Sunday, June 12, 2011

Royal Ascot 2011 - Tuesday

Tuesday's Royal Ascot card looks the best of the entire week, the highlight being the St James's Palace Stakes due off at 3.45. Frankel, trained by Sir Henry Cecil who was awarded a knighthood in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours List, made all to blow away his rivals in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket a little over six weeks ago. He'll be no price and  there are fears in some quarters the race may have left its mark. Recent rain should benefit Dream Ahead - Dream Ahead each way (14/1) is the suggestion.

Queen Anne held the first Ascot races in 1711, 300 years ago; the first race of the meeting is named after the monarch. On paper this year's renewal looks a clash between Canford Cliffs and Goldikova. Last year the mare Goldikova beat Paco Boy, trained by Richard Hannon, a neck. Hannon also trains Canford Cliffs and word is the handler considers Canford Cliffs a better horse so Canford Cliffs has to be the selection.

In the Ascot Stakes over two and a half miles, I'm going to follow a theme discussed on the blog in recent weeks and concentrate on horses with jumps form.

Top weight Junior won this off a 10 pound lower mark last year; he took the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival by an astonishing 24 lengths in March so it's not surprising to see layers mark up David Pipe's charge favourite. Paul Webber's Australia Day likes to race from the front and finished fourth in the one and a half mile Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at this meeting last year before going on to take the competitive totescoop6 handicap hurdle at Market Rasen later in the summer; the grey gelding has never won beyond 17 furlongs. Sunwise moved from John Oxx to Paul Nicholls but didn't appear in love with jumping; on his inaugural run for Willie Haggas, he finished fourth in a York claimer and  has enough to find. The last time we saw Tyrells Wood, owned by Dr Marman Koukash and now trained by Ian Williams, was in this event a year ago when he finished eleventh - the booking of Jamie Spencer catches the eye. Charlie Mann's Unleashed has never won beyond 12 furlongs and finished down the field last year while Brian Ellison's Palomar has been kept busy but strikes me as a horse who has to have things fall just right. Private Story has had just one run for Tim Vaughan; he finished seventh in last year's Queen's Vase, beaten under ten lengths, and could improve for the extra half mile. Nicky Henderson's mare Veiled warrants every respect; Fallon won cosily on this one at Newmarket last time and the second that day, Gifted Leader, obliged at Sandown yesterday. Phoenix Flight will stay but doesn't appeal while La Estrella's last run over hurdles saw him finish fourth in a Stratford seller in 2008; he didn't appear to stay two miles three furlongs that day. Rattan, once with Henry Cecil and now with Willie Mullins, merits attention but bottom weight Alsadaa tries this trip for the first time.

As a play against probable favourite Junior, who is unlikely to be allowed an easy time up front, Veiled is suggested (has won at Cheltenham over two mile five furlongs) while Willie Mullins' Rattan is the each-way wager at 14/1 (Richard Hughes in the plate).

And finally, for those who must have a bet in the King's Stand Stakes at 3.05, I'd be prepared to give Overdose, aka the 'Budapest Bullet', another chance. The entire disappointed at Haydock the last time but recent rain should have helped; Coral offer 16/1 which some may feel merits each-way support.         

3 comments:

"PLAYING IT SAFE' said...

Hi there

Was hoping you would do a link exchange with me, i already have you linked up to my blog, if you fancy it it is....

Playing It Safe
http://vikingflasghip.blogspot.com/

Eitherway best of luck for Rpyal Ascot

GeeDee said...

Best of luck, Playing It Safe.

PG

GeeDee said...

Frankel (3/10f) won the St James's Palace Stakes but not as easily as many might have anticipated. Dream Ahead (14/1) was held up but couldn't get to the leaders when asked for his effort and finished out of the places in fifth.

Two nice winners for the blog with Canford Cliffs (11/8) and Veiled (11/2 in the Ascot Stakes); Eddie Ahern did the steering after Fallon was forced to miss his rides asa result of jarring an injury when riding work in the morning. Rattan (16/1) ran well to finish sixth; two other sterling efforts in the race - Phoenix Flight, third at 50/1 and La Estralla fifth at 20/1. 7/2 favourite Zigato made up plenty of ground but couldn't get to the leaders and finished fourth.

A decent effort too from Overdose (12/1) beaten two half lengths and a neck into fourth, reversing Haydock form with Kingsgate Native and Sole Power but not with 7/1winner Prohibit.