Kieren Fallon Royal Ascot Preview – Day 5

WE have reached the end of a magnificent five days at Royal Ascot and I’ve certainly enjoyed the past four days running up to Saturday.

There is still plenty to look forward to on the last day with the Derby winner Masar running again and Blue Point going for the King’s Stand – Diamond Jubilee double. There’s also the Wokingham to get stuck into, so it’s a cracking day in prospect.

I’ve really enjoyed going through the week with you all and we’ve found a few winners along the way too which always helps. Hopefully we can end the week on a high as well.

2.30 Royal Ascot: Chesham Stakes – Lope Y Fernandez

Aidan O’Brien has won this race with some really classy sorts like Maybe, Churchill and September and he looks to have a strong hand in the race again this year. The British horses haven’t done anything special, so I’d prefer to side with Lope Y Fernandez. He was a good winner on his debut and should be too good for the rest of these.

3.05 Royal Ascot: Jersey Stakes – Space Blues

This is a horse who is really on the up. He was a good winner at Epsom and before that he got out of jail to win a race at York he shouldn’t have won. I’m not that sure he was at this best at Epsom, so basically he’s won his last two races despite not being at this best. Ascot should suit him a lot better and the lads at Charlie Appleby’s are keen on his chances.

3.40 Royal Ascot: Hardwicke Stakes – Masar

This race totally revolves around Masar. He’s head and shoulders above these and he should have too much class for them. You have to remember that this is Royal Ascot and it’s the biggest meeting of the year for Sheikh Mohammed outside the Carnival in Dubai. He’ll be ready for this race and they opted to come to this rather than the Prince of Wales’s Stakes because they want to win, and I think he will.

4.20 Royal Ascot: Diamond Jubilee Stakes – Invincible Army

I can’t believe Blue Point is running again. He was brilliant for us in the King’s Stand Stakes on Tuesday and normally I’d put my house on him to win as I’m his biggest fan. But in this race, at Royal Ascot, four days after running such a big race is a huge ask. Mentally it’s going to be tough for him and I’ll be so impressed if he’s able to win for a second time. Invincible Army has the best figures aside from Blue Point so I’ll side with him as he’s coming in fresher. The Tin Man is a lurker in there as well. He had a prep race at Windsor, which wouldn’t be his track, and he’s lightly raced for his age. His trainer James Fanshawe is very good at getting horses ready for the big day.

5.00 Royal Ascot: Wokingham Stakes – Summerghand

Little Cieren rides Raucous for trainer Robert Cowell. He was just touched off when riding him in the apprentice race on Good Friday, but he’s more of a 6f horse so this race will suit him better.  I’d love to see him run on well but it’ll be a big ask to win. The standout horse on the figures is Summerghand for trainer David O’Meara. He’s in good form and David’s horses are in cracking order – he won the Queen Anne with Lord Glitters on the opening day. I think he’s got a great chance.

5.35 Royal Ascot: Queen Alexandra Stakes – Pallasator

He’s a tricky so-and-so but Gordon Elliott and his team have done a really good job at getting his mind on the job, as much as it’ll ever be anyway. He’s a class horse when he’s at his best and Gordon is a quality trainer, so I’d love to see him win this race again. You’re always taking a bit of a risk with this horse but he’ll be a decent price so it’s worth it.

Good luck,

Kieren