It normally pays to follow Aidan O’Brien in the Chesham and I will be doing just that this year as POINT LONSDALE looks to have a standout chance after his facile win at the Curragh. He is probably a bit short given the unexposed nature of his rivals but I do agree he looks a class above and with his trainer having such a fine recent record in the race, he proves hard to ignore.
I was very surprised to see ACE AUSSIE not stay the mile last time out as I had him down as a 1m 2f horse this year. His reappearance run reads very well now as the horse that only just beat him looks to be the champion 3 year old miler this term. Good ground is a necessity with this horse I feel so if able to get the breaks I think this stiff 7f will be right up his street and anticipate a big run.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Hardwicke so fiercely competitive with just the 15 declared to run. There are plenty with question marks hanging over them and I’m not sure who the standard bearer is. With so many which look to be regressing, ILARAAB is a horse who is certainly progressing and must now take his chance at this higher level. He has progressed through the handicap ranks having racked up 6 wins on the bounce and his latest win at York really impressed me. He looked in trouble at one point but found the turbo button late on to put the race to bed which was a performance which screamed to me ‘group horse’. He doesn’t have a great deal to fear here I don’t think and rates one of my more confident selections of the day.
It could be a good 40 minutes for William Haggas as I expect NAHAARR to reverse the form with Starman and win the Diamond Jubilee today. Starman beat the selection at York last time but benefited from a prominent track position whereas Nahaarr made up plenty of ground from the back of the field and still almost won. He has long been expected to turn into a Group 1 horse and I think this is the season in which he could put it all together and become a real top notch sprinter. The stiff nature of this track should suit him down to the ground and I rate his chances quite highly.
I would have liked to have seen TIS MARVELLOUS handed a higher draw but we have seen the far side enjoy success this week so I’m hopeful Clive Cox’s horse can repeat the feat. You won’t find many more horses who love Ascot more than this one and it looks as if Cox has geared his season around this race. His last course win came from a two pound higher mark so he can definitely operate from his current mark, the only question would be the draw.
I remember tipping both RIVER ALWEN & KING FRANKEL in the London Gold Cup, a race in which they finished second and third to an impressive winner. I fancy both to run well in the Golden Gates Handicap on Saturday and at this stage I wouldn’t be able to split them. I think the way Jamie Spencer rides River Alwen will continue to bring out the best in him and if they go quick out in front then this lad will pick them off. King Frankel didn’t handle the track one bit at Epsom yet still showed guts to finish second by the smallest of noses. This is a trip which I anticipate him to stay very well so expect Frankie Dettori to have him up in the van throughout.
The final race of Royal Ascot 2021 may go the way of STRATUM who has been targeted at this race for quite some time. Willie Mullins rarely leaves this country without winning something and his partnership with Ryan Moore has borne plenty of fruit before. He came third in the Ascot Stakes a few years ago, proving his liking for the test this course poses and I’d like to think he has improved a fair bit since then.
