Royal Ascot selections Friday 20th June
Fast ground continues to prevail at Ascot and on the straight track there seems a definite bias towards the stands side at present. Those factors have been taken into account for the three races under the focus today. Akkadian Thunder was placed for the each-way bet yesterday (advised 14/1).
Ascot 3.05: Shadow of Light & Babouche
I think the market has the Commonwealth Cup about right and with both my selections drawn high I see no reason to oppose these two.
SHADOW OF LIGHT showed a great turn of pace to quicken to the front in the 2000 Guineas last month. However connections were not sure if this horse would stay and their fears were confirmed as he gave best late on, albeit to a horse from the same yard.
However he showed an abundance of pace in sprint races last season, notably when thrashing Whistlejacket by 4l to take the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. His stamina then lasted out enough to take the 7f Dewhurst at the same venue, but clearly a mile is beyond him. He should have no issue stepping back to 6f, especially on a sharp track and stall 19 could be an advantage.
Drawn right next to him is BABOUCHE, getting the 3lb gender allowance, and she should revel on both the fast ground and the likely strong pace in such a big field.
After a modest returning fourth at Cork last month, she bounced right back to her best when storming past Whistlejacket to comfortably land a Group 3 at Naas last time. She had beaten the same rival in a Group 1 on fast ground last season, and could reasonably use soft ground as an excuse when only fourth in the Cheveley Park in the autumn.
Ascot 3.40: Mount Atlas
I am going to rely on just the one horse for the Duke of Edinburgh as I think MOUNT ATLAS has very strong credentials here.
Very lightly raced, he won over this course and distance on handicap debut last July from a mark of 87. We then only saw him once more when keeping on strongly for second in one of the most competitive and valuable 3yo handicaps of the season at Newmarket.
He travelled well for a long way on his return at Kempton in March, just getting tired late on, and he was probably not quite ready for Group races when beaten a nevertheless very respectable 3l by Illinois at Chester last time. A strong stayer at 12f, he has an ideal draw in 17, should have no problems with the quick ground and is already proven on the track.
Ascot 6.10: Mr Lightside, Miss Lamai and Adrestia
I am going to take a gamble on the draw bias to stands side will hold today as all my three are drawn that side and would be strongly fancied anyway.
MR LIGHTSIDE is bordering on group class already and was not beaten far in a listed race at York last time, despite racing freely. A stronger gallop and bigger field today might see him in an even better light.
He gained plenty of racing experience last season, finishing fourth in another York listed race and is a strong traveller who will have no issues with the fast ground.
MISS LAMAI was last seen when third in that same York listed race last month and is already a winner at that level when scoring in Ireland last season.
She also ran a cracker at this meeting last season when fourth in the Queen Mary on similar rattling fast ground. This will be her first crack in handicap company, but she ran well in a big field here and also when second at York last spring. Stall 26 should be high enough for her to get involved on the apparent golden highway operating this week.
Oisin Murphy has already taken advantage of that lane more than once this week and ADRESTIA could give the Crisford’s a change of luck this week, from stall 24.
She won twice last season, including a nursery at Sandown from a 7lbs lower mark. She was well beaten on her next two starts, but had ready made excuses as she reared up as the stalls opened at Newbury, and then got no luck in running at Chester. She made an encouraging reappearance against older horses at Windsor last week, despite another slow start. Being a little slowly away today should not be a great issue as she can finish well and can race off a very strong pace.
Recommended bets:
1pt win – Shadow of Light – 3.05 Ascot – 13/8 general
1pt each-way – Babouche – 3.05 Ascot – 11/2 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Mount Atlas – 3.40 Ascot – 8/1 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Mr Lightside – 6.10 Ascot – 12/1 Skybet (1/5 odds 1st 7)
0.5pts each-way – Miss Lamai – 6.10 Ascot – 12/1 Ladbrokes, BetVictor (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Adrestia – 6.10 Ascot – 7/1 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)
