GG editor Daniel Corbally guides us through his Lucky 15 selections for Royal Ascot, which includes a couple of Heritage Handicap runners, a smart sprinter for Charles Hills, plus a classic ‘Willie’s in the Bumper’.
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*Odds correct at time of publishing – 9.15am 19th June*
Bring On The Night (7/4)
Ascot Stakes – 5pm Tuesday
It’s Willie’s In The Bumper! Granted it’s not quite a motionless Paddy Mullins type of National Hunt Bumper here but the sentiment rings true for the Ascot Stakes.
Willie Mullins’ six-year-old gelding was a well-backed second in the race last year off 3lbs lower last year to Gold Cup hope Coltrane. While unraced since, that form speaks for itself and with the yard unspeakably skilled at preparing them off a lay-off, I wouldn’t view the break as a negative. He proved on yard debut a long time out was no barrier to success, winning off a 644 day break. That was admittedly a maiden hurdle but should at least prove that he can go well fresh.
Willie Mullins has a very strong record in this race, indeed he’s the leading trainer in this contest. Backing all of his 19 runners to a £1 stake would return a £12 profit with four winners and ten places. Mullins’ also landed three wins from four between 2015-2018 with Ryan Moore on board for two of those. Ian Williams is another trainer who does particularly well in this race, landing two wins over the last four renewals. He’s represented by Zinc White and Law Of The Sea at the time of writing along with previous winner The Grand Visir.
Some ride from Callum Hutchinson! He holds off Ryan Moore and Bring On The Night, as Coltrane lands the Ascot Stakes! #RoyalAscot @AndrewBalding2 pic.twitter.com/X9lLhSXUle
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 14, 2022
Beautiful Diamond (5/1)
Queen Mary Stakes – 2.30pm Wednesday
From a stamina sapping 2m4f to the minimum 5f with the Queen Mary, this race always proves a mouth watering dash. Winners in the past have created a fairly lasting impression, such as Attraction, Lady Aurelia & most recently, Dramatised.
Beautiful Diamond is a daughter of Twilight Son and was a £360,000 breeze-up purchase for the Karl Burke yard. She showed some rattling speed in what looked a warm maiden on debut, picking up well and putting the race to bed in nice style. She looked professional in doing so and can follow up at this level for last year’s winning yard. This race was pinpointed by Karl Burke soon after her debut – “I’d nearly be certain of the Queen Mary. She will sharpen up for that, she has to, but she showed a lot of natural speed there. Cliff is quite a strong rider and that was as easy a ride he’s given a two-year-old all season.”
While Karl Burke has only struck gold in this race once before, that was last year with Dramatised. Wesley Ward is always one to watch in this race, having won it four times since 2009. He’s represented by Bunchen who was narrowly denied on a muddy dirt surface last time out.
The @BritishEBF fillies' maiden @NottsRacecourse looked hot enough on paper 🔥
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 7, 2023
But £360,000 purchase Beautiful Diamond (Twilight Son) simply dazzles on debut under @connorbeasley9 👀
Yet another #RoyalAscot juvenile for @karl_burke? 🎩 pic.twitter.com/V08x7rMbbf
Astro King (10/1)
Royal Hunt Cup – 5pm Wednesday
Approaching frequent-flier status in this race with this his third attempt at glory. His previous attempts yielding a fourth last year and a second in 2021, both while in the care of Sir Michael Stoute. He’s now been gelded and transferred to the care of Daniel & Clare Kubler and it’s hardly a wild guess to assume this race was on the agenda soon after his purchase.
His first start for connections yielded an eye-catching fourth in the Sky Bet Hambleton Handicap at York last month, when short of room at a key point and finishing well. It’s fair to expect he’ll step forward from that, given it was his first start for 215 days. His first start last year was a less-inspiring ninth place finish in the Thirsk Hunt Cup and he went on to finish fourth in this race last year, off a 3lbs higher mark. In 2021 he was a promising third in Thirsk Hunt Cup before a quality second in this race behind handicap blot Real World who went on to prove Group class.
While he is a little older than ideal when compared with the key trends for the race, with 7 of the last 10 winners aged four-years-old, there have also been a couple of five-year-old winners and a seven-year-old winner for the older horses. Off today’s mark this six-year-old can get a deserved win on the board at a fair price.
Orazio (8/1)
Wokingham Stakes – 5pm Saturday
Charles Hills is no stranger to a very smart sprinter and he looks like he has another on his hands here with Orazio in the Wokingham. He’s a four-year-old now but has only had six starts in total, yielding three wins, including a debut juvenile success and two taking performances this season.
The wins this season provide a fascinating snapshot into the horse he’s developing into. He hasn’t faced a field as big as this before but the style looks sure to suit. He’s shown that he has a potent cruising speed to slot in behind the leaders on both occasions this season before picking up and showing a finishing kick along with stamina for this trip. On the face of it a 9lbs rise for his easy success from Sir Thomas Gresham (winner next time out) may seem slightly harsh but does guarantee a run. Not only did that latest win give him the required boost in the weights it also showed he has no problem over the course and distance and having been freshened up since May.
Charles Hills hasn’t landed this event before but every winner bar one since the turn of the century has been between 4-6 years old and had all turned in a performance ranking 105 or more RPR. Both of those help sweeten the deal for Orazio (115 RPR latest).
Last year's Champion Jockey has his first victory at #Ascot in 2023 😎
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) May 12, 2023
ORAZIO powers away for William Buick – a second win of the day for @cbhills in The @PeroniUK Nastro Azzurro "Live Every Moment" Handicap Stakes pic.twitter.com/eZgnYHUFs8
LUCKY 15 SELECTIONS
- Ascot Stakes (5.00 Tuesday) – BRING ON THE NIGHT (7/4)
- Queen Mary Stakes (2:30 Wednesday) – BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND (4/1)
- Royal Hunt Cup (5:00 Wednesday) – ASTRO KING (10/1)
- Wokingham Stakes (5:00 Saturday) – ORAZIO (8/1)
£1 Lucky 15 returns £2,968 with Bet365.
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