Yesterday’s Review
1pt win Distinction (101) – Sometimes getting involved earlier in the market can work in your favour when a selection is well backed before the off. On this occasion it worked against us as the selection drifted from 7/2 out to 13/2, and it could only be a win bet. The winning times on the day indicated that conditions were riding a long way from the advertised Soft going, and were just 4.5 lengths per mile slower than standard (closer to Good ground). This suited the winner Swift Salian (104) who put in the best performance on the clock on the day, but had very little Soft ground form in his profile. The selection would have been suited by softer conditions and being ridden closer to the pace.
1pt e/way Ghostman (92) – It looked a worthwhile angle into the selection at the prices that conditions would be more to his liking than last time out. Unfortunately, he looked a shell of what he put forward two runs back recording a time 13 lengths per mile slower. He looks well left alone at the minute.
Today’s Advice
So begins five days of the most exciting and competitive racing on the planet at Royal Ascot today.
LEAD ARTIST/QUDDWAH (Queen Anne Stakes 8f Gp1) – Rosallion is a short enough price to win today’s (2.30) Ascot, and I have always struggled to take a real shine to him. This is mainly due to the fact that he is usually a short price, and that he has yet to record a serious figure on the clock. Lead Artist impressed me with how he finished his race last time out in the Lockinge when challenged by another of today’s rivals Dancing Gemini. He really put his head down and lengthened away relishing the challenge at the finish. His second place finish behind Spirit Dancer in Sakhir over ten furlongs was a serious piece of form, and he will be getting stronger at the finish as others will be crying enough. Quddwah has won twice at this venue, and while he does carry his head a bit higher than I like to see he does go forward in his own way. He looks a shade overpriced for a horse that has a real liking for this track in a race where some of his rivals have run poorly round here. Callum Shepherd gets on well with him, and if he can sneak into a place that would be a win.
GSTAAD/GAVOO (Coventry Stakes Gp2 2yo) – This year’s (3.05) Ascot looks the usual impossible minefield but since the introduction of sectional timing it is possible to gauge these contestants a little better than in the past. Gstaad won nicely last time out at Navan over 5f 180y despite not getting the clearest of runs, and the fact he is Ryan Moore’s pick of the Ballydoyle stable should be noted. The sectionals read well when compared to previous course winners such as The Highway Rat, and any improvement should see him in the shake-up.
Gavoo looks a real fly in the ointment considering he recorded a time 1.15 seconds than White Clover on the same card this month. If the improvement in form is not solely to do with the round track, he would have looked way overpriced before being tipped up by Attheraces Hugh Taylor yesterday. Previously, he had looked well held by another of today’s rivals Andab at The Curragh, so stakes should be kept low.
BELIEVING (King Charles III Gp 1) – With the far side reading 8.6 on the Going Stick compared to 8.3 in the centre and stands side, it looks like a low draw might prove advantageous for today’s (3.40) Ascot. A similar scenario played out in last year’s race and the winner Asfoora and second placed Regional did very well from their high draws to fill the first two places. Connections have applied first time blinkers to the favourite Asfoora, and with reports of her work leading up to this race not being to connections liking it may pay to look elsewhere.
The selection has a nice draw and was one of the most consistent sprinters around last season finishing in the first three in her last six Group races. She got her just rewards over six furlongs back in April in Meydan when taking the Al Quoz sprint, and although today’s trip has always seemed a few yards short of ideal, she still looks to have plenty in her favour. Ryan Moore takes the ride, and he knows her well having won a Group 2 on her last season at The Curragh.
FIELD OF GOLD (St James’s Palace Stakes Group 1) – This three-year-old produced one of the performances of the season in the Irish 2000 Guineas last month when powering 3.75 lengths clear of the opposition at The Curragh. The sectional times from the winner were outstanding, and a comparison with the previous year’s winner Rosallion would be embarrassing for that horse. He is a short price, and the Aidan O’Brien trained Henri Matisse will provide a stern test, but a reproduction of his latest effort would be good enough to take today’s (4.20) Ascot.
PHANTOM FLIGHT (Wolferton Stakes Listed Race) – This six-year-old improved greatly on the clock this winter in Bahrain for trainer George Scott, and he has slowly returned to something like his best in his latest two races. A pipe-opener over the mile at today’s venue was followed by a solid third place finish behind two very impressive performers on the clock in Almaqam and Obudsman over ten furlongs at Sandown with a couple of today’s rivals in behind. Enfjaar, the favourite for today’s (5.35) Ascot, was having his seasonal debut on that occasion and should improve for the run, but the selection looks overpriced on that piece of form alone, and even moreso if he can come forward again. Regular pilot Callum Shepherd knows him well, and it would be no surprise if he outran his odds.
CABALLO DE MAR (Copper Horse Stakes 14f 34y H2) – French Master, favourite for today’s (6.10) Ascot looked a fair few pounds ahead of his handicap mark last time out at Goodwood when winning nicely, but connections have reached for the first time blinkers and at the prices I can let him win. The selection has proven to be another excellent endorsement of trainer George Scott’s impressive skills, and following last month’s cosy Haydock win, we are still not sure where the ceiling is for this four-year-old.
He has now won six of his last seven races, and the handicapper’s head must be in a spin trying to stay ahead of the son of Phoenix of Spain. He looks the right price for a sporting interest to take on the favourite with.
1pt e/way Lead Artist (11/2 William Hill, 5/1 General) 2.30 Ascot
0.5pt e/way Quddwah (25/1 William Hill, 22/1 General) 2.30 Ascot
0.75pt e/way Gstaad (9/2 Ladbrokes, 4/1 General 4 places) 3.05 Ascot
0.5pt win Gavoo (22/1 Ladbrokes/Corals, 20/1 General) 3.05 Ascot
1pt e/way Believing (9/2 Paddy Power/Ladbrokes/Betvictor 4 places) 3.40 Ascot
4pts win Field Of Gold (4/5 General) 4.20 Ascot
0.5pt e/way Phantom Flight (40/1 General 4 places) 5.35 Ascot
1pt e/way Caballo De Mar (5/1 Paddy Power/Coral/Ladbrokes 5 places) 6.10 Ascot