Royal Ascot selections Wednesday 17th June
Today is apparently the biggest number of declared runners for a single day card at Royal Ascot. That means winner finding will be as tough as ever, but we will have a go at three races including two stabs at one of the big betting races of the week, the Hunt Cup. More Thunder was placed for the each-way bet yesterday (advised 4/1).
Ascot 3.05: Limestone
Already off the mark for the week, Joseph O’Brien can enjoy another good day at Ascot with LIMESTONE in the Queens Vase.
This progressive individual potentially has the best form line of all coming into this race after a win over today’s rival Asakir at Navan, where he saw out the 13f distance very strongly. The tactics carried out that day were interesting as he set out to make all, only to drop near the back at halfway, before storming up the hill to win with something in hand at the finish.
Stamina is therefore clearly a strong point and he already has strong form on good going so fast conditions today should not be a problem. He is improving with every run and I prefer his claims to that of favourite Galiyan where you are banking on potential improvement rather than proven form.
Ascot 4.20: Daryz
Perhaps the race of the week and this can go to Arc winner DARYZ.
This French raider was not the finished article when bombing out behind today’s chief rival Ombudsman at York in the International last summer. However he was the real deal when outspeeding Minnie Hauk in the Arc and he has shown in two runs in France this season that he definitely has the pace to deal with this 10f trip.
He landed the Prix Ganay on quick ground at Longchamp over today’s trip on his return and then won just as easily in another Group 1 over 9f there last time. Given the make up of the field there is no doubt a furious gallop is going to happen with Minnie Hauk being given a pacemaker, but that tactic should suit Daryz just as much.
Ascot 5.00: Checkandchallenge & Indalo
Although he is without a win since 2023, I have strong feelings about CHECKANDCHALLENGE being primed to run a big race today and I think he rates tremendous each-way value.
Prior to this season, such was his ability that he had only run in one handicap, when second off a mark of 108 at Sandown as a 3yo. Apart from that he has been running in Class 1 races throughout including a 2000 Guineas and five other Group 1 races. Those include two fourth places over this course and distance in the QEII of 2022 and 2023, whilst he was sixth in 2024, so this stiff, straight mile clearly suits. He probably was not quite at the same level last season, but continued to run well including a third here in a listed race and fifth in the Group 1 Lockinge.
However he has been switched to handicaps this season, twice running over a mile at Newbury without the usual headgear applied. On both occasions he has been outpaced until running on well late. This track suits hold up horses much more, the headgear is back on and a high draw is often an advantage here, with Thunder Run being drawn nearby that should ensure a decent pace near side.
INDALO has been a big drifter in the last 24 hours, but I think he ought to be thereabouts if a low draw does not present an issue.
He ran a cracker on reappearance in that Newbury mile handicap last month, despite racing too freely, just being headed by Classic late on, who had the benefit of a previous run. This horse has generally learned to settle better of late, hence considerable improvement, and with the freshness taken out of him by that recent outing, he should be better settled today, especially with a strong pace to aim at.
He is a strong stayer at a mile having narrowly failed to win the Cambridgeshire last autumn, and he is well suited by a hold up ride, something that usually pays dividends in this race.
Recommended bets:
1pt win – Limestone – 3.05 Ascot – 100/30 general
1pt win – Daryz – 4.20 Ascot – 2/1 general
1pt each-way – Checkandchallenge – 5.0 Ascot – 25/1 Paddy Power (1/5 odds 1st 7)
1pt each-way – Indalo – 5.0 Ascot – 14/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 6)
