Royal Ascot selections Friday 23rd June
Onto day four at a sunny Ascot and the fillies largely take centre stage today. However the Commonwealth Cup also provides Group 1 action and looks a fascinating clash of sprinters coming back in trip. In total I am focussing on three races on the card. We had a much better Thursday with a win for Docklands (SP 6/1) and second places in all three other races we had an interest in with each-way places for Valiant King (advised 17/2), Croupier (advised 8/1) and Northern Express (SP 16/1).
Ascot 3.05: Sakheer
Almost half of this field ran in one Guineas or other last month, and it is one of those SAKHEER who is fancied here to find his niche in sprinting.
I was doubtful about his ability to stay a mile in any case at Newmarket but any chance of his stamina holding out surely went with the rain that fell that day. Having taken a pull early it was no surprise to see him gradually fade out of contention coming out of the dip.
However his performances as a juvenile over shorter mark him down as a serious contender. His Mill Reef win at Newbury in Group 2 company surely merits him a genuine Group 1 sprinter and he looks the one horse that can really serve it up to Little Big Bear with ground conditions to suit and the trip at his optimum.
Ascot 3.40: Maksud & Moracana
This does not look as competitive a Duke of Edinburgh as might normally be the case. The presence of several Godolphin runners, most of whom might need the run or look out of form takes out much of the top weights, whilst a high draw has become something of a necessity in recent seasons in this race.
MAKSUD comes from gate 15, ideally placed towards the outside. He was given a very easy time of it at Chester on his return, being held up way out the back before making some late headway under tender handling. That will have put him spot on for today.
He ran on this card in the King Edward last year when racing too freely in a small field, but I can see him performing more to his optimum with a bigger field giving him plenty of cover. He was second over this 12f at Glorious Goodwood off the very same mark of 99 last summer and was second in a listed race at Windsor soon after.
MORACANA looks overpriced from her favoured draw. This filly won a listed contest at Cork earlier in the season and was not disgraced at the Curragh in a smaller field and slowly run contest last time.
She has already proven her aptitude for big field handicaps when winning a Premier Handicap on Irish Champions weekend last season. That was over 13f so stamina is no issue and she seems capable on any sort of going. She does seem to excel in big fields so I am not quite sure why she is so ignored today.
Ascot 6.10: Michaela’s Boy, Harry Brown & Conquistador
Three horses often to be seen plying their trade on the All Weather are fancied for the finale.
First choice would be CONQUISTADOR who showed solid but unspectacular form for the Gosden’s over 7f last season but has since shown in sprints for George Boughey.
He was good enough to finish third to Exoplanet at Newbury last season (placed here yesterday) over that 7f. Boughey obviously saw enough speed from him on the gallops to drop him in distance and he saw off Radio Goo Goo at Wolverhampton on his first start for the yard. He is an incredible 16lbs better off today with that rival.
Since then we saw him only once when producing a strong finishing burst to defeat Kerdos over 6f at Lingfield. He travels well enough though to cope with a return to the minimum trip and with stamina proven I expect to come on strong late on.
One who could prove hard to pass is MICHAELAS BOY. He showed tremendous speed in the listed race at York that so many of today’s runners took part in. He kept on gamely once headed and the Mick Appleby yard have been in so much better form since. Jockey Frederick Larson was unable to claim his 3lbs at York, but can do in this handicap today. He should relish the fast ground and front-runners often last out the 5f here at Ascot.
Hayley Turner once more proved how good a jockey she is on the straight track here yesterday and she has strong claims again today with HARRY BROWN. He won three times on the All Weather since the autumn – another who is very well off with Radio Goo Goo on his Chelmsford win last September.
She ran for the first time on fast ground turf at Goodwood last month, finishing a close up third on his first start for nearly four months. He ought to be a bit sharper today and I expect her to be ridden with more patience which should see him finish off more strongly. With winning form over 6f already in the bank he is another who should benefit from a truly run 5f.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Sakheer – 3.05 Ascot – 6/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Maksud – 3.40 Ascot – 13/2 Bet365, William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)
0.5pts each-way – Moracana – 3.40 Ascot – 33/1 Skybet (1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt each-way – Conquistador – 6.10 Ascot – 7/1 Betfred (1/5 odds 1st 6)
0.5pts each-way – Michaela’s Boy – 6.10 Ascot – 33/1 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 6)
0.5pts each-way – Harry Brown – 6.10 Ascot – 6/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 6)
