Royal Ascot selections Wednesday 18th June
After a terrific start to the Royal meeting we have another ultra competitive card for Wednesday. I am concentrating on three races, including one of the big betting contests, the Hunt Cup and the feature event, the Prince of Wales Stakes. We had each-way places on Tuesday from Nurburgring (SP 16/1) and Kings Gambit (advised 9/2)
Royal Ascot 4.20: Anmaat
This race looks likely to revolve around whether ANMAAT can progress from his Curragh comeback, where he was pulling double over the opposition, including Los Angeles, before the lack of a recent outing took its toll and the Ballydoyle runner outfought him close home.
If Anmaat can step forward from that, then I feel there is every chance of him turning the tables on a horse that looked more of a stayer last season. The 7yo is of course fully proven on this track having produced an amazing display to overcome trouble in running and win the Champion Stakes here in the autumn.
That run came on much softer ground, but he has shown he handles fast ground in the past, winning at Haydock last summer and landing the valuable John Smiths Cup at York in the past.
Royal Ascot 5.00: Qirat, Magnum Opus & Tokenomics
There have already been a few handicaps where I have looked to take on a short priced favourite and I will be doing so here with the hard pulling and wide drawn My Cloud potentially vulnerable. I have three each-way alternatives.
QIRAT has already run some fine races in big field handicaps here, having been a solid sixth in the Britannia last season, second in a Heritage handicap last October and then a strong second over 7f in the Victoria Cup on his comeback.
He shaped that day as if 7f was too short, but he fought on well late and I am sure a mile will turn out to be more suitable. He already has two big handicap wins to his name at Goodwood, but this track seems to suit just as well – he simply seems to go well in big fields. Trainer Ralph Beckett has reached for the blinkers to try and get that extra edge today.
MAGNUM OPUS comes in somewhat under the radar here, but has thrived since being tried with headgear in Dubai over the winter, winning a 9f handicap at Meydan. He also ran a cracker to be fourth in the Lincoln on his last start, that race arguably coming on ground softer than ideal.
After that busy campaign he has been freshened up since Doncaster, but he has a fair record off a break, winning after two months off at Pontefract last season and a narrow second at Southwell at the start of that winter campaign. He looks a strong stayer at a mile and will enjoy this faster ground.
First choice for the race though is TOKENOMICS who looks the ideal type for this race as a hold up performer, who loves coming off a strong pace. He did that to great effect on his comeback at Cork over 7f, but has already proven himself over further having won over 9f at Leopardstown last season.
Even though he was unplaced on his one previous visit to Britain at York last season, I thought he ran with credit that day on a speed favouring track and Ascot will suit him far better. A high draw should be ideal and despite a consistent recent record he remains feasibly handicapped off 94.
5.35 Royal Ascot – Rainbows Edge & Sky Safari
I am going to rely on just two for this fiendishly tricky fillies handicap.
The King’s opening runner at the meeting got no luck in running but RAINBOWS EDGE could well defy top weight here. She warmed up for this race with a course and distance win last month and is surely bound for group races after this.
She has already finished second in listed company at Salisbury last summer, and loves rattling fast ground of the type she will face today. Already proven over 10f, a fast run mile should be ideal and stall 17 should be an advantageous draw.
SKY SAFARI ran with plenty of credit, even in defeat at Salisbury last time, proving she is just as good on turf as the AW in the process. Her two most recent wins had come on sand for a trainer James Fanshawe who gets more than his fair share of wins on an artificial surface.
However she had already won her maiden at Yarmouth last summer and that Salisbury run came on fast going so today’s conditions should be fine. She is another strong stayer at a mile, with her breeding suggesting she should stay further, so a strongly run contest here should play to her strengths.
Recommended bets:
1pt win – Anmaat – 4.20 Ascot – 4/1 Bet365, William Hill
1pt each-way – Qirat – 5.00 Ascot – 9/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 6)
0.5pts each-way – Magnum Opus – 5.00 Ascot – 33/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt each-way – Tokenomics – 5.00 Ascot – 18/1 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Rainbow Edge – 5.35 Ascot – 4/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Sky Safari – 5.35 Ascot – 13/2 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)
