Our all-in-one preview pulls together the best bets from our expert team, a suggested Placepot permutation and a recommended multiple.
FRIDAY
Our experts’ best bets
Andrew Asquith: Ramatuelle – 3.45 Royal Ascot
RAMATUELLE was a smart two-year-old, narrowly beaten by Vandeek in the Prix Morny at Deauville and, though she wasn’t at her best on her return, she shaped much better than the bare result in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket last month. She was the only one who raced prominently to figure at the finish, while she was also asked to go for home too soon, kicking clear of the field over a furlong out, looking the likely winner – she traded at 1.04 in-running – only to be closed down close home. Ramatuelle strikes as a filly who will be well suited by a mile round a bend and, if she is ridden more economically, I expect her turn of foot to prove the difference in the straight. Oisin Murphy is having a great week and she is another who has excellent claims for him.
Ben Linfoot: Shadow Dance – 4.25 Royal Ascot
Roger Varian’s Royal Ascot got off to a flyer with Charyn and with the Newmarket handler in good form a big run is expected from the grey SHADOW DANCE in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes. Horses drawn wide have dominated this race in recent years so his starting berth in 19 looks a positive and there are no concerns over his 252-day absence given how adept Varian is at readying one after a break. Indeed, this horse himself hacked up after three months off at Haydock last September and he improved on that form when second to Alsakib in the Old Rowley Cup, a prestigious Newmarket handicap, when he was last seen in October last year. The way he travelled that day marked him out as a horse going places and it’s likely Varian saved him until now for his seasonal debut simply because he was waiting for a big race for him from his new mark of 94. He was gelded in the winter and he’s only had five career starts, so there are lots of pointers to him improving this year and he looks a big threat to the Irish mob.
Click here for Ben Linfoot’s Verdict
Matt Brocklebank: Mukaafah – 6.15 Royal Ascot
He won’t be alone in this regard, but MUKAAFAH has obviously been laid out for the Palace Of Holyrood House Stakes since his striking victory over six furlongs at Doncaster in mid-May. Far too keen early on when letting down favourite-backers on his seasonal return at Kempton in March, he was a reformed character in the first-time hood last time but still shaped like a strongly-run five furlongs on a stiff track will be right up his street. The handicapper hasn’t exactly missed the son of Blue Point, putting him up 8lb, but the Doncaster second has subsequently won a competitive-looking handicap at Haydock off a 1lb higher mark and Mukaafah was just in a different league to that one. He’ll need the breaks, that goes without saying, but he’s drawn in between two genuinely quick ones in Toca Madera and Mon Na Slieve, and I’d love to see Jim Crowley hold onto him for as long as possible as his finishing kick is lethal.
Click here for Matt Brocklebank’s Value Bet
Andy McLaren’s recommended multiple: Lucky 15
15:05 Ascot – Jasour
JASOUR has a bit of an in-and-out profile on first glance but the key to him is seemingly being held up in a well-run race on fast ground, so conditions should be ideal on Friday. He’s two from two with Jim Crowley on board who retains the ride and is drawn right next to market leaders Inisherin and Elite Status who both like to go forward, so he should have a good target to take aim at.
15:45 Ascot – Opera Singer
After missing the 1000 Guineas due to a small training setback OPERA SINGER ran a race full of promise when third in the Irish equivalent on her return on the back of what Aidan O’Brien described as a far from ideal preparation. She was the best of this field a as a two-year-old and will be hard to beat if progressing as expected from the Curragh.
17:05 Ascot – Indelible
Ralph Beckett has a particularly strong team of three-year-old fillies this year and it’s eye catching that INDELIBLE holds entries in the Falmouth and Irish Oaks later in the summer, so she’s clearly well regarded. She was an impressive winner at Doncaster on her return and an opening handicap mark of 91 could seriously underestimate her ability.
17:40 Ascot – Diego Velazquez
It’s worth remembering DIEGO VELAZQUEZ was sent off 9/4 for the Kameko Trophy at Doncaster last year, a race Aidan O’Brien regularly sends his best Classic prospect to, before an incident in the stalls at the start cost him his chance. He was a real eye-catcher in the French 2000 Guineas on his comeback and although he disappointed in the French Derby last time, the soft ground can be used as an excuse there. He could improve a bundle back on a sounder surface and, a close relation to Broome and Point Lonsdale, his breeding suggests he’ll relish this step up in trip.
Timeform race-by-race verdict
MOUNTAIN BREEZE and Fairy Godmother stand out on form and might fight this out, with the first-named marginally preferred given she’s still open to significant improvement. Loads of others have potential but Simmering might be the pick of them after an eye-catching debut in a strong race.
Sheikh Mohammed Obaid holds a really strong hand, with easy Sandy Lane winner INISHERIN preferred to Elite Status, who was equally impressive from the front in a Newbury listed race last time. Jasour, whose connections know what it takes to win this, was a ready winner of the trial over C&D at the start of last month and looks best of the remainder.
A cracking race in store and with 1m round a bend promising to be right up RAMATUELLE‘s street, she’s taken to reverse the 1000 Guineas form with Elmalka and Porta Fortuna having been worn down late by that pair at Newmarket. In fact, a bigger threat may emerge in the shape of Opera Singer, who was the best of these at 2 yrs and is sure to step up on her Irish Guineas run.
ETHICAL DIAMOND continued his theme of race-by-race progress on his first start on the Flat for his top NH stable when narrowly denied by another upwardly mobile sort at Leopardstown 6 weeks ago and, with the step back up in trip holding no fears, he makes plenty of appeal under Ryan Moore. Last month’s Curragh 1-2 Crystal Black and Deakin bolster a strong Irish challenge and are feared, with returning Shadow Dance another to note. Bague d’Or and Vaguely Royal also make each-way appeal.
INDELIBLE ran out a ready winner on her return at Doncaster and that race has a strong look to it. She could be well ahead of her mark now handicapping, entries in the Falmouth and Irish Oaks catching the eye, and she’s hard to get away from. The progressive Fair Angellica is a likely contenders, while Without Words might be the pick of a strong Irish challenge.
SPACE LEGEND would have surely run out a comfortable winner with a clear passage in a listed event at Goodwood last month and, with further progress on the cards, he’s taken to gain compensation in this higher grade. Theory of Tides defied a penalty in the manner of a fine prospect at Yarmouth and looks very interesting pitched into better company, with Ballydoyle pair Agenda and Diego Velazquez completing the shortlist.
The biggest field yet of this competitive 3-y-o handicap and the suggestion is MUKAAFAH, who left his disappointing reappearance behind in no uncertain terms at Doncaster last month and Kevin Philippart de Foy’s colt looks the sort that can climb the ranks quickly. Dorney Lake looks a serious threat now handicapping, so he heads up the opposition, with Vantheman, Pilgrim, Jubilee Walk and Dyrholaey all seemingly having plenty going for them, too.
Suggested Placepot permutation
Leg 1: 6, 11
Leg 2: 4
Leg 3: 3, 7
Leg 4: 16
Leg 5: 9, 17
Leg 6: 10
2 x 1 x 2 x 1 x 2 x 1 = 8 lines
SATURDAY
Our experts’ best bets
Matt Brocklebank: Middle Earth – 3.05 Royal Ascot
Connections of MIDDLE EARTH were seemingly a bit unfortunate that his one poor run last year came when quietly fancied for the St Leger at Doncaster, but no doubt they were highly encouraged by the fact he bounced straight back to win a Listed race over the mile and three-quarter trip here at Ascot before being put away for the winter. After 225 days off, he was entitled to need the run on his seasonal debut at Newbury but looked in great shape there, finishing with a rattle to get up close home from subsequent winner King Of Conquest. That 12-furlong victory appeared to indicate he’s got a shade quicker – if anything – as a four-year-old and he’s certainly got a little bit of that tenacity from his sire Roaring Lion. With fast ground to suit, along with this track looking ideal, he should take plenty of beating and can reverse the form with Leger winner Continuous, who lacks a recent run.
Ben Linfoot: Palace Green – 5.40 Royal Ascot
Richard Hughes’ PALACE GREEN looks the bet in the Golden Gates Handicap over 10 furlongs in the penultimate contest of the meeting. This horse slammed some good horses including subsequent winners Ghostlore and Cambria Legend at Kempton on April 1 and he improved on that good form next time at York. Third in a 1m4f handicap won by Aidan O’Brien’s London City, Palace Green moved into the contest like he might win the race only for his challenge to weaken in the final furlong. Still, he wasn’t beaten far in third and he hinted he might be seen to best effect at a mile and a quarter so this looks the ideal spot for him. The York form also looks good with the second, Align The Stars, and the seventh, Hampden, coming out and finishing first and second at Thirsk subsequently, so it has the look of a hot race. With the horse still part-owned by Qatar Racing Oisin Murphy takes the ride, so everything is in place for the son of Sea The Moon to lay down a big challenge.
Andy McLaren’s recommended multiple: Lucky 15
15:05 Ascot – Elegant Man
He’ll probably be a massive price but ELEGANT MAN is worth another chance to prove his effectiveness on turf after a late deluge turned the ground against him in the Tattersalls Gold Cup last time. He’d been hugely impressive at Newcastle prior to that, the fact he was able to win an open handicap from a mark of 108 on just his fourth start despite getting lit up early on marking him out as a potential top-notcher. That effort means he comes out second to only Continuous on the Timeform ratings here and with the potential for an uncontested lead on fast ground, he could take a bit of pegging back.
15:45 Ascot – Believing
BELIEVING ran a cracker in the King Charles III Stakes here on Tuesday, finishing well to take fourth and deserving extra credit too given she fared best of those ridden in the rear half of the field. She will have no trouble going back up to six furlongs, in fact she will probably improve for it, and a repeat of her Tuesday run would see her go close in what looks an open race.
16:25 Ascot – Haatem
Another big money purchase for Wathnan Racing, HAATEM has really kicked on as a three-year-old, winning the Craven on his return before finishing on the tail of Rosallion in the English and Irish Guineas. That form got a significant boost when his stablemate won the St James’s Palace Stakes on Tuesday and there’s nothing of his calibre in this line up.
17:05 Ascot – Unequal Love
As ever, a fiercely competitive renewal of the Wokingham, but if there’s a potential Group horse in here who could blow it apart, then that’s UNEQUAL LOVE. She returned better than ever to win a Listed race at Newmarket before backing that up when fifth in a hot renewal of the Group 2 Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh last time, finishing close up behind the likes of Regional, who was an excellent second in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes here on Tuesday, and Mitbaahy, Art Power and Shouldvebeenaring, who all content the six furlong Group 1 today. A strong traveller in her races, a big-field handicap like this should be right up her street and she could just outclass these.
Timeform race-by-race verdict
BEDTIME STORY looked a fine prospect when running out an easy winner first time up at Leopardstown and is bred to go to the top, so she can give Aidan O’Brien another victory in this listed contest. The clear danger is Godolphin’s Age of Gold, who was impressive when scoring at Yarmouth and can improve plenty himself. Leicester-winner Pentle Bay was highly in demand at Monday’s sale and is a big player up in trip. Motawahij is one to note at bigger odds.
CONTINUOUS lacks a recent run but he was much improved in the second half of last year and will prove hard to beat if returning anywhere near that sort of level. Middle Earth did well to overcome a pace bias in a Newbury Group 3 last month and could easily have more to come, while Desert Hero is better judged on his excellent reappearance at Sandown.
Archie Watson has done a fantastic job since SHARTASH came into his care and, while the 4-y-o is back in much stronger company, the visual impression of both his wins this term suggest he’s open to more improvement for new owners, so he’s preferred to Duke of York winner Mill Stream. Kinross is always a player at the top level but others have a fitness edge on him.
On 3 lb better terms RIVER TIBER is taken to turn around Irish 2000 Guineas form with Haatem, particularly as it’s possible Aidan O’Brien’s colt will come on for that reappearance. Task Force, Never So Brave and Kikkuli can fight it out for minor money in a strong renewal of this Group 3.
Plenty in with a shout but it could pay to side with ALBASHEER who remains on an attractive mark despite scoring twice this term on the AW at Newcastle and should find this stiff 6f right up his street. Richard Fahey’s Strike Red is another who should be suited by conditions and he is next on the list after an encouraging Epsom fifth. Unequal Love and Ferrous both command plenty of respect too, with Glenfinnan completing the shortlist in a typically ultra-competitive Wokingham.
There was a lot to like about the way PRIMO LARA came clear at York last time and he’s selected to defy another rise in the weights. The draw could have been kinder to Hand of God but it looks like he’s been saved for this since his Esher Cup success so he’s still second choice ahead of Palace Green and Approval.
The traditional Royal Ascot finale is run over the longest distance in the Flat calendar and it’s TASHKHAN who gets the nod to come out on top provided he’s ready to roll on return. The main threat may emerge from Queenstown, who has taken his form up a level this season and is Aidan O’Brien’s sole representative, while last year’s first and third in this Dawn Rising and Run For Oscar can do battle for minor honours in what is a truly unique test.
Suggested Placepot permutation
Leg 1: 14
Leg 2: 2, 4
Leg 3: 5, 8
Leg 4: 12, 14
Leg 5: 9, 16
Leg 6: 7
1 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 1 = 16 lines
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