Royal Ascot Day 1 Preview & Selections

2.30 - Queen Anne Stakes - Group 1 - 1m 

Day one begins with the Queen Anne Stakes which is sure to be one of the highlights of the meeting with international superstars Able Friend and Solow clashing for the first time. The former has won all of his last six starts, four of which were group 1 contests and demands respect anywhere he goes, while the latter narrowly holds favouritism at the time of writing having won two group 1’s on his last two starts. It’s fair to say that these horses will be thrown out of their comfort zones here, though, and I’m more interested in the inflated prices of the home team as a result of the foreign superstars arriving.

Night Of Thunder leads the British charge along with stablemate Toormore – they were the top 2 home in that order in the Lockinge last month and the form has proven strong with 3^rd Arod having won the group 3 Diomed Stakes on Derby day and 5^th Cable Bay also enjoying group success on his next outing – these are the only horses from the top 6 in the Lockinge to have run subsequently and one would suspect that Night Of Thunder and Toormore should put in big runs today.

It’s the former which interests me, even if his stablemate did bring him very close in the Lockinge. Night Of Thunder should benefit from a fast pace and if his stablemate can provide that then he could use his experience of the track and conditions to his advantage – everything says that he should be in the mix and he has to be taken at an each-way price. We can only home that every horse stays in the race and there are three each-way places up for grabs at the off.

As for the others, I’ve been a big fan of Esoterique’s ever since she won on 1000 Guineas day at Newmarket last season but she has a bit to find in this company. Cougar Mountain and Glory Awaits both look unlikely winners, while Here Comes When has to reverse form from the Lockinge with both Night Of Thunder and Toormore.

SELECTION: NIGHT OF THUNDER E/W 5/1

3.05 - Coventry Stakes - Group 2 - 6f

2-year-old races aren't my cup of tea but many people will want to be involved in these races at Royal Ascot and small speculative bets can often be surprisingly profitable so we'll give it a shot. Round Two for Jim Bolger would be the obvious choice but Air Force Blue is sure to have improved from his debut win at the Curragh and is interestingly entered in the group 1 Phoenix Stakes and National Stakes later on this season - "the lads" seem to think very highly of him. There was a lot to like about how he made the running and held on to win on his debut and he should be in the mix today, even if this is a tricky race and there is plenty of interesting opposition from Jim Bolger's yard and elsewhere. The 8/1 currently available with Winner is too good to turn down.

SELECTION: AIR FORCE BLUE E/W 8/1

3.40 - Kings Stand Stakes - Group 1 - 5f

19 runners go to post for the Kings Stand Stakes this year including the winner of the last two renewals, Sole Power. Although Sole Power would be an extremely popular winner, the race itself is a real headache and with four places on offer from most of the big firms, it should pay to look for some value. Shamal Wind's form is strong and he certainly has claims, and the 17/2 which is out there at the moment is very hard to ignore. Muthmir is an obvious choice after a group 2 win at Chantilly last time out when dropped backed down to 5f and producing what was arguably the performance of his career to date - however, I wouldn't mind backing a long shot in the circumstances, especially considering the amount of winners we've had at double-figure prices in this race over the last few years.

In theory, Pearl Secret is drawn just a couple of stalls too high in 17, but I think that his Temple Stakes win is being written off as weak form much too easily - the only horse to have subsequently run is Kingsgate Native who was 9th in the Temple and since won a listed race. We won't really know how strong the form was from the Temple until after today, when 8 Temple runners go in the Kings Stand. The other argument against Pearl Secret is that the ground will be too quick for him today - his strike rates may be higher with a give in the ground but there's no doubt that he handles a quicker surface with 4 of his 7 career wins having come on good or better. All things considered, I think that 22/1 (BetVictor, StanJames but StanJames only offer 3 places on the race) is an absolutely massive price and he's well worth an each-way punt.

SELECTION: PEARL SECRET E/W 22/1

4.20 - St James's Palace Stakes - Group 1 - 1m

As is often the case, this is a clash of two Guineas winners, and although the money was pouring in last week for the Fabre's French raider, Make Believe, the interest in him has waned and the focus has returned to Aidan O'Brien's Gleneagles, winner of both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas. At Newmarket, he showed serious class and eased away from his rivals in the final stages to put himself into the picture for all of the big races over the mile this season (it was decided that he should stay over the mile and not attempt the Derby). At the Curragh, he wasn't quite as visually impressive but he showed heart and a likable attitude to win despite a lack of luck in-running. There's no doubt that he is a talented colt and must be respected.

Belardo was 4th behind him at the Curragh and could be an each-way bet for me but with just six runners this isn't a race for betting each-way. There could be more to come from him though. Consort was impressive in his listed win at Sandown last time out and should be at home in group races based on that effort but this could well be too much too soon. Latharnach also ran in listed company last time out, runner-up at Newmarket last month on his seasonal debut - he should continue to improve but, like Consort, this is probably a step too far for the minute. Meanwhile, Aktabantay hasn't been seen since running a decent 6th in a group 1 on his final start as a 2yo at Longchamp and probably shoouldn't be considered against this opposition.

Make Believe is widely regarded the main opposition to Gleneagles, having won the French 2000 Guineas on his last start. Although he has to be respected, I trust more in Gleneagles' form and ability and won't hesitate in backing him here today.

SELECTION: GLENEAGLES 4/6