a chance as does of course Hooray who promises to be a top sprinter but my money will be on Definightly each-way. The gelding has form on the soft and a high draw which has appeared favourable all meeting, it is a big ask for him to win but this is an open affair.
The Wokingham Stakes is a devilish handicap with most of the fancied horses in the middle stalls so heaven only knows what side of the track they will go for. Right in the middle is the Dandy Nicholls trained Victoire De Lyphar who had a good season last year and having blown the cobwebs away at Haydock in May a big run is expected today and he is where my each-way cash will be going
The Duke of Edinburgh Handicap is another tricky event but we have a couple of pointers that can help find the winner. First off four and five-year-olds are the way to go as they have a great record in this heat as do trainers Mark Johnston and Sir Michael Stoute. With those facts in mind and having been mightily impressed with his Newbury win the Stoute trained four-year-old Modun is the pick.
Last race of the week is the Queen Alexandra Stakes over a gruelling two mile, five and a half furlongs! Overturn would have been interesting after his Chester Cup heroics but he is now a non-runner. Swingkeel placed up in this race last year and it'll be no surprise if he puts up another big showing today.
Friday
Not so good yesterday but hopefully I have a few winners lined up for today. We get underway with the Group Three Albany Stakes for two-year-old fillies. This usually goes to a little raced filly stepping up from maiden class - the only Group winner to win this race being Cuis Ghaire trained by Jim Bolger. The trainer has the Listed winner Teolane running today and the Teofilo filly has done nothing but improve and looks the most likely winner despite he past trends.
The King Edward VII Stakes is a Group Two that over the years has often gone to an unexposed type which sums up the Henry Cecil trained World Domination nicely. Won on debut at Newbury after glowing gallops report he was a little disappointing in the Dante but Cecil wouldn't be pitching him at this if he wasn't good enough and he is obviously open to further improvement.
The Group One Coronation Stakes is a top class mile race for fillies with horses that run in well in the 1000 Guineas usually coming to the fore - 3 of the last 8 winners having won at Newmarket. Memory obviously blotted her copy book in a massive way at Newmarket but I am convinced she is capable of winning a Group One this year and provided she actually takes part she can win this.
The Listed Wolferton Handicap Stakes looks to be at the mercy of Green Destiny. The colt won very nicely at Newmarket and fits the profile for winners of the race perfectly being a four-year-old who has only raced once this season - four-year-olds having won 9 of the last 11 renewals and 13 of the last 16 winners having their second or third start of the campaign.
The Group Three Queens Vase has been a race in which to follow Mark Johnston in recent years having saddled five winners - he runs three this year and all have a chance. I though will be plumping for the O'Brien trained Regent Street. The colt is bred to stay and comes here on the back of a couple of respectable runs in Group company.
The Buckingham Palace Handicap Stakes is one of those handicaps that give you nightmares for the 'getting out of trouble stakes' but I think I might have found one. It appears that a high draw is an advantage and course and distance form is always to be respected which brings us to Docofthebay. Trained by Dandy Nicholls the seven-year-old has been the model of consistency this season and has a big each-way chance.
Be lucky
Thursday
Cracking start yesterday with Strong Suit getting the job done at 14-1; hopefully I can find one or two again today.
We get underway with the Group Two Norfolk Stakes over five furlongs. The unbeaten American gelding Everyday Dave has what looks like some nice form at Keeneland and Chantilly and has what should prove a decent draw coming out of stall 16. He really could be anything but I will take a chance today.
The Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes often goes to a late developing improving type which is a description can that can be given to the Godolphin trained Rumh. The boys in blue know how to win this race having taken the last two renewals with three winners previous to that and a couple of second places; take note and get on.
The Group One Gold Cup is of course the principal race of the day and is a little strange this year with most of the market principles far from certain stayers at this Marathon trip. Holberg should get the trip, and at least has form over two-miles and on this track, so is a tentative choice.
The Britannia Handicap is as competitive as ever and you can make a case for half of the thirty runners! We know from the first two days that a high draw is important on the straight course and we can see from past results that John Gosden knows how to win this race. He has Tropical Beat entered today who looks a likely sort for this race and is drawn nice and high so he will be carrying my each-way money.
Next up is the Group Three Tercentenary Stakes (Formerly The Hampton Court Stakes). Luca Cumani has been bringing Alkimos along the same way as last years winner Afsare including winning the same race at Doncaster won en route to victory in this 12 months ago. The colt looks a likely type and is fancied to win this.
Last but not least we have the King George V Stakes, a nice handicap for three-year-olds. The O'Brien trained Apache fits the profile for this race as good as any with one run as a two-year-old and progressing nicely as a three-year-old; he is well worth a punt on his handicap debut.
Wednesday
What a cracking race between Canford Cliffs and Goldikova yesterday and then that was followed by Frankel, great racing. I was disappointed with the ride given Zigato and I am convinced he would have won if given a better chance as he was coming home like a train in the stayers contest; onwards and upwards and today is another day as they say.
I have talked about Strong Suit since this meeting last year and although he didn't even make it to the 2000 Guineas, blotting his copy book in a massive way at Newbury in the Greenham, he has had a breathing operation since that run and the horses that have beat him during his short career include Frankel - no need to say anymore - as well as Zoffany, Excelebration and Dream Ahead who all run with distinction yesterday behind Frankel in the St James's Palace Stakes. I have backed him at 14-1 each-way for the Group Three Jersey Stakes and I am convinced he has a chance.
The Windsor Forest Stakes is a Group Two for fillies and mares and I have another each-way punt to put forward. Music Show is a horse I have talked about a lot before and I feel she has a nice chance today. This is just the sort of race Mick Channon could get her right for and she has a little form here with a creditable fourth in last years Coronation Stakes. At 9-1 she is value to get a place at least and is another each-way bet.
The Group One Prince Of Wales's Stakes has been won by some very good animals and it appears Aidan O'Brien has a very good animal on his hands in the shape of So You Think, he will be odds-on but looks top class and should win.
The Royal Hunt Cup Heritage Handicap is a real puzzle but there are a few pointers that can help us find a winner. Four and five-year-olds are the ages to concentrate on, rated between 91 and 105 and looking at yesterdays racing a high draw might be an advantage. Invincible Soul trained by Richard Hannon ran second in the Britannia Stakes at this meeting last year as well as putting in a number of decent runs. Wearing cheek pieces for the first time and nicely weighted (due to go up 3lb) the colt has a chance at around 20-1 this morning. The low draw might prove a disadvantage if yesterdays results prove true but he is worth an each-way couple of bob.
The Queen Mary Stakes a Group Two for two-year-old fillies is a real speedsters race. Shumoos will be a short priced favourite following her impressive debut in which she beat Frederick Engels, a winner here yesterday to frank the form, and it is hard to see her getting beat.
The Sandringham Handicap (Listed) is the final race of the day. The Queen has a likely looking type in the shape of Humdrum. The Richard Hannon trained filly put in some nice performances last season, constantly improving, and won on her reappearance - second franked the form by winning on Saturday - she will need to improve again but is a big runner at 5-1.
Be lucky
Tuesday
The big day is here, day one of Royal Ascot and my birthday - what better excuse for a bet or two and maybe a light ale.
The Group One Queen Anne Stakes has the potential to be a real quality race with Canford Cliffs and Goldikova going head to head. I expect the usual classy performance and battling qualities from Goldikova, having won this race last year by a neck from Paco Boy, but I truly feel the Hannon colt is still improving and just has the edge and will prevail in a real ding dong battle.
The Group One Kings Stand Stakes has been won by an overseas runner on six of the last eight renewals – not a great advertisement for British sprinters - I though feel this year the prize will be staying in the UK with Kingsgate Native. The gelding won the Golden Jubilee Stakes in 2008 and the Stoute horses are in good form right now.
The third Group One of the day is the St. James’s Palace Stakes which sees Frankel looking to stamp his position as number one three-year-old miler in Europe and arguably the World this year; he will go off at long odds-on. Defeat is hard to imagine for the Henry Cecil trained colt following the way he destroyed the 2000 Guineas field and if you need any other form to convince you of his qualities just think back to the great performance he put in over this very course and distance when winning the Royal Lodge Stakes last season as a two-year-old. Dubawi Gold should be in the places again but most interesting contender will be Dream Ahead on his three-year-old debut. Rated top two-year-old with Frankel last year the ease in the going should help his cause but it would be some performance to win this on seasonal debut.
The Group Two Coventry Stakes is the first serious two-year-old race of the season and is often won by a nice type, 26 or the last 27 winners had won last time out and most of them were unbeaten. The Barry Hills trained Mezmaar fits the profile and is drawn ideally in stall one so is the pick.
The Ascot Stakes is a Handicap that the Jumps trainers have targeted over the last few years and last years winner Junior is back for the Pipe yard again today. I though am going to stick with a flat trainer in John Gosden and his Zigato. The gelding is a lightly raced four-year-old who won nicely over two miles here last time and should improve again for this marathon trip.
The Listed Windsor Castle Stakes is quite a tricky little affair to end the first day three of the last five winners starting at odds of 20-1 or bigger, last years winner Flashmans Paper was a 100-1 shot. Richard Hannon has yet to win this race which is surprising I am going to take a chance with his Magic City. I have talked of the colt before and although a little disappointing last time he looks just the type to take a race such as this.
Be lucky
For 300 years Ascot has been used for the racing of horses. Queen Anne, whilst out riding in 1711, is reported to have said that the heath looked an ideal place for ‘horses to gallop at full stretch’ and the first race took place on the 11th August of that year. The beginnings of the Royal meeting are unclear with the first four day meeting being held in 1768, extended to five days in 2002 as part of the Queens Golden Jubilee celebrations. The Gold Cup was first contested in 1807 and until 1929 the Royal meeting was the only racing held at the track. During the five days 16 Group races are contested by the best thoroughbreds not just from the UK and Europe but Worldwide with champion thoroughbreds such as Choisir, winner of the King’s Stand and Golden Jubilee in 2003, coming all the way from Australia.
More than 275,000 people will visit the track during the five day meeting, drinking their way through 60,000 bottles of champagne and 16,000 gallons of beer.
The Queen Anne Stakes is run at Royal Ascot in memory of the monarch whose vision led to the great meeting. There are few venues that can offer such great entertainment and has such a rich history as that of Ascot and long may it continue.
