ROYAL ASCOT 2024 – DAY 2
Race 1 QUEEN MARY STAKES (Group 2)
No17 MISS RASCAL (Every Method)
Coach: Paul Cole – Jockey: Tom Marquand
So long as low numbers are favoured on the straight course, MISS RASCAL has a superb likelihood of repeating her course and distance triumph of final month and serving to to take octogenarian Paul Cole and his son Ollie again into the large time. The Havana Gold filly was most unfortunate to not declare a good cheque on debut at Newmarket when it took too lengthy for the penny to drop, however she proved a unique entity when making all final time and coming residence unchallenged. The extent of her subsequent work makes her one to take critically.
MAKE HASTE is a captivating contender that would begin favorite after coming residence unchallenged for Brazilian coach Diego Dias at Naas. It was a visually gorgeous show and suggests the daughter of Blue Level may very well be something.
Coolmore unusually has only one arrow to fireside, however that filly TRULY ENCHANTING created a beneficial impression on her Tipperary introduction and simply must exhibit that she’s as equally pleased on this drying floor because the mushy to become involved. LEOVANNI is one other to keep in mind, taking inventory of how simply she delivered after being properly supported at Nottingham.
Prediction: 1st MISS RASCAL, 2nd Make Haste, third Really Enchanting, 4th Leovanni
Race 2 QUEEN’S VASE (Group 2)
No3 ILLINOIS (Nap)
Coach: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Aidan O’Brien is three-handed in a race he has gained on seven events. HIGHBURY dominated a strongly contested Leopardstown maiden on solely a second profession begin and has scope for baggage of enchancment. He might simply head the market though Ryan Moore has elected to journey ILLINOIS, who chased residence Ambient Pleasant within the Lingfield Derby Trial and appears certain to learn from this transfer as much as a mile and three-quarters. That type was closely boosted when Ambiente Pleasant completed runner-up to Metropolis Of Troy within the Betfred Derby, giving O’Brien the luxurious of figuring out the place he stands with Illinois.
BIRDMAN may be very a lot the joker within the pack and might help in giving Eire a 1-2-3. He had Highbury in his wake when scoring first trip at Cork earlier than making no mistake on a second outing for Jessie Harrington at Navan.
Andrew Balding has a mushy spot for this race, and if there was to be an upset his MINA RASHID may very well be the one to offer it.
Prediction: 1st ILLINOIS, 2nd Birdman, third Highbury, 4th Mina Rashid, fifth Meydaan
Race 3 DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE STAKES (Group 2)
No4 GREGARINA
Coach: Joseph O’Brien – Jockey: William Buick
All eyes might be on LAUREL, whose return to motion on the age of 5 suggests her connections suppose they’ve one thing particular on their palms. The Kingman mare has had points since an underwhelming run in final 12 months’s Lockinge Stakes, however an examination of her different type stamps her as probably excessive class.
BREEGE is an fascinating runner from the North and confirmed battling qualities to hold the day within the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom. Having been narrowly denied in a Goodwood Listed race earlier than her Group 3 triumph John Quinn’s filly appears to be like to have improved from three to 4, whereas her coach is adept at getting one of the best out of fillies of her ilk.
GREGARINA has the widest draw and if that’s the place to be has a superb likelihood of taking this over the Irish Sea for Joseph O’Brien. The five-year-old responded positively when hooded on her first run for O’Brien on the Curragh, having been Group positioned and gained a Listed when skilled in France. Her general type may be very interesting, however she wants to point out she is as efficient on this drying floor as she is on the mushy.
Prediction: 1st GREGARINA, 2nd Laurel, third Breege
Race 4 PRINCE OF WALES’S STAKES (Group 1)
No10 INSPIRAL
Coach: John Gosden – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
John Gosden has by no means been one to shirk a battle, and in bringing INSPIRAL to this mile-and-a-quarter race as an alternative of the Queen Anne he’s laid down the gauntlet to Coolmore’s 2023 Derby winner and Breeders’ Cup Turf hero AUGUSTE RODIN. When successful at Santa Anita the choice confirmed that going additional is the truth is a supply of inspiration to her, and all of the vibes I’m getting from Newmarket are that the Frankel mare is within the type of her life. Auguste Rodin has raced with combined fortunes in two outings this 12 months, underwhelming in Dubai earlier than a significantly better effort within the Tattersalls Gold Cup on the Curragh. The Deep Affect colt’s conflict with my choice offers one of many highlights of the week.
If the remaining eight runners are taking part in for minor locations it wouldn’t be a complete shock to see Gosden’s LORD NORTH increase his recreation, whereas HORIZON DORE can show the choose of a quartet of French challengers and get into the shake-up.
Prediction: 1st INSPIRAL, 2nd Auguste Rodin, third Lord North, 4th Horizon Dore
Race 5 ROYAL HUNT CUP HANDICAP
No23 METAL MERCHANT (Every Method)
Coach: Jack Channon – Jockey: David Probert
Chelsea Thoroughbreds had been answerable for the one-two on this race 12 months in the past when Jimi Hendrix outpointed SONNY LISTON. There’s little doubt that had the latter been drawn on his rival’s facet of the monitor he would have prevailed, and it was a shock that not till beating METAL MERCHANT within the Newbury Hunt Cup did Sonny Liston achieve what was only a second profession success. On that event, he benefitted from an excellent journey however he’s assembly Steel Service provider on 5lbs worse phrases and finds himself carrying prime weight.
AERION POWER had been within the wilderness earlier than his latest Nottingham success and its internet resting that Ryan Moore takes the reins on Sir Michael Stoute’s contender, leaving Rossa Ryan to associate Sonny Liston. The six-year-old must be thought of beneath a 5lb penalty from stall 1, although many of the fancied horses are drawn excessive.
BLESS HIM might by no means lay a glove on his foes when tried in Sample firm at Haydock however the veteran completed fifth on this race final 12 months and seventh in 2022 making him arduous to rule out. Jamie Spencer can extra simply make use of his exaggerated ready techniques on the ten-year-old on this state of affairs. WILD TIGER is the in a single day favorite in some lists and after proving with back-to-back wins that he’s recaptured his outdated means wants taking critically for coach Saeed Bin Suroor. PEROTTO is one other to incorporate in unique perms for this betting extravaganza of the day.
Prediction: 1st METAL MERCHANT, 2nd Sonny Liston, third Aerion Energy, 4th Bless Him, fifth Wild Tiger, sixth Perotto
Race 6 KENSINGTON PALACE FILLIES’ HANDICAP
No11 SUMMER OF LOVE (Every Method)
Coach: Saeed Bin Suroor – Jockey: Christophe Soumillon
Soumillon’s engagement for SUMMER OF LOVE takes my eye on this distaffers’ race on the straight course. The choice engages in only a fourth profession begin and is on the cusp of finishing a hat-trick for a coach that over time has landed a bunch of successes at this assembly and nonetheless wants respecting.
DOHA went down in a photograph on her return for Ralph Beckett at Haydock and brings robust type to the desk, however she wants to point out she is as efficient on quicker floor.
HOPEFUL is equally stable and might earn for Andrew Balding, whose reserving of Mickael Barzalona takes the attention. At a a lot larger value, I would come with ELIM, who ran properly when needing the race on her reappearance and wishes respecting.
Prediction: 1st SUMMER OF LOVE, 2nd Doha, third Hopeful, 4th Fakhama, fifth Elim, sixth Again See Daa
Race 7 WINDSOR CASTLE STAKES (Listed)
No22 SHADOW ARMY (Every Method)
Coach: Richard Fahey – Jockey: James Doyle
This must be the hardest Listed race within the calendar for a juvenile to win however a few the 28 acceptors stand out this 12 months. TREASURE ISLE Aran into the good Midnight Strike on debut on the Curragh however made no mistake on his subsequent and newest begin at Naas. The son of No Nay By no means enjoys a center gate which provides his rider choices over which facet of the monitor to race.
One that may have much more to supply is SHADOW ARMY who overcame greenness to attain on his York introduction. Owned by the rising Wathnan Racing, he’s well-regarded by his coach and has apparently made nice strides since that journey to the Knavesmire.
CELTIC CHIEFTAIN is one other title to conjure with for Coolmore and has the same profile to Treasure Isle as an unbeaten in a single No Nay By no means colt. GABALDON is amongst 4 American challengers and if his first providing at Gulfstream was no fluke has a serious likelihood of lighting up the board although he’s drawn a good distance aside from a number of the principal protagonists.
Prediction: 1st SHADOW ARMY, 2nd Treasure Isle, third Celtic Chieftain, 4th Gabaldon
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 1-7)
17, 13, 23 x 4, 1 x 4, 6, 2 x 10 x 23, 1, 16 x 11, 16, 18 x 22, 24
R324 (take share)
