Royal Ascot Day 2

After a great day for the Ratings and this blog with Solow @ 13/8, Buratino @ 9/1, Gleneagles @ 8/11, Clondaw Warrior @ 8/1, Washington DC @ 11/2 all winning with Air Force Blue @ 8/1 and Steady Pace @ 7/1 finishing in the places, we are hoping for more of the same on day 2.

Jersey Stakes

Ivawood has finished 3rd in his 3 runs this season so far including in both the English and Irish guineas and this is a marked dropped in class and a reproduction of his recent runs and he is sure to take all the beating, especially with the drop back to 7f likely to suit as at the 7f pole in both his Guineas runs he was nigh on in the lead still. Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes both feel this is their banker of the week. Zebedee have yet to have a foal win here yet but that is only from 6 and this is his best chance to date.

Toscanini has some smart form to his name including a 2nd to Gleneagles last season at Curragh when last running over 7f before winning on his reappearance beating Ainippe (giving her 12lb) who has since won a Group 3. Toscanini was slightly disappointing last time out when only 3rd behind Anthem Alexander but if he can bounce back to his previous form then he might not be out of this. Being a Godolphin horse he will be ridden by James Doyle and he should give him a good ride. The step back up to 7f may suit and he may be overpriced.

Sir Isaac Newton has always been held in high regard and was regarded as a Derby hopeful when sent to Chester however after being beaten by Cymro this target was scrapped and he was dropped back to 7f at Gowran Park where he won easily. All 3 of his races to date haven’t been run at that fast a gallop and with the pace likely to be strong at Ascot he may be taken off his feet.

Hathal is a horse who could have real potential and may not have shown his full form yet, after a debut defeat to Consort he was put away for the winter before coming back in a maiden event at Lingfield on the turf where he comfortably beat Druids Ridge who was highly regarded himself and the form looks strong. Staying over 7f he should run a good race at Frankie takes the ride for his owner bosses.

Devonshire is the 2nd Godolphin runner based on colours and has been campaigned with the top races in mind having placed in 2 Guineas trials as well as the Irish 1000 Guineas and will therefore be in receipt of the mares allowance. The 7f trip should suit and she looks to have a decent chance in this race.

Bossy Guest was a smart 2 year old before stepping up on his form to win at Newmarket on his reappearance and then finished a really respectable 4th in the 2000 Guineas just ½ length behind Bossy Guest and is 5lb better off with this rival today. He finishes his races really well so the faster they go the better he will run. His price probably looks too big in comparison to Ivawood and he could be a decent each way bet. With both now likely to be fit and the course appearing to suit Night of Thunder more the placings should be maintained.

Ivawood looks the one to beat @ 13/8 and he should run a big race especially with 7 furlongs likely to suit. Bossy Guest is likely to get a fast pace that will allow him to finish his race well and he looks overpriced @ 9/1
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Queen Mary Stakes

Rah Rah is TOP RATED after a very impressive win last time out at Chester when battling back to beat Silver Wings. She has electrifying early pace and it may be down to whether William Buick can get his fractions right however he won yesterday aboard Buratino so should be able to judge his challenge correctly.

Besharah was a good winner on debut over CD and ran a similar race next time out at Windsor when beating Whatdoiwantthatfor giving her 7lb and she has come out and won since impressively so the form looks very strong. William Haggas has his string in great form and Besharah should go well albeit with Pat Cosgrave riding who doesn’t have a great record here.

Delizia has won both her starts to date with a win on debut at Wolverhampton before stepping up on that to win impressively at York in a Listed race, both of these races were won last year by Patience Alexander who went on to finish 3rd at Royal Ascot. 2nd at York last was Tiggy Wiggy who went on to finish 2nd at Royal Ascot as well so the form of the races Delizia has won normally works out well. Being a Dark Angel Filly she should handle the course and we expect a big run and to probably end up being with Godolphin by the end of the season.

Secret Tale has improved for each run and was a very easy winner last time out at Lingfield but would need to improve again to get truly involved here as there are likely to be many here that still have more improvement to come. It’s hard to see this one winning in a race full of potential superstars.

Ring of Truth is the first runner for the Queen this week and was an eyecatching 2nd on debut at Newbury when finishing well after getting the hang of things late. Stepped up to 6f at Haydock she was always doing enough and won under a cheeky hands and heels ride from Richard Hughes. The drop back in distance is somewhat of a surprise and Royal Applause progeny are 0/31 in recent years at Ascot and this would be a big worry.

Bruised Orange is Wesley Ward’s runner from USA and the booking of Frankie Dettori is really eyecatching but her ability is really unknown and she may be miles clear or miles behind her rivals here. She is wearing blinkers for the first time so isn’t straightforward.

Easton Angel has recently been bought by Al Shaqab racing and Michael Dods will be looking for a good run after his Meccas Angel was taken out of the Kings Stands Stakes. Easton Angel was an impressive win at Musselburgh on debut before heading to Beverley and winning the Hilary Needler despite idling late on. With better opposition against her today she is unlikely to idle and should give Paul Mulrennan and good ride. Another Dark Angel Filly she should handle the course and a big run is expected.

Acapulco is the 2nd overseas raider in this race for Wesley Ward and is owned by Tabor, Smith and Magnier who won at Royal Ascot last year with Wesley with Hootenaany. She was beaten on her debut but connections stick with her and fitted with blinkers and a tongue tie might sharpen her up.

Rah Rah at 12/1 looks a decent e/w bet but if she does go too fast then Delizia could well be the one to pick up the pieces @ 12/1. Easton Angel has the form in the book and looks a decent saver at 11/2.
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Duke of Cambridge Stakes

Integral finished 4th in the Lockinge earlier this season in a race that has worked out well and with her back against her own sex and a drop in class then she is sure to be a warm order. She was a very easy winner in this race last year and a reproduction of that run should be good enough to win again. She looks the one to beat especially with her CD form to her name.

Euro Charline is one of the other CD winners in the race having won the Woodcote last season however she was only 3rd at Royal Ascot in the Coronation Stakes but she was denied a clear run that day and with a clear run should reverse form with Rizeena. She ran really well to be 4th on her most recent start when behind Solow who franked the form winning the first race at Royal Ascot. She is clearly the biggest danger to Integral but needs to improve to beat Integral if she runs to her best.

Bragging was a good winner at Newmarket on her reappearance this season before a disappointing race at York in the Middleton Stakes. She drops back 2 furlongs to this mile trip which should suit but is surely Sir Michael Stoute’s 2nd string and it would be a surprise if she beats Integral.

Evita Peron has run some decent races in her career however she looks to need to really improve to get involved here having been beaten on her last 3 starts and never looking like challenging. She looks to be a Group 3 horse and this Group 2 looks too hot.

Integral is clearly the one to beat and at 11/10 she is worth a bet similar to Gleneagles yesterday and leave it at in this race.
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Prince of Wales’s Stakes

A great race won last year by the talented Mare The Fugue and John Gosden is back with Western Hymn this year. It’s disappointing that California Chrome had an abscess and isn’t running.

Free Eagle has only had 4 runs in his career which includes 2 wins including winning a Group 3 in really impressive fashion before running last year at Royal Ascot on heavy going and could only finish 3rd behind Noble Mission and Al Kazeem who are proven Group 1 horses. The ground probably went against Free Eagle that day and it was a race where it paid to be prominent. He was closing all the way to line and with the better ground this year and a slightly weaker looking field he should run a really big race.

The Grey Gatsby has ran and won some really big races already in his career including the Irish Champion Stakes but has been somewhat disappointing this season although his 2nd to Solow has now been franked with this one winning the first race at Royal Ascot. Ryan Moore switching to the improving Cannock Chase would be a worry and maybe The Grey Gatsby isn’t the horse he was last season.

Western Hymn was 4th behind Noble Mission, Al Kazeem and Free Eagle last season in the Qipco Champion Stakes when doing all his best work late on and has since won two Group 3 races at Sandown. This is a step up in class and has a lot to do to reverse the placings with Free Eagle even with guaranteed fitness on his side.

Ectot is one lower down the ratings that is eyecatching with his only defeat coming in the Arc last season. If you can forgive him that performance then he would have to go well but again whether his previous form is quite that of Group 1 class is a doubt and he would need to improve again to win.

On form this race looks between Free Eagle and The Grey Gatsby and with such negative stats for The Grey Gatsby and Ryan Moore switching to Cannock Chase it all points to Free Eagle being the one to beat. 3/1 looks a good win bet.
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Royal Hunt Cup

A really tricky handicap to pick the bones of which was won last year by Field of Dream at 20/1

GM Hopkins has looked in the past a Group horse running in handicaps and after a lacklustre run in the Lincoln on his reappearance he ran a much better race when 2nd to Spark Plug at Newbury when Frankie was probably caught out by the turn of foot of Spark Plug and should be able to reverse the placings. He looks to still be improving and with Ryan Moore booked to ride he should go very close. Dubawi progeny have a good record here as well so all points to a very big run.

Temptress is very much improving and has won 3 of her last 5 starts including last time out when beating Solar Magic over CD despite drifting late on. She travelled all over the winner that day and this enhanced her record to 2/2 at Ascot over 1 mile. Roger Charlton, James Doyle and Shirocco all have a very good record here and she should run a very big race with more improvement likely. She should appreciate a strong pace as she travels well and could be still hard on the bridle coming inside the final couple of furlongs.

Ayaar was always well backed last year in competition handicaps but was never able to get his head in front including when 5th in this race last year. He came back this year with a very impressive win at Newbury when beating Spark Plug by 2 lengths who then went and won beating GM Hopkins so the form looks very strong. He has been raised 6lb for that win but looks to have improved over the winter and could be good enough to overcome this rise.

Mondialiste finished 2nd in the Lincoln earlier this season before 2 3rd place finishes in Listed event since. He was well beaten at Ascot however in a Listed event by Moohaarib and has been raised to a mark of 109. William Buick has been booked to ride with Danny Tudhope missing due to injury and he should give him a good ride. 4 of the last 5 winners have been drawn high and Mondialiste has been drawn in 23 which should suit.

Speculative Bid was a very impressive winner in the Victoria Cup and has now won his last 3 races but has been raised 10lb since and that could halt his progression. Drawn in 14 he can pick which group to join and should go well but whether the rise is too much for him might become a factor over this extra furlong.

Munaaser has just snuck into this race off a mark of 97 and this comes after a very poor reappearance however he reportedly didn’t handle the track that day and should improve for that run significantly. If we ignore this run then his previous effort was finishing 2nd to GM Hopkins at Newmarket when possibly being drawn on the wrong side. He was giving GM Hopkins 3lb that day and is in receipt of 6 tomorrow so looks to have a great chance of reversing the placings.

A really competitive handicap and with many bookmakers playing 5 or even 6 places it is probably worth selecting a few. GM Hopkins is TOP RATED and should be there or thereabouts again and at 12/1 looks a good bet. Temptress is likely to appreciate the big field and can continue improving and is available at 14/1. Ayaar @ 11/1 could overcome his 6lb rise whilst Munaaser can bounce back @ 22/1.
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Sandringham Handicap

Always Smile has come out TOP RATED and is currently 3/3 in her career and has improved with each run including last time out when winning at Doncaster and beating Sahaafy and Al Bandar who went and won their subsequent races with the former winning off 88 really easily at Newmarket. Always Smile has been raised to a mark of 100 but former winners of this have been rated 104 (Duntle) and 105 (Timepiece) and Always Smile could certainly have more to come.

Risen Sun was a good winner on debut before finishing 5th in a Listed race and then being beaten by another Godolphin horse Best of Times at Salisbury who has recently finished 2nd to Storm The Seas at Goodwood. Making her return in the Godolphin colours this season she ran a good race to finish 2nd to Queen Catrine and with that run under her belt she should give a good account of herself.

Tazffin was a close 3rd on debut to Irish Rookie who has proved herself top class with a 6th place in the 1000 Guineas and a 2nd in the French 1000 Guineas. Tazffin made her reappearance this season in a maiden at Windsor and was sent off 10/11. Despite not winning by far she was always in control and the winning distance probably didn’t hurt her handicap mark. She was then stepped up in distance to 1m2f but wasn’t able to reel in the smooth travelling Covert Love. The drop back in distance might suit as they are likely to go fast and Tazffin stamina may come into play.

Rive Gauche arrives at this race still a maiden and the handicapper may not quite have the right mark for this Filly. After finishing 4th on debut she returned this season in a Listed race and ran a cracker to finish 4th so was somewhat disappointing when only finishing 2nd in a maiden behind Lovely Surprise. With Pat Cosgrave and Fastnet Rock progeny not going well here, this wouldn’t be our idea of the winner.

Jellicle Ball was a good winner on debut before running a cracker in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes in a Guineas trial but was then really disappointing in the 1000 Guineas. A drop in class to a Listed race didn’t reap the rewards with Jellicle Ball only finishing 3rd. That however has subsequently been proven to be a decent effort with the winner Lady of Dubai finishing 3rd in the the Oaks. Dropped to handicap she will have to carry 9-2 and may not be worth chancing until she comes back to form.

Always Smile is the one to beat and at 11/4 is worth a small bet as she may well improve and be a Group horse in a handicap. Risen Sun should improve for her reappearance run and at 14/1 looks a decent e/w bet as does Tazffin who is dropping back in distance @ 20/1.