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 Two of Royal Ascot.
Published: 9.35pm June 17th (Odds correct at time of publication)
Updated: 2.05pm June 21st (Circle Of Fire selection added)
DAY TWO
2:30pm Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2)
MIDNIGHT AFFAIR (1pt win – 10/1 generally) + OUT OF THE STARS (0.5pt E/W 3 places – 25/1 generally)
My first ante-post defeat has taken place here as Love Wars was missing from the early confirmed entries by the John Quinn team. Nevertheless, MIDNIGHT AFFAIR was also advised in a previous column and stands her ground. She was a bet at 10/1 afterwards when perhaps an unlucky 2nd to George Boughey’s Soprano at Newmarket last month, and she solidified her claims when winning the Hilary Needler at Beverley a shade cosily. She shaped as if she didn’t enjoy the course too much, but still picked up when under an educational ride from Danny Tudhope and hopefully she can back that up for last year’s winning connections, with the stiffer track to suit. Despite having backed her already, I think she’s still worth playing again at 8/1 for those not already on.
I’ll also be taking a chance on OUT OF THE STARS for Archie Watson who has quickly snapped up the services of Oisin Murphy who retains his ride on the Zoustar filly. The fact that she was sent off the 8/11f favourite suggests she was showing up smartly at home, but it wasn’t plain sailing on debut. She did extremely well to overcome a tardy start at Kempton on debut and clearly learnt on the job, as despite coming wide around the turn, she picked up nicely and flew home well to win, faring much better than the bare margin suggests. That form does tie in with Midnight Affair, as back in third was Tokyo Drift who finished in front of Tallulabelle (subject to steward’s) at Ripon, who was only beaten 1 1/2L by Midnight Affair in the Hilary Needler. She’s certainly bred to be sharp, by Zoustar out of a Showcasing mare who was 3rd in the 2017 Queen Mary for Qatar Racing, so she’s no doubt been bred/trained for this race in mind. Interestingly, her dam’s half-sister Little Kim (2yo winner) was only beaten 2L in the 2018 Queen Mary. I have no doubt she’ll cope well with the transition to turf judging by her pedigree and she a lovely low moving filly who falls into the ‘could be anything’ category.
3:05pm Kensington Palace Fillies’ Handicap (Class 2)
YERWANTHERE (1pt win – 8/1 generally)
A competitive fillies handicap that has only been around for two running’s, so there’s not much in term of statistics to go on. But the jockey booking of James Macdonald is intriguing on Joseph O’Brien’s YERWANTHERE. The Aussie based jock rode two impressive winners at last year’s meeting and is booked for his first ride for the yard. Yerwanthere won impressively on debut for Patrick Foley at Leopardstown last June, a race that was coincidentally one by Neptune Rock for Joseph O’Brien, who was a 5L 10th in the Kensington palace last year. In at O’Brien and Eclipse Thoroughbreds had the 2nd that day and they must’ve been impressed with Yerwanthere, as they bought her later that year. She made the perfect start for them on handicap debut off 89 – despite having had just the one run, she travelled smartly held up in the rear and cut through the pack, knuckling through the gap when things got tight. For such an unexperienced and young filly, to do that against some seasoned handicappers was impressive. It was no surprise to see her upped to listed company next time out and while she was beaten four lengths, she got absolutely no luck in running and Declan McDonagh was simply a passenger. While we don’t know how well she would;ve done with a clear run, we at least know that she was classy enough to finish close enough to the leaders effectively cantering the whole way around. O’Brien won that race in 2021 and had the 2nd in 2022, with both going on to Royal Ascot (albeit King’s Field was well beaten in the Royal Hunt Cup). Off. She recorded an RPR of 98 there and I believe she will rate a classy filly in time. If they persevere with the hold up tactics then the big field scenario at Ascot should suit.
4:20pm Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1)
MY PROSPERO (1pt win – 7/2 generally)
The makeup of the Prince Of Wales Stakes took an unfortunate knock to it when Arc winner Desert Crown suffered a small setback recently ruling him out of the contest, but even without him, it is littered with quality. Three time Group One winner Luxembourg currently tops the market at 2/1, closely followed by the 2021 Arc winner Adayar, who won the King George VI Stakes here after. I’ll be taking the pair on William Haggas’ MY PROSPERO is around 7/2 and strikes me as a dark horse who could serve it up to the protagonists. He was a 1/2l 3rd here in the Champion Stakes behind Bay Bridge and Adayar with Baaeed in behind, and made an excellent return to action in the Group 1 Lockinge, staying on toward the end over a certainly minimal trip for him. He was receiving 4lbs from the pair that day so has something to find, but he was never the complete article as a 3yo and I think he’ll be a marked improver now, as his half-brother (half-sister My Astra also a 4yo winner) My Oberon was who won at 4/5, as well as finishing 2nd in the G1 Star Mile over in Australia as a 6yo in April. Interestingly, he is rated the same as Adayar (121) and only 2lbs lower than Luxembourg, though their top RPR’S are both the same. My Prospero is unexposed at the 1m2f trip (1 win, 1 place from 2) and he’s only been beaten a neck and half a length at Ascot. It speaks volumes that Tom Marquand put him down as his most exciting horse to ride this year, and If he’s come on for that run in the Lockinge, then it’s hard to see him not being there at the business end with William Haggas coming in to good form.
5:00pm Royal Hunt Cup (Class 2)
INTELLOGENT (1pt E/W – 14/1 generally)
Perhaps not the most unobvious selection in this field, but I fancy INTELLOGENT to go one better here than last year’s 2nd to Dark Shift, who had the perfect middle draw that day. Although winless for Jane Chapple-Hyam, Intellogent has long threatened to win and is now a pound lower than last years 1/2L defeat. He was a 5L 4th in the G3 Earl Of Sefton Stakes in season debut, but only finished 3L behind Raadobarg who was subsequently beaten 3/4L by subsequent Lockinge 2nd Chindit. Intellogent was then dropped back into handicap company off joint-top weight and was given an eye-catching ride by Hollie Doyle, although if I were being cynical, I’d suggest she did everything she could to try and get him into trouble. He still ran on well under hands and heels, shaping like there was certainly another day in mind. That was his 2nd start of the season, and he only had two last year before Ascot. Although he seemingly needs things to fall in place for him, I’m adamant he’s more than just a premier handicapper and can rate higher yet – he was only beaten 3/4L by Anmaat at York last season giving him 2lbs who’s now rated 15lbs higher after winning the G1 Prix d’Ispahan last time out.
5:35pm Queen’s Vase (Group 2)
CIRCLE OF FIRE (1pt win – 15/2 generally)
I had commented on Twitter that CIRCLE OF FIRE had the Queen’s Vase written all over him after his staying on 3rd in the Derby Trial at Lingfield. It was a tad concerning that connections had initially touted the King Edward as his next target, but at least common sense has prevailed. He initially caught my eye when splitting a pair of Godolphin runners at Newmarket in a listed contest. He was keen enough that day and shaped like he’d improve for the run, and it was probably too quick a turnaround when 3rd in the Derby Trial at Lingfield. He botched the start there and was always on the back foot, but he was eye-catching under tender handling and stayed on nicely enough to finish behind Waipiro and Military Order, the former finishing 6th in the Derby. The fact they entered him at Lingfield suggested he was a Derby hope within the yard, but I think this trip will bring out the best of him. Sir Michael Stoute has won this race four times including with Estimate in the Royal colours in 2021, who coincidently had his first two career starts at Leicester and Salisbury, Circle Of Fire likewise. The track is likely to suit him and being by Almanzor, the softer ground he’ll encounter today shouldn’t pose an issue.
New & Exclusive: Matthew Sutcliffe’s Value Pointers and Punts – Royal Ascot Day One
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….
Wed 14 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
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