Royal Ascot selections Thursday 18th June
If anything the action is even more competitive at Ascot on Thursday. I am therefore throwing plenty of darts at four races on the card. We had a fair day on Wednesday with Limestone a winner (100/30) and Indalo placed for the each-way bet in the Hunt Cup (advised 14/1).
Ascot 3.05: Cannes & Enceladus
It has already been a stellar week for Joseph O’Brien at Ascot and he has two strong chances for victory in another staying handicap.
CANNES would be first choice (as also appears to be the case on jockey bookings too) having progressed nicely and learned plenty in three runs in novice company. He was always up in the van at Leopardstown last time, and although the response to his jockeys urgings were not immediate off the home turn, he was well on top by the end, showing real stamina for 12f.
That run came off the back of two previous highly promising efforts, chasing home Asakir who was not beaten far in the Queens Vase yesterday, and James J Braddock who was placed in the Derby last week. A high draw is usually a good one for 12f races at Ascot and he is drawn right on the outside.
ENCELADUS could be the one to cause him most trouble. He too has been kept to maiden company to try and protect his mark for this, getting off the mark at Cork most recently over 10f, giving the impression he was only doing enough to keep his head in front.
That race was over 10f, but this son of Sea The Stars promises to stay much further – his two half brothers who have raced have both shown decent form over hurdles. He too has an apparently advantageous double figure draw.
Ascot 4.50: Richies Rocket, Victory Tip & Moonfall
A cracking renewal of the Britannia and I simply cannot narrow things down to less than three.
If I had to pick one then VICTORY TIP certainly stands out. He cruised to the front at Naas last time only to get outpointed by Bobby McGee late on (a non-runner here.) He gave the impression that coming off a stronger gallop would see him to much better effect and he will certainly get that opportunity here.
He is already a winner over a mile on bad ground at The Curragh last autumn, but he certainly should be able to handle fast ground just as well. He is interestingly bred by a sprinter out of a dam who produced horses who stay 2m well, but this horse has the running style to ideally suit a stiff mile.
RICHIES ROCKET looks well worth a step up in trip having flow home from the rear around Goodwood’s sharp 7f last time. This son of New Bay promises to stay at least a mile so ought to find a few pounds of improvement over this distance.
He started his career well with a placed effort at Newmarket, followed by a win at Lingfield and there were excuses for his first two runs of 2026. He missed the break at Lingfield in a listed race when rearing as the stalls opened and then did not seem to handle the dip at Newmarket. Recently gelded I am sure this race will suit him perfectly.
MOONFALL was a real eyecatcher on his return at Chester. Dropped out he made good progress into the straight only to find that typical problem of hold up horses around that track when failing to get any sort of run.
He showed more than enough to suggest that being gelded over the winter has brought him forward and he is a half-brother to Soprano, also trained by George Boughey who won the equivalent fillies race at this meeting two years ago. A high draw looks an advantage this week and he can call upon the services of top Aussie jockey Zac Lloyd who has made a real impact in his short time in the UK recently.
Ascot 5.35: Endorsement
Having taken on most of his stable’s top middle distance horses this spring, ENDORSEMENT should find this task more easy and could well make all in the Hampton Court.
Already second to Pierre Bonnard in a Group 3 as a juvenile, he took in two of the Derby trials early this season. Front-running tactics have been largely employed, which seems to have suited well and the recent application of cheekpieces seem to have sharpened him up too as he does look quite a lazy type.
He held off all comers bar subsequent Derby winner Christmas Day at Leopardstown in April and was then only beaten a half-length by James J Braddock over the same course and distance last time. He duly landed odds of 1-4 when stepped up to 12f last time in a much easier race, and I would expect positive tactics to be employed back down in trip today.
Ascot 6.10: Elarak, Royal Velvet & Cosi Bello
Another ultra tough handicap to finish with and another three attempts are made.
ELARAK would be first choice as he looks a classy type who should enjoy a strongly run 7f. He had to race alone at Newmarket last time, so it was difficult to judge how good a run that was and had earlier finished fourth in a good conditions race at Thirsk.
He did win with ease over 1m in a novice race at Newmarket last season, but suggested that that distance was too far when fading in a handicap in August. Dropped back to 7f he duly won on his next start on the Rowley Mile track in September. A high draw should be of benefit as should the addition of Billy Loughnane in the saddle who is having a fine week.
ROYAL VELVET is having a fine season and is of course going up the weights as a result. However a strongly run 7f on fast ground is what she wants and she can again make her presence felt from a decent draw.
She produced a last to first run at Lingfield in listed company last time, having done exactly the same in a Newmarket handicap in April – something that is pretty hard to do on the track. Her overall record of 9-21 is very impressive and William Buick has been on board for four of those wins and is back on board today.
COSI BELLO did well to win at Haydock last time having got very little room to challenge up the rail and there looks more to come from this unexposed type.
That run was only his fifth in total and third in handicaps and he shaped well here when fourth last summer against older horses. He has only gone up 2lbs for that narrow win, but was probably value for a larger winning distance given how he had to fight for room. I am sure a stiffer track will see him to even better effect.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Cannes – 3.05 Ascot – 4/1 Skybet, Paddy Power(1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt each-way – Enceladus – 3.05 Ascot – 17/2 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)
0.5pts each-way – Richies Rocket – 4.50 Ascot – 18/1 Bet365, Boylesports (1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt each-way – Victory Tip – 4.50 Ascot – 50/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt each-way – Moonfall – 4.50 Ascot – 12/1 Betfred, Boylesports (1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt win – Endorsement – 5.35 Ascot – 7/4 general
1pt each-way – Elarak – 6.10 Ascot – 10/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Royal Velvet – 6.10 Ascot – 14/1 Betfred, Boylesports (1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt win – Cosi Bello – 6.10 Ascot – 9/1 general
