Well what a day the first day turned out to be. Almost tempted to quit whilst I am ahead but where would be the fun in that. The five winners provided a 3000/1 five-timer and if the last one, beaten a neck, had gone in it would have been well over 40,000.
Even the placed suggestions ran well with at least three of them finishing in the money and there was even a forecast in there as well.
Hope some of you followed the advice and have separated some bookies from their cash.
Can lightning strike twice, only one way to find out. Here are my thoughts on day two.
There is probably no Ribchester, winner of this last year and the first yesterday, in the opening Jersey Stakes at 2:30 but there are still some interesting looking horses. The one I like the look of most is DABAN. I thought she would win the 1000 Guineas after her top notch performance in the Nell Gwyn and she lost nothing in defeat in that race. The form has been well and truly franked and she has plenty of improvement in her. Add to that John Gosden’s brilliant placement of his horses and she ticks enough boxes to get the vote. Even the missing through injury Frankie Dettori is no negative as Andrea Atzeni is a fine substitute. Tamool is another sure improver and would be the suggestion to chase her home.
Big fields are the order of the day on day two and 24 will line up for the Queen Mary at 3:05. Despite there being some well bred and interesting fillies from this side of the ocean my contacts Stateside are more confident about HAPPY LIKE A FOOL then any other horse they have sent over. Wesley Ward has openly admitted it is his best chance of a win and considering he has already had one with Lady Aurelia that is a huge tip in itself. If anything can spoil the party it is most likely to be the Willie Jarvis trained Mrs Gallagher, unbeaten in one start over course and distance this well bred filly should finish in the money.
The Duke of Cambridge at 3:40 has a top quality field and should be a race to savour. Mix and Mingle is unlikely to get the tactical advantage she did at Lingfield today and I expect the race to go the way of the French. Last years Coronation Stakes and dual Group One winner QEMAH carries no penalty in this Group 2 and is narrowly preferred to last years winner Usherette.
The Prince of Wales’s Stakes at 4:20 looks like a fascinating event and should be one of the most interesting races of the week. Highland Reel looks to be better over a mile and a half and I would have serious concerns about Jack Hobbs on the ground which is liable to be even firmer than today. ULYSSES however seems to have everything in his favour. I think he will have too much speed for Highland Reel and Jack Hobbs and too much class for the others. He is a confident selection. Mekhtaal could run into second.
The Royal Hunt Cup at 5:00 is as much of a quandary as ever with the mixture of unexposed potential group performers mixed in with some seasoned handicappers. Horses like GM Hopkins, Banksea, Belgian Bill, Yuften and George William are sure to go well but I like the chances of BALLET CONCERTO providing a win for the Moore/Stoute combo. Desperately unlucky at Epsom he has the look of a typical Michael Stoute improver at 4. Fastnet Tempest looks like a classic Hunt Cup horse and would be my suggestion to chase the selection home. GK Chesterton is also of interest for tricast purposes as he still appears to be on the upgrade and the Appleby stable has hit form.
The Sandringham is another tricky handicap with a huge field and ends day two at 5:35. With 24 largely unexposed fillies going to post it is no easy get out stakes. The top weight Rain Goddess is just the type of horse Aiden O’Brien is likely to win a race like this with but after the disappointing runs of his horses yesterday it is difficult to enthuse about her given the weight. John Gosden has two in the race and my preference is for PRESENT TENSE the horse which Frankie Dettori had chosen to ride ahead of Gymnaste before being side lined through injury. She has had only three runs, the last of which can be dismissed due to the lack of a proper racing pace, something she won’t encounter here, she looks a sure improver. On Her Toes has only been seen once this season, running well in second with a number of todays rivals behind and is the one who could give her most to do. A three time winner last season she has more experience than the selection and was only narrowly over looked. Queen of Time has already won twice this season and looks sure to win again before the season is out. She would be my tricast selection.
That is my opinion on day two then. Probably too much to hope for another day like yesterday but windmill tilting is a popular pastime in these parts.
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