It’s the opening day of Royal Ascot and for many this is the best day of the entire Festival. There are 3 G1 races on the card, but all 6 contests are worth a good look.
Rouget’s Royal Ascot Raid
The G1 Queen Anne Stakes (2.30) is a 1m race, which Solow won last year. Freddy Head has no runner, this year, but another French trainer could be the toast of Berkshire today. Jean-Claude Rouget’s Ervedya won last season’s G1 Coronation Stakes, and has since taken the spoils in the G1 Prix du Moulin. Tepin is in sensational form, but this represents a fierce baptism into European racing and Belardo is preferred to follow Ervedya home.
Mark Johnston won the latest renewal of the G2 Coventry Stakes (3.05) and will hope that Yalta can follow in Buratino’s footsteps. The Exceed And Excel colt is unbeaten in 2 starts, but this represents a mighty leap in class and Aidan O’Brien’s Caravaggio is much-preferred. He’s also 2 from 2, although a 2¼-length defeat of the very-handy Mister Trader (when winning the Listed Marble Hill Stakes, at the Curragh) added black-type to his page. Caravaggio already looks like a horse we’ll be getting to know very well, over the next couple of years.
Waady Ready To Face Mecca
The G1 King’s Stand Stakes is at 3.40 and there will be a huge roar from the crowd, if Mecca’s Angel comes out on top in this 5f sprint. The winner of last year’s Nunthorpe tops the ratings, but looks short enough to oppose – particularly given Frankie Dettori’s recent record in G1 races. He partners John Gosden’s Waady, a horse that should benefit from a brace of Group outings already this year. An each-way flutter on Waady looks good value at the price.
Guineas Winner To Grab More Glory?
Gurkha has yet to run on English soil and also looks difficult to back, at such short odds, in the St James’s Palace Stakes (4.20). Awtaad’s form is arguably more-impressive, but there’s no reason why Galileo Gold can’t follow-up his 2,000 Guineas success with another G1 win. He was at first keen and later short of room, when beaten at the Curragh and his victory in the Classic at Headquarters seems in no way diminished just because of Massaat’s failure to get the trip in the Epsom Derby. Frankie Dettori’s mount again looks the value-bet. Emotionless can only be watched, following a dire display in the Dewhurst and no outings since then.
Many spectators will still be trading hard-luck stories in the racecourse bars, when the Ascot Stakes gets underway at 5.00. Small beer, in comparison to the races it follows, it’s still an intriguing and rich handicap featuring the likes of Pique Sous, Silver Concorde, Galizzi, Sempre Medici and Eshtiaal. No Heretic can be a little keen, but Jamie Spencer now seems to have his measure and an each-way punt on Nicky Henderson’s inmate looks tempting following his victory at Chester.
O’Brien Puts Moore On Pedestal
The Windsor Castle Stakes (5.35) also looks wide-open and 5 juveniles are racing for only the 2nd time, having won on debut. The 2 that appeal most have both tasted defeat, though. Mister Trader found only Caravaggio too good at the Curragh, while Aidan O’Brien’s Pedestal was very green at the same racecourse before winning well at Tipperary. The booking of Ryan Moore, along with very tempting odds, make the Invincible Spirit colt another one to back to either win or place – especially as we are offering ¼-place odds on all Royal Ascot races..
There’s more UK action at Thirsk, Stratford, Beverley and Brighton. Roscommon’s 8 races begin with a 2m maiden hurdle at 5.30. Gordon Elliott will be hoping that Miro can get off the mark, at the 3rd time of asking. Today’s trio of French meetings are at Le Croisé-Laroche, Nantes and Aix-les-Bains, while there’s 8 contests at Vaal in South Africa.
Today’s Picks
ROYAL ASCOT
2.30 Ervedya
3.05 Caravaggio
3.40 Waady
4.20 Galileo Gold
5.00 No Heretic
5.35 Pedestal
BEVERLEY
6.40 Roar
7.10 Gilt Edged
7.40 Canny Cool
8.10 Purple Magic
8.40 Lord Kelvin
9.10 Morocco
BRIGHTON
5.50 Afandem
6.20 El Duque
6.50 French Legend
7.20 Hala Madrid
7.50 Mrs Warren
8.20 Najd
8.50 Picansort
STRATFORD
2.20 Katie’s Hen
2.55 Egypt Mill Rebel
3.30 Sonofagun
4.05 Sir Dylan
4.45 Edgar
5.20 Flying Shadow
THIRSK
2.10 Snuggy
2.45 Princess Peaches
3.20 Cloud Monkey
3.55 Imperial Focus
4.35 Mass Rally
5.10 Orion’s Bow
5.45 Takatul
6.15 Pavers Star
ROSCOMMON
5.30 Miro
6.00 Weather Watch
6.30 Lasoscar
7.00 Exit Seven
7.30 Sizing Alberta
8.00 Pilgrim Way
8.30 Informer
9.00 California Soul
NANTES
R1 Miss Fuisse
R2 Soho Starlight
R3 Sag Warum
R4 Silvery Sea
R5 Gorki Park
R6 Billy Jess
R7 Lecharm
R8 This Is It
LE CROISE-LAROCHE
R1 Black Bird Runs
R2 Langlauf
R3 Blue Panis
R4 Check Sport
R5 Hollyster
R6 Russian Way
R7 Singapore Spur
AIX-LES-BAINS
R1 Qatar Ruby
R2 One Best Victory
R3 Don Mimi
R4 Airley
R5 Chapardeur
R6 Miss Mary
R7 Arlequin d’Allier
R8 Off By Heart
VAAL
R1 Island Bliss
R2 Justash
R3 Tiki Torch
R4 Persian Approval
R5 Pivotal Pursuit
R6 Tabreek
R7 Night Editor
R8 Aszkaban
