POSTING MONDAY 20:40
The finest week of the Summer, kicks off tomorrow with another incredible opening day, the Tuesday of the Royal meeting really is as ever, something else. The Queen Anne, Coventry, Kings Stand and then the St James’s Palace Stakes, incredible.
Royal Ascot hopes to build on what has been a very profitable flat season so far.
14:30 – The opening race is all about Baaeed, some have crowned him the best since Frankel, he has certainly been riveting and is undefeated no matter where he has lined up. At 2/9 he is no bet however , the each-way opportunities look too enticing to turn down.
REAL WORLD has seen the favourite’ behind but prior to that himself was undefeated, at the price he seems a worthwhile play, incase Baaeed has a day off as can sadly happen in this sport. Real World ran below par when they last met and Baaed put in his best performance on a race course, if the fav came back albeit slightly and Real World ran to his best, it could be closer and do not discount how well the Godolphin operation has performed this season.
We will also back LIGHTS ON who at 40/1 is a cracking price, on tissue, I had it priced at around 9/1. The Stout & Kingscote combination continues to go from strength to strength taking in the Derby of course. The selection is given weight by all others which is a plus point.
Real World 9/1 1pt ew
Lights On 40/1 1pt ew
15:05 – The first of the Ballydoyle fancies of the meeting, Blackbeard runs, however the head is turned by two selections.
BRADSELL looked great at York, winning over distance. The Archie Watson & Hollie Doyle is always one to follow with Watson standing out with a 20% win ratio in the last 2 months and with Doyle on his horses they have a nigh on identical percentage strike-rate.
HARRY TIME will be produced very late, victorious in Navan carrying 5lb higher than today, if the race unfolds in his favour, I would anticipate Leigh Roche driving this one in the final half furlong to the line.
Bradsell 8/1 2pt ew
Harry Time 25/1 0.75pt ew
15:40 – Do not blink, this furious, glorious, 5f feast, comes roaring at you in no time at all, a race where you need plenty to go right for you.
LOGO HUNTER might just have been plotted for this all along by M J Browne, his best time recorded when successful at Cork, which would be better than all bar our third and final selection below.
A massive 40/1 , I had expected the horse to be a third of the price.
Bigger, you say, well how about 80/1 SAINT LAWRENCE, who will have an equal front-running style to our first selection, another price who on tissue I expected to be around 30s, Atzeni has an 11% strike rate at the course, hence if anyone can…
Lazuli for Godolphin, had an off day at Sandown when last seen, however at Newmarket and Newbury before that looked phenomenal and if tucked away and missing Sandown and sent straight to this after the race at HQ, I would have expected the price would be around 6/1.
Lazuli at 22/1 cannot be passed, Appleby has a 27% strike rate in the last week alone and when paired with Doyle, they operate at an even better 30%.
Logo Hunter 40/1 0.5pt ew
Saint Lawrence 80/1 0.5pt ew
Lazuli 22/1 1.5pt ew
16:20 – The 2000 Guineas winner, Coroebus looks to remain undefeated it what looks a very deep renewal. MY PROSPERO when last seen at Sandown, very much caught the eye and William Haggis operating at a 22% strike rate of late, rarely plots the wrong route for his very best.
Speaking of strike-rates that stand out, the Gosden, Father & Son duo, saddle MIGHTY ULYSSES who has the mercurial Frankie Dettori on board who rides this meeting better than nigh on anyone else.
My Prospero 9/2 2.5pt ew
Mighty Ulysses 12/1 1pt ew
17:00 – The first handicap of the meeting, with plenty of National Hunt trainers, attempting to win a Royal Ascot pot. SCARAMANGA for Paul Nicholls, placed at the course with Frankie on board when first at Ascot and then again with Bryan Carver this time hurdling, a run to the level we once saw on the flat would be on par with all the well fancied horses.
Scaramanga 25/1 0.5pt ew
17:35 – We will hopefully be riding high, by the time CADILLAC runs for us in the Wolferton, the horse looked blistering at Leopardstown on reappearance this season and is well drawn and will be tucked in behind the leaders and will come in from mid-division.
Cadillac 13/2 3pt ew
18:10 – BANDINELLI for Appleby, Buick and the boys in blue, stands out and should go very well, down in the weights and with headgear applied for that little bit more focus, a big run is anticipated.
Appleby when applying headgear, who does so very sparingly, has a 25% strike rate on first attempt.
Bandinelli 11/1 1pt ew
Double: My Prospero & Cadillac 40/1 1pt ew
Horse Racing Selections 