2.30 – Jersey
Stakes – 7f – Group 3
After a decent day for the Irish yesterday, they will look
to set down a marker on day two with Aidan O’Brien, winner of this race the
past two years in a row, bringing over three in the form of Giovanni Boldini,
Michaelmas and Great White Eagle. Giovanni Boldini is Joseph’s pick and looks
to have the best chance for Ballydoyle, while Dermot Weld’s Mustajeeb also has
strong claims to retain the Irish crown.
The horse I’m most interested is a foreign raider coming to
Ascot, but not an Irish one. Redbrook 12/1 showed great progression when
winning a listed race over 7f at Longchamp last time out and did so in enough
style to warrant a place at third in the market in this race. He’s by Ravens
Pass and is two from two so far this season, having done absolutely nothing
wrong. This will be a step up in class but he certainly looks like a Jersey
Stakes horse and 12/1 is definitely each-way value.
Favourite Muwaary has to be respected for John Gosden, while
That Is The Spirit and Musical Comedy, both 14/1, both look to have their
chances. Redbrook has to be the pick though.
Redbrook E/W 12/1
3.05 – Queen
Mary Stakes – 5f – Fillies Group 2
It’s no easy task to analyse a large field of 2yos but
attention must be paid both to the formbook and the bloodlines, and when you
combine the two, one horse stands out above the others. Anthem Alexander
stormed home at Tipperary last time out and has been linked with this race ever
since. The maiden in question was the 7k
Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden and although we have had no
runners out since, Anthem Alexander looked really impressive and was definitely
one to follow straight after the race.
Although we don’t know much about Anthem Alexander’s last
run, she was 6th on her racecourse debut at the Curragh and the form
from that race isn’t too bad at all – of 5 subsequent runners (excluding Anthem
Alexander), 3 managed to place. From a statistical viewpoint, everything is
good in terms of breeding – in the last year, Starspangledbanner’s progeny have
been very successful in the UK and Ireland under these conditions – 3 wins from
5 runners over 5f, 4 wins from 8 2yo runners, a win from the sole runner at
Ascot and a win and a place from two runners on good ground.
Anthem Alexander 7/2
3.45 – Prince Of
Wales’s Stakes – 1m 2f – Group 1
The sole group 1 race of the day and it’s a good one – last year’s
2000 Guineas and Breeders Cup Turf winner Magician takes on a whole host of
fantastic fillies, including Arc winner Treve. Last year’s second and third,
Mukhadram and The Fugue, return to the race this year as well hoping to go just
a small bit better than when they fell short of one of last season’s true
superstars, Al Kazeem. All in all, the race is full of class and contains
plenty of horses which must respected.
Magician is an unpredictable horse, absolutely top class on
his day and capable of beating any of these. However, it seems to be hard to
figure out when it will be his day, with a recent run in the Tattersalls Gold
Cup at the Curragh disappointing, even if the going was unsuitably soft on
Irish Guineas weekend. I’ll be willing to give him a miss today for this
reason.
In fact, my nap of the day will have to be Treve, a true
class act who lost her unbeaten record when second to Cirrus Des Aigles last
time out on tough ground last April. Considering what a good horse she lost to
and the going conditions, there’s absolutely no shame in this result and I
would be surprised to see her lose today. She overcame a tough draw in last
year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe to win very impressively from a talented field
and is one of the best horses in training at the moment. It’s great to see her
at Ascot and it will be great to see her bolt up – hopefully!
Treve 8/11
4.25 – Duke Of
Cambridge Stakes – 1m – Fillies Group 2
I don’t like backing too many favourites but the jolly looks
a good thing again in this race, even if fillies are ridiculously unpredictable.
Sky Lantern’s credentials are very impressive, with four Group 1’s to her name
including the 1000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes at this meeting last year.
However, she concedes wait to everything and hasn’t been seen in over 250 days
and so she’s worth avoiding today.
Integral finished was beaten by French raider Esoterique in
the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket and they both looked like very good horses to
take from the race. Andre Fabre, trainer of the latter filly, always means
business when he travels to Britain and Ireland and has to be respected.
However, Integral ran keenly early on in that race and was weak in the market
and under better circumstances I would expect her to reverse that form today.
She should be suited by the drop back to the mile and looks the pick of the
bunch.
Integral 5/2
5.00 – Royal Hunt
Cup – 1m – Class 2 Heritage Handicap
This is an absolute lottery – tickets at the ready – but there
are two of interest here, one at the top of the market and one at nicer odds.
Although I wouldn’t strongly suggest bet
in the race, one of the highlights of the season for us last year was a 25/1
winner in the Britannia Stakes at this meeting, another large-fielded heritage
handicap run over a mile.
After a good win at Epsom, Abseil is the favourite today. With
only four runs to his name, he looks like a good prospect over the coming
season. He won despite looking inexperienced at Epsom last time out and should
have come on for the run so has massive claims today in this tough task. 6/1 is
a fair price which allows for some each-way security.
Meanwhile, at longer odds, the only horse which stands out
to me is Sea Shanty 20/1, carrying a penalty because of a win just last week at
Sandown. Still, he is Hughes’ choice here, and understandably so considering
his form under the conditions and suitability to the race – he has two wins and
two places from five runs on good ground, and has picked up a place from two
starts at Ascot. Hughes knows what he’s doing around Ascot and with the Hannons
in flying form, he’s worth an each-way bet today.
Abseil E/W 11/2
Sea Shanty E/W 20/1
Day two of Ascot and no doubt it will bring with it as much
thrills and excitements as the opening day. Hopefully it will be a profitable
one for all of us – the very best of luck and remember only to bet what you can
easily afford to lose. Good luck and enjoy.
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