That special time of year has finally come around once again. The tweed jackets are firmly a distant memory and the top hats are back, it’s of course, Royal Ascot.
Five days of the most exhilarating bundle of world class flat racing in the calendar year where dreams are simultaneously fulfilled and destroyed within minutes. From the blistering two year olds to the gallant old stayers, the week is a marvellous cocktail catered to everyone’s racing tipple. Many punters have no doubt already lost their pieces to the ante-post puzzle, whereas others are sitting on three aces. Racing is a sphere with little guarantee’s, but you will certainly not want to miss this glorious frenzy of a week.
Matthew Sutcliffe is the newest recruit to the GG team and he will be looking back on the previous weekend for smart performances, as well as picking the best value plays ahead of the Days Four of Royal Ascot.
Published: 3.30pm June 21st (Odds correct at time of publication)
DAY FOUR
2:30pm Albany Stakes (Group 3)
CARLA’S WAY (2pt win – 7/2 generally)
CARLA’S WAY was highlighted at 12/1 for the Albany at the start of this month, however I foolishly didn’t advise her as an official ante-post bet. That said, I am still as keen on her chances even at 7/2. She pulled her way to the front on debut at Doncaster under Jack Mitchell and she stayed keen the whole way. Nine times out of ten, a scenario like that would see a horse weaken quickly towards the end as a result of using up too much energy, but the fact that she was able to quicken and win going away was extremely impressive. To Jack Mitchell’s credit, he did tremendously well to somewhat get her in a rhythm out in front, but if she’s come on for that racing experience then she could blow this field away. The form has worked out well given Godolphin’s Star Of Mystery (2nd) has come out and won by eleven lengths since (94rpr). She’s the topspeed rated on the racing post, and it’s interesting the Crisford’s have booked James Doyle for the ride, who has a 25% strike rate for the yard in the last 12 months (and all time), as opposed to Jack Mitchell.
3:05pm Commonwealth Cup (Group 1)
QUEEN ME (0.5pt E/W – 40/1 generally)
Little Big Bear is 10lbs clear of the field on ratings here and could well be an easy enough winner for favourite backers. However, where’s the fun in that? Kevin Ryan’s QUEEN ME is a filly who ran well on all three of her two year old runs last season. She won well on debut before being beaten a head by Swingalong in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York, with the 1000 Guineas winner and 3rd in behind, along with Dramatised. She was perhaps disappointing when beaten a length into 3rd in the Firth Of Clyde Stakes at Ayr, but at least that race has thrown up a couple of smart types., and she fared the best of those who raced prominent. She’s bred to improve with age, her half-sister was unraced as a 2yo but won twice at three, and her dam and grandma were both pattern company winners at three. She made her seasonal return in the 1000 Guineas and I thought she ran a terrific race – she pulled hard all the way and was still up with the leaders a furlong out, before inevitably weakening out of contention a furlong out. She still showed excellent speed and shaped as if the drop back to six furlongs will suit. Her odds certainly underestimate her talents and chances, given she only finished a length behind Lezoo who is 10/1 currently. Jim Crowley is currently jocked up, who has a 20% all time strike rate for Kevin Ryan who had Triple Time win at 33/1 at the start of the week.
3:40pm Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (Class 2)
MAKSUD (1pt E/W – 25/1 generally *SkyBet paying 6 places*)
Hughie Morrison’s record in this race is sensational, four winners and five places from nine runners (+£21.07), including with the talented Quickthorn in 2021. He will aim to emulate those successes with MAKSUD, who looks overpriced at 25/1 especially given his trainers record. The son of Golden horn was gelded and unraced as a two-year old before making a winning debut last April in the hands of Tom Marquand. He was then a 1L fourth in the Listed Cocked Hat stakes behind, with the front three now rated 109r, 101r, and 103 respectively. His keenness is what has set him back since that debut, but has still ran with plenty credit. He was a 5L 5th off a slow gallop in the Hampton Court Stakes here last year, then beaten a length by Secret State who had previously won the King George V Handicap and finished the season rated 110 (10lbs higher than when beating Maksud). Maksud was well beaten in Iisted company at Windsor and off top weight in a first time hood in a handicap at Newmarket, but he may have not enjoyed the headgear there, and he’d had somewhat of a tough season. He was drawn wide at Chester on reappearance and held up in the rear, a killer of a combination for any hope of winning, and I’m happy to write that off. If there is any solace, he actually settled quite well that day, but the very soft going certainly didn’t suit. That said, he does has form on good-to-soft, which will bode well for Saturday if the ground doesn’t dry out too much. He’s back down to a mark of 99, which he was when 2nd to Secret State last year and if he reverts back to near that form, he’s entitled to outrun his lofty odds.
5:00pm Sandringham Stakes (Class 2)
EMBRACE (0.75pt E/W – 33/1 William Hill, 28/1 generally *SkyBet paying 8 places*)
The Sandringham is often a trappy affair and this year is no different. Plenty of these have recently met, whether that be in the 1000 Guineas or various trials – and it’s tricky to gage how many of those runners had ran on merit, thus whether their handicap mark is lenient. Several could fall into that category, and I believe Owen Burrows’ EMBRACE Is one of them. She was an eyecatcher on debut when given a hands and heels introduction to racing, finishing well from last to 6th/11th. She clearly learnt from that experience when a very easy winner at Wolverhampton next time out – drawn 2nd widest, she was kept to the outer the whole way, covering more ground than most, but within a few urgings she quickest came over the top of the field and won going away under hands and heels, eased down. The 2nd has followed up twice since, and the 6th is now rated 95, so there is some substance. She returned this season with another eye-catching run in the Fred Darling at Newbury when 4th. She was drawn in 13 and held up, the first three home were drawn 5/7/10 and all raced prominent, so she arguably performed the best she possibly could in that scenario. Jim Crowley wasn’t overly hard on her there, and she was entitled to come on for the run as she did last season. While she was sent off 66/1 and beaten sixteen lengths in the 1000 Guineas, there was still positives to take from it. She was ridden to get the mile trip, and stayed on well after becoming in danger of tailing off. I highly doubt connections had any belief she could’ve won that day, and I think it’s fair to say that Taihyra and Mawj were in a class of their own. As a result, she’s been given a mark of 95 which may yet underestimate her. The Sandringham can often be run at a good clip with so many being keen and over-racing fillies, which will suit Embrace, as will the booking of Daniel Muscutt who rides well from the rear in my opinion.
5:35pm King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2)
RELENTLESS VOYAGER (0.5pt E/W – 25/1 generally)
I don’t doubt that King Of Steel is a good horse, but he looks well worth taking on at 7/4. Personally, I thought he was flattered in the Derby, as well as given an excellent ride by Kevin Stott. He slipped the field, and there was some hard luck stories in behind. Several didn’t stay the trip, others were keen, some were caught far too back. RELENTLESS VOYAGER showed good form as a 2yo, finishing behind Dubai Mile (who had the benefit of a run) on debut before being beaten ¾ L by Bold Act who’s now rated 107 for Godolphin. He shaped as if he’ll make a better 3yo and hasn’t disputed such claims as he was a facile seven lengths winner at Kempton in March, before finishing 4th in the Newmarket Stakes behind Castle Way and Circle Of Fire. I thought he was the one to take out of the race that day, Oisin Murphy probably didn’t need to switch him to the outside and that likely scuppered his chances for 3rd, maybe even 2nd. He kept on well enough while shaping as if further would suit, and he confirmed that suspicion when a one length 3rd in the Italian Derby last time out. It’s hard to weigh up that form in the context of this race, but heavy ground mightn’t have suited there, and the 4th had previously won the Italian 2000 Guineas with Frankie aboard. Balding noted that he’s a horse they could ‘have a lot of fun with’ this summer and he appears to be well thought of by the yard. I think the track at Ascot is likely to suit him, and I’m hopeful he can outrun his odds with Oisin Murphy already booked.
New & Exclusive: Matthew Sutcliffe’s Value Pointers and Punts – Royal Ascot Day Three
That special time of year has finally come around once again. The tweed jackets are firmly a distant memory and the top hats are back, it’s of course, Royal Ascot. Five days of the most exhilarating bundle of world class flat racing in the calendar year where dreams are simultaneously fulfilled and destroyed within minutes….
Sat 17 Jun 2023Royal Ascot Antepost pointers already advised
Wonder Legend – King George V Stakes
Royal Scotsman – 4/1 St James’ Palace
Midnight Affair – 10/1 Queen Mary
Natural Force – 12/1 Windsor Castle
Ferrari Queen – 40/1 EW Ribblesdale
Point Lonsdale – 10/1 Hardwicke
Highfield Princess – 5/1 Kings Stand
Love Wars – 25/1 Queen Mary EW
Yibir – 20/1 Gold Cup EW
Mostabshir – 12/1 St James’ Palace
Mitbaahy – King’s Stand 66/1 EW
Shining Blue – 16/1 Royal Hunt Cup
Run To Freedom – 33/1 QEII NAP
Haatem 33/1 EW Coventry
Mr Wagyu 16/1 Wokingham
Looking For More Racing Info? Check Out Our Racecards & Top Tips Sections
Make sure you’re following us on all our social media platforms to keep up to date with all the latest horse racing news and the best tips.