Royal Ascot proved a difficult week for punters with the three big handicaps producing winners at 20/1, 25/1 and 25/1 in the Royal Hunt Cup, Britannia and Wokingham respectively. There wasn’t much joy elsewhere with Saturday card the icing on the cake, and Ryan Moore turned over on warm favourites Dartmouth and Limato. The latter was only third in the Gp 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes as The Tin Man claimed a second success at Gp 1 level, and is now 8/1 from 14s for next month’s July Cup at Newmarket.
He may struggle to give 6lb and a beating to Caravaggio however, with Ballydoyle Commonwealth Cup winner the 6/4 favourite with BetVictor and very difficult to beat if showing the explosive turn of foot that saw him beat the Godolphin pair of Harry Angel and Blue Point
It was a terrific week for the Coolmore operation, with trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore top of both categories once more. Team Ballydoyle enjoyed six winners at the meeting, including brothers Highland Reel and Idaho, and the siblings are 6/4 and 8/1 with BetVictor after their exploits in the Prince of Wales’s and Hardwicke Stakes respectively.
King George prices from BetVictor
Highland Reel 6/4 from 5/2
Enable 6/1
Jack Hobbs 7/1
Frontiersman 8/1
Idaho 8/1 from 16s
Cracksman 10/1
Ulysses 10/1
14/1 Bar
Today’s offering is very much a case of ‘After the Lord Mayor’s show’ with afternoon racing from Chepstow and Wolverhampton followed-by action from Southwell and Windsor this evening. The pick of the racing comes from the latter, where Keynote (5.50) is a notable newcomer for trainer Roger Varian. The yard’s runners ran well without scoring at the royal meeting but this well-bred son of Dragon Pulse is related to plenty of 2yo winners and must go close under Andrea Atzeni.
The combination can complete quick-fire doubles with Ebtkaar (6.20) in the maiden over an extended mile. The selection was a beaten favourite when third on his seasonal reappearance at Leicester when shaping like needing the run, and is chanced to make it third time lucky this evening.
Like the Varian yard, Sir Michael Stoute enjoyed a luckless five days at the royal meeting, to remain on 75 Royal Ascot winners, but should bounce back with Meshaykh (7.20) in the mile handicap under Ryan Moore. The well-bred filly was impressive last time out at Leicester, making a winning debut handicapping under Frankie Dettori, and should follow-up from an 8lb rise at the weights.
Richard Hannon’s Mouille Point (7.50) is another well-bred filly that made an impressive handicap debut last time out, winning at Nottingham under Pat Dobbs, and can defy a 5lb rise at the weights to complete a quick-fire double for man of the moment Moore. I was at Colwick Park to see her shed the maiden tag at the fourth time of asking, and was impressed by how well she travelled through
her race. A 5lb rise looks lenient and she is a confident to better Ralph Beckett’s unbeaten Maid to Remember.
Solar Impulse (7.10) is now winless in eight starts for new connections however, providing he has retained some of the old sparkle when with former trainer Paul Nicholls, he must go close at Southwell from a revised mark of 122. The 7yo remains relatively unexposed over fences and, having been dropped 27lb by the handicapper since leaving the former Champion Trainer, is chanced to take advantage of his plundering mark under David Crosse.
I was a big fan of Forgotten Hero (7.40) on the level and fancy him to thrive over hurdles. The son of High Chaparral has plenty of scope and whilst disappointing on his debut over timber 18 months ago, has ran with credit on the flat thereafter last term. He must give 5lb to Coroboree for the Skelton brothers but with eight runners is a confident selection to reward each-way support under David Bass.
For all the latest odds head to BetVictor.com and follow @BetVictorRacing on Twitter.
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