Royal Ascot 2019 Thursday 20th June

Least said about day two the better so lets get straight on to day three, Gold Cup day.

Another tricky 2yo race starts the day in the shape of the Norfolk Stakes. Big field, unknown quantities and question marks about the weather and going all add to the mystery. Air Force Jet will be a popular choice after Southern Hills, who he beat last time out, won on day 2 but I just prefer SUNDAY SOVERIEGN who had Tuesday’s winner Arizona among others behind earlier in the season. Support for Air Force Jet could see the price of the selection lengthen a little too.

The Hampton Court Stakes is full of unexposed improving types and should be an interesting race to watch as many of these may go on to better things. I like the look of SANGARIOUS who has had just the one run so far this season after a decent 2yo campaign. He has the look of a classic Michael Stoute improving 3yo.

In the Ribblesdale Stakes the Dettori/Gosden team look to be the ones to be on with STAR CATCHER having the look of a filly that has been aimed specifically at this race. She has the potential to become one of the seasons top fillies.

The Gold Cup should be a simple task for STRADIVARIIUS especially as the ground should have dried out considerably by the off time. One or two could give him something to think about but he isn’t really opposable for me.

32 runners could go to post in the Britannia Handicap and this is a race in which I usually like to look for something that has been running decently in group races that has the class to give weight away. Nothing really fits that criteria this year though so I will take the other option of looking for an unexposed horse that is likely to make up into a group horse in time. Motafaawit and DAVYDENKO both fit the bill and preference is just for the latter given the weights.

I apply a similar theory to the King George V Handicap too but this time I believe CONSTANTINOPLE has the class to defy top weight especially if the rain stays away.

The good lady apprentice tipster came back down to earth with a bump today but is sticking with horses proven on ground on the softer side of good. All seem to have reasonable chances at decent odds … and remember she is still the only one of us to have picked a winner so far.

2.30 EXPRESSIONIST

3.05 SANGARIOUS

3.40 SHAMBOLIC

4.20 THOMAS HOBSON

5.00 BARRISTAN THE BOLD

5.35 GOOD BIRTHDAY

Royal Ascot 2019 Wednesday June 19th

The opening day was not exactly the day we were hoping for and although most of the selections ran creditably returns were thin on the ground. Three places for me with Guildsman, Fun Mac and Elarqam managing to get some of the stake back for each way punters. But its a 1-0 lead to the debutante tipster as she managed to bag the only winner with Arizona.

Day two looks to be extremely difficult with big fields and a lot of rain due overnight and during the day. Expect a few non runners in the morning and possibly more throughout the day. With the anticipated ground in mind horses with some form on soft may be the best ones to focus on.

28 2yo fillies are due to line up for the Queen Mary at 2.30 and with very little form to go on this is a nightmare opener. I finally got it down to the unbeaten Godolphin pair Divine Spirit and FINAL SONG with the latter just edging the vote due to having won on a softer surface.

The Queens Vase at 3.05 looks to be an interesting race. Harpo Marx makes a little appeal at long odds as a horse who could well still be improving and could run into a place.  However, JALMOUD looks to be in with a great chance given his performances already this season and the step up in trip looks sure to suit. He can give Godolphin a quick fire double.

The feature race of the day at 3.40 is the Prince of Wales Stakes and this looks to be a fascinating race. A good case can be made for all the principles although William Haggas’s remarks after racing today suggest Sea of Class may not enjoy the ground if it gets too soft. After his outstanding performance in the Prix Ganay I am going to side with the French raider WALDGEIST.

The Duke of Cambridge Stakes looks to be another tricky puzzle and cases can be made for many. Having already shown some form on a softer surface PRETTY BABY just gets the vote over Agrotera.

The cavalry charge that is the Royal Hunt Cup is at 5.00 and I will take three against the field with Mitchum Swagger who looks primed to run a big race, War Glory who looks to still be on the upgrade and selection WHAT’S THE STORY who is a course and distance winner, has won on soft ground and is from a yard in cracking form.

The final race of the day is another 2yo race and looks to be as difficult to solve as the opener. However the unbeaten IFFRAAZ has the assistance of Frankie Dettori in the plate and won well on heavy ground in his only run to date. He looks to be seriously over priced.

So now for the tips from the other half of the team. I fear some of these reasonings maybe a little tongue in cheek but I don’t need reminding it wasn’t me who found the only winner today !

2.30 – BRAND NEW DAY – likes the song

3.05 – MOONLIGHT SPIRIT – there has been a full moon lately

3.40 – WALDGEIST – it just sounds different to all the others

4.20 – HAND ON HEART – it likes soft ground

5.00 – CHIEF IRONSIDE – used to like Ironside

5.35 – BILL NEIGH – thought it said Bill Nighy and I like him.

 

 

Royal Ascot 2019 Tuesday 18th June

Back again then after another year off, so lets see if we can reproduce that magical first day of 2017 where we had 5 winners and a close second. Two opinions to chose from this year though as the lady of the house is chipping in with her opinions too.

The opening Queen Anne Stakes doesn’t look to me to be a vintage renewal but there are still some classy types in there. The first one that took my eye was Barney Roy as he was part of the famous five of two years ago. Sentiment never makes for good betting though so I will be giving him a miss as failures at stud rarely come back as good as they were. Le Brevido hasn’t won for two years and at the likely odds is easy to oppose and was beaten by the selection in this years Lockinge. That is obviously the race to focus on form wise as many of these ran there. Some will suggest that MUSTASHRY had the run of the race and all the luck but he still comes out as a superior horse in my opinion and I expect him to reconfirm his superiority over those that re-oppose as well as the rest of the field.  That opinion though is not shared by my partner who is making her tipping debut and she believes that LAURENS who was second in that Lockinge is capable of turning things around. She rarely runs a bad race and has a live chance in an open event.

The Coventry Stakes has the usual large field of horses that have only run once or twice and is as difficult to solve as ever. Aiden O’Brien runs four and the lady of the house slightly prefers ARIZONA to stablemate King of Athens. I always like to focus on unbeaten horses in this type of race and as usual there are a few to choose from here. Threat looks to be an interesting contender but GUILDSMAN won in impressive style at Goodwood in his only run to date and posted an excellent time. He is a reasonably confident selection.

Sprinters to the fore in the King Stand Stakes and last years first three all re-oppose. With no standout contender from America this year they could well fight out the finish amongst themselves again. Last years winner Blue Point has done nothing wrong in three wins this season but I fancy BATTAASH to turn the tables as he returned with a fine performance in the Temple Stakes and looks a stronger horse at 5.  A slightly longer priced alternative is suggested by my partner in crime and she likes the chances of EQUILATERAL. He has a lot to find on form but is going in the right direction and gave Mabs Cross a scare in the Palace House.

The St James Palace Stakes is next up and like the Queen Anne earlier does not look to be the classiest of renewals. PHOENIX OF SPAIN won the Irish 2000 Guineas well and that is clearly the best 3yo form on offer. I can’t see any of the horses beaten there turning the tables but the other half of the team disagrees and believes last years champion 2yo TOO DARN HOT will prevail this time.

The days handicap is the marathon Ascot Stakes and as ever the field is full of horses from jumping yards as well as flat ones. Willie Mullins normally does well in these types of races but this year puts all his eggs in one basket running only Buildmeupbuttercup. That is surely a tip in itself but the likely odds are not enticing. I prefer a bit of a punt on the veteran  FUN MAC who always runs well and came 2nd in this four years ago off a 7lb higher mark. He also gets weight from most of the field and stays well. ARCTIC FIRE is even more of a veteran at 10yo but is a classy hurdler and is the selection of my fellow pundit.

The Wolferton Stakes wraps things up on day one and I believe it could give Hamdam Al Maktoum his third winner of the day in the shape of ELARQAM. Well drawn and clearly best at 10 furlongs he has the look of a typical Maktoum horse that improves with age. Stable companion Addeybb looks interesting too and I fancy him to follow the selection home.  The debutante tipster however doesn’t share my opinion and believes that DOLPHIN VISTA has the class to run a big race despite carrying a penalty and could provide a good reward at generous odds.

That’s the day one selections then. As ever we go in more in hope than judgement and please don’t think we have any great insider information. Bet responsibly and have fun … where is the Pimms tent !