Yesterday’s Review

1.5pts e/way Ruiva (111) – An excellent training performance from the Wesley Ward stable to get this muscular two-year-old filly to come over and improve 2 lengths per mile on her Churchill Downs performance on dirt. She raced keenly from the front and took up the running on the stands side coming home a half length ahead of Pershaada (110). Unfortunately, the Aidan O’Brien trained Victorious (114) blitzed home on the far side to take the race while recording the fastest timefigure (by my calculations) since Campanelle (115) six years ago with the selection finishing two lengths behind in third place. Result 3rd 14/1 adv…11/1 SP.

 

1pt e/way Blue Bolt (112) – The selection stepped up on her comeback run and was given a peach of a ride by Colin Keane. The Juddmonte stable jockey had her in a beautiful position having slotted in midfield, and arrived into the home straight travelling best of the field. She was ridden out to come home 1.75 lengths clear at the line having edged off a true line on more than one occasion in the finish. Connections will be looking to win a Group 1 with her going forward with the Falmouth Stakes a likely target. Result 1st 7/2 adv…5/2f SP.

 

2pts win Ombudsman (119) – A 4 length victory for the selection who put a marker down for the title of “World’s Best Racehorse”. The Ballydolyle and Godolphin pacemakers ensured a decent pace and as the pack closed in around the home bend it was the John and Thady Gosden trained winner who was travelling best. He quickened past his rivals over a furlong from home displaying his usual electric turn of foot. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see the expected “big clash” between the top two in the market as the French raider Daryz disappointed once again on his travels. Connections of the winner will be looking to regain their Juddmonte Stakes title at York this summer, and a rematch with Calandagan at some stage this season would be a real treat for horse racing enthusiasts. Result 1st 5/4 adv…11/10f.

 

0.75pt e/way Stateira (85) – The selection raced keenly throughout the race and never picked up when asked to go with the leaders two furlongs out. She came home in her own time beaten 22.5 lengths back in 21st place. Much better was expected and hopefully she can find her true form going forward.

 

0.5pt e/way Ruler’s Control (100) – As mentioned in my preview of the race the high numbers dominated this contest in the finish. The selection showed that he could handle a quicker surface, while racing prominently, before keeping on into fourth place beaten 3.25 lengths at the line. Largely dismissed by the market, he showed that there was a bit of quality about his debut performance. He will be even more interesting on ground with a bit of cut in it going forward. Result 4th 16/1 adv…28/1 SP.

 

Today’s Advice

APEROLL (7f Lst 2yo) – The (2.30) Royal Ascot Chesham Stakes sees another short priced Aidan O’Brien favourite in Aix La Chapelle with less than spectacular numbers on debut but can be expected to make another leap forward. I am happy to take him on with the selection who took her time to get on top at Newbury over 6.5f but was going away nicely at the finish for a length victory. The performance is a bit more difficult to get a handle on as only two-year-olds race over the distance at this track but it compares well with past two-year-old course and distance winners such as Mysterious Night and Isaac Shelby. Pat Dobbs, who was on board for her debut, takes the ride again and hopefully he can find a way through from his less than ideal draw in stall 6.

 

LAUREATE CROWN (8f Hcap) – Thirty one runners go to post for the (4.50) Royal Ascot Britannia Stakes and it looks as difficult as ever with plenty of unexposed contestants. The selection is a hold-up performer who will need luck in-running and we will be hoping that jockey Jamie Spencer can produce one of his better trademark rides for the Hugo Palmer stable. The combination have a decent 23.3% strike rate (7-30) since pairing up on High Time Too on the all-weather at Lingfield back in October 2012. Indeed, he was on board for the selection’s novice win over 7f at today’s venue last July. There is no doubt the son of Victor Ludorum is a Group performer in a handicap judging by his recent victory at Sandown when compared to past course and distance winners such as Naamoos in 2021 and Heredia in 2023. The pace was slower than ideal last time out but he still came through at the finish to win cosily from today’s favourite Organise. With a stronger pace up front today I expect him to finish ahead of that rival again (although the betting is expecting a much better showing following a gelding operation). I rarely land on this jockey, and with these types of ride they need everything to go right, so we will need even more luck than is usually the case.

 

BUCANEER’S SPIRIT (8f Hcap) – This five-year-old looks to be one of the more consistent types in today’s (5.45) Leopardstown, and a kind draw in stall 10 could see him go close once again having met trouble last time out at Limerick. A past winner from a 12lb higher mark for trainer Jack Davison almost two years ago he has dropped down the handicap for new trainer Ian Patrick Donoghue. His current trainer looks like he has revitalised the son of Invincible Spirit this season having won from a 6lb lower mark over the mile at Cork back in April. Last time out he raced in touch of the leaders and was badly hampered by his own jockey’s manoeuvres in the home straight (Gary Carroll received a riding ban from the stewards on the day). Adam Caffrey is on board today and he has been in decent form this month with a recent win aboard I’m Spartacus at Fairyhouse and a runner-up finish aboard Pebble Island at the same venue. The selection’s main dangers are drawn on his wide outside and we will be hoping for better luck in-running than last time.

 

0.75pt e/way Aperoll (11/1 Paddy Power, Skybet, Boylesports 4 places) 2.30 Royal Ascot

1pt e/way Laureate Crown (18/1 Boylesports, 16/1 general 6 places) 4.50 Royal Ascot

0.75pt e/way Bucaneer’s Spirit (6/1 Unibet, 5/1 Paddy Power, Betfred, William Hill 5 places) 5.45 Leopardstown