Another Royal Ascot has passed and considering some of the starting prices of some of the winners (150/1, 80/1, 50/1, 33/1, 25/1, 22/1, 22/1, 22/1 etc) it’s no surprise that some punters were out on their feet early on. The video watchers will be on good terms with themselves following Asadna’s flop in the Coventry Stakes, but the clock watchers will know that conditions were far from suitable for the son of Mehmas. The recent news that the horse sustained a cut in a stalls test four days before the race won’t go down well with punters who have been calling for more transparency from the BHA. The forecast thunderstorms for Monday and Tuesday arrived to the tune of 10mm, but what really annoyed enthusiasts was the 5mm watering of the track on Monday morning. Why Clerk of The Course Chris Stickells saw fit to water the track a few hours before the forecast thunderstorms, only he will know. But commonsense would tell you that this was not a fair move for connections who preferred a fast surface for their horses. As it transpired with so much precipitation on the racing surface the advance going of Good to Firm was quickly changed to Good (Good to Soft in places) on the Round track with a Going Stick reading of (6.5) and Good (7.3) on the Straight course. A slight wind across the track was reported on the Racing Post website. The resulting times of the opening day on the Straight track were 19L per mile slower than standard. It is doubtful that a slight wind would have affected the times so much, and it has to be said that it was an error from Chris Stickells to put that 5mm on the track on Monday morning. The ground did dry out over the remaining four days, but horses who prefer a faster surface like Modern Games, Inspiral, Asadna and Twilight Calls were given a more uphill task than necessary.

Onto the big numbers of the meeting and surprisingly there wasn’t as many as may have been expected. Triple Time (117) was the best performance in the opening race of the meeting. Kevin Ryan has always expressed his belief in the horse, and he showed himself to be none the worse for his withdrawal from the Lockinge. Although he appeared keen in the race jockey Neil Callan reported that he was just a bit sensitive in his mouth and throwing his head up a bit. The Group 1 Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood looks to be next on the agenda, and it looked a super piece of horsemanship from Neil to get  the son of Frankel home by a neck from Inspiral. Bradsell (117) bounced back to form with a career best in the Group 1 5f King’s Stand Stakes defeating Highfield Princess by a length. It was an inspired drop back in trip and decision to supplement him for the race by trainer Archie Watson, although connections had to survive a stewards enquiry as the colt drifted left and intimidated the runner-up. Jockey Hollie Doyle received a four day ban for careless riding. Next up could be the Nunthorpe Stakes at York for which he is a best priced 4/1 with William Hill. Paddington (113) made another leap on the clock when easily taking the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes by 3.75L from Chaldean. The (96.90%) Race Finish would indicate that those up front did too much too early, but that shouldn’t take away from the fact that the Aidan O’Brien trained colt is on an upward curve. Out of a Montjeu mare, the future looks exciting for the son of Siyouni who has the option to step up to 10f in the Coral Eclipse Stakes or the Juddmonte. Royal Champion (111) and Vauban (111) put up similar performances on the clock. The Roger Varian trained gelding caused a bit of a surprise at 16/1 when smoothly taking the Listed Wolferton Stakes, while reminding us of his outrageous victory in the 2022 Doonside Cup at Ayr. It should be noted that he can be a bit in and out as his trainer has stated. Vauban took up the running after 2f in the Class 2 Copper House Handicap before keeping on well at the finish to be 7.5L clear of stablemate Absurde. The Melbourne Cup has been mentioned after the race, and he also holds an entry in the Irish St Leger. The race of the day on the Social Media front was the Coventry Stakes won by River Tiber (107). With the disappointing performance of Asadna (101) on the day, the path looked clear for the son of Wootton Bassett. The margin of victory at the line was only a neck over the Archie Watson trained Army Ethos (108), and it should be noted neither of them breached Asadna’s (109) performance from Ripon. Jockey Ryan Moore sees him as a Dewhurst horse, and he looks the type that can keep improving.

The Star Of Day 2 was the John & Thady Gosden trained Mostahdaf (115) who turned what appeared to be a tight Prince Of Wales’s Stakes beforehand into a procession. Pace was the key word pre-race, and many felt that whoever got the lead would stay there. As it turned out Luxembourg was put under pressure early enough by the US trained Classic Causeway resulting in a decent (103.40%) Race Finish. The turn of foot the winner displayed was remarkable to bound 4L clear. This performance has me wondering how good his victory in the Neom Cup at Riyadh was on the clock. Another pointer for clock watchers on the importance of putting together figures for racing in Saudi Arabia. The son of Frankel looks likely to appear in the Group 1 Juddmonte Stakes next at York. Gregory (114) took up the running after a furlong in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase, and stayed there all the way to the line coming home 1.5L clear of Saint George. The even money favourite’s long term target is the St Leger and being related to Irish St Leger winner Duncan and Doncaster Cup winner Samuel, it would appear that long distance races are his forte. The George Weaver trained Crimson Advocate (111) became the fifth US trained filly to take the opening Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes, and it should be noted the first three home were drawn on the stands side. The Mick Appleby trained Big Evs (111) made a huge leap on the clock from his debut (100) at Redcar in the 5f Listed Windsor Castle Stakes for two year olds coming home 3L clear of the Aidan O’Brien trained Johannes Brahms. Again the stands side was the place to be with the first four home clear of the far side. Connections were hopeful of a big run beforehand following a nice piece of work with the King’s Stand third placed Annaf. The 5f Group 3 Molecombe Stakes at Goodwood looks next up for the exciting son of Blue Point.

Valiant Force (112) was the Star Of Day 3, and also the shock of the meeting, when taking the 5f Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at the eye-watering odds of 150/1 for Irish trainer Adrian Murray and Amo Racing. Backers of the winner noted that he had to race on his own lto at The Curragh, and had got to within 0.75L of 11/2 shot His Majesty in a Listed race at the same venue on debut. He is entered in the Group 2 Railway Stakes at The Curragh next month. The disappointment of the race was the Karl Burke trained 7/4 favourite Elite Status (109). The son of Havana Grey didn’t appreciate conditions and a step up in trip looks badly needed. Waipiro (111) boosted the form of the Epsom Derby when taking the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes by 2.25L from Exoplanet. The Ed Walker trained 3-y-o appeared to benefit from the wayward tendencies of Oviedo, who hampered the runner-up and Bolster in the home straight, but the winner put his stamp on the race in the final 100 yards. The Charlie Appleby trained Bold Act was noted making up a lot of ground from the rear. Courage Mon Ami (109) won a less than vintage Gold Cup, and despite Subjectivist setting what appeared to be decent fractions out in front, it looked like the rest of the field were happy to leave him alone for most of the race. It will be intersting to see if the winner can build on this.

Day 4 saw the Joseph O’Brien trained Okita Soushi (112) take the honours when getting up to deny HMS President by a neck in the Duke Of Edinburgh Class 2 Handicap. Followers of the horse will recall the unlucky run he had in the previous year’s Copper Horse Stakes over 14f, and Ryan Moore made sure he was more forward over this shorter trip of 12f. The (95.13%) Race Finish certainly helped his cause, and the keen going Live Your Dream ran a remarkable race up with the pace to hold on for third place. The rest of the winners on the card logged poor figures on the clock including Shaquille (107). The disappointment of the race was the Aidan O’Brien trained Little Big Bear (105) who kicked the railing on the way out to the course. While his trainer offered no excuses, the form of this race should be treated with caution. Horses that miss the break like the winner did, and then race keen don’t usually win Group 1 races like he did. Not to take anything away from connections who were worthy winners on the day, but this result will be a real head scratcher for many punters (none more than professional punter Harry Findlay who wouldn’t hear of defeat for the colt at one Royal Ascot Preview show).

The final day saw some decent performances on the clock. Khaadem (116) took the Group 1 6f Jubilee Stakes by a neck at the odds of 80/1 from the William Haggas trained Sacred after unseating his jockey Jamie Spencer before the start. The hold up performer benefitted from a decent pace up front, and without the blinkers he normally wears, made smooth headway at the 2f pole before collaring the runner up inside the final furlong. It was interesting to hear that Ryan Moore told connections that he was only a Group 2 horse after winning last year’s King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood. Whether he can reproduce this effort is another question..Saint Lawrence (116) was another hold up performer to win on the day when taking the Wokingham Handicap by 1L from Apollo One on his first run for trainer Archie Watson, since taking charge of him from Roger Varian. Backers of the 22/1 outsider will have noted his excellent (110) speed figure in first time blinkers when a keeping on sixth in last year’s Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes behind Australian star sprinter Nature Strip. The blinkers were reapplied for the first time since that performance, yielding a career best figure. Pyledriver (115) took the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes on seasonal debut by 1.25L from recent clockbuster West Wind Blows (114) despite wandering around in the final furlong and hampering eventual third Changingoftheguard. A three day ban for careless riding was administered to jockey PJ McDonald. A return to defend his crown in the Group 1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes looks next on the cards. Burdett Road (115) benefitted from a nice draw in stall (9) in the 9f 212y Golden Gates Class 2 Handicap for three year olds, as the second and third placed finishers Lion Of War and Local Dynasty had to make up quite a lot of ground from bad draws in stalls (17) and (16). A strongly run race with a (98.89%) Race Finish, it will be interesting to follow the first three in this going forward. Age of Kings (110) posted a career best in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes over 7f where backers of Olivia Maralda can feel very hard done by with the ride she was given.

Overall, it looked a difficult year for punters despite some exceptional pre-race picks popping up on social media, most notably from punter Aidan O’Hara who tipped up notable winners Valiant Force 150/1, Desert Hero 20/1 and Age of Kings 22/1. His story can be heard on the following podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/6XiUNtkbkGMvaSUbV5v9WV?si=el3F6IQUSuCr8vIiluciyA&nd=1 and is a reminder to most of us that we need to work harder!

Till next year’s festival,

Stay Lucky,

Graham