Katie Midwinter (17/06/24)
2:30pm – Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1)
In an open race, in which the quicker ground may cause problems for some of the main contenders, it may be worth taking a chance on a bigger priced each-way play, and both Royal Scotsman and Hi Royal represent value at current odds.
A change of tactics worked perfectly for Royal Scotsman who was a runaway winner of the Diomed Stakes when last seen, putting his injury woes behind him and improving massively from his Newbury reappearance. Once rated 118, the colt possesses plenty of ability and it would be no surprise to see him back up his Epsom victory with another bold showing.
The outsider of the field, Hi Royal, has plenty to prove on form, but chased home Chaldean in last year’s 2000 Guineas, beating Royal Scotsman, and finished third to Paddington in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh.
His form tailed off towards the end of his three-year-old campaign, and his most recent run in the Lockinge Stakes left a lot to be desired, but that was also the case for many of his reopposing rivals, including Big Rock, and he did show promise on his reappearance in the Earl Of Sefton. With Ryan Moore aboard, the 66/1 is too big to ignore for a horse that has the ability on his day, with first-time blinkers tried.
Selection(s): Royal Scotsman 20/1 & Hi Royal 66/1 (both each-way)
3:05pm – Coventry Stakes (Group 2)
Leading trainer Aidan O’Brien saddles a single representative in this year’s field, Camille Pissarro. The 1,250,000gns yearling purchase by Wootton Bassett is bred for success, and is a half-brother to Commonwealth Cup winner Golden Horde. He justified strong market support to win comfortably at Navan on debut, before finishing second to Arizona Blaze in the Group Three Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh.
Camille Pissarro will have learnt plenty for the experience, and has shown plenty of natural speed. There should be plenty more to come from this classy colt, who represents a yard that is not to be ignored in this contest.
Selection: Camille Pissarro 6/1
3:45pm – King Charles III Stakes (Group 1)
There is a case to be made for plenty of the contenders in this seventeen-runner field, with the likes of Regional, Big Evs, and Kerdos, demanding respects, as well as Australian-raider Asfoora, who should improve plenty for her first British appearance at Haydock. However, there appears to be plenty of value at bigger prices, with some horses appearing dangerously overlooked in the market.
Diligent Harry finished third in a Meydan Group One on his penultimate start, before placing in the Duke Of York Stakes. He is a speedy type, and has previously won twice in four starts over the shorter trip of 5f. The drop from 6f here could well suit, and he remains largely unexposed over the minimum distance at this level.
Whilst he was disappointing in a Sandown Group Three over the trip last summer, he dictated the pace from the front and couldn’t maintain his effort as the race developed. He may be worth sticking with at a big price, and he is certainly capable of outrunning his odds if everything goes right for him during the race.
Eight-year-old Emaraaty Ana, a winner over course-and-distance, is the forgotten horse in the field, given he has shown top-class form in the past. Whilst he’s likely past his peak now, he still retains ability, as shown when finishing fifth in a Meydan Group Two on his first start for new trainer Jamie Osborne, plus winning a 6f contest at Doha.
In 2022, he finished half-a-length second to Caravel in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, beating the likes of Creative Force and Highfield Princess, who were both incredibly talented sprinters. The 5f trip suits well, as does the quicker surface, and he is too good to ignore at 66/1, although it does require a leap of faith.
Selection(s): Diligent Harry 25/1 & Emaraaty Ana 66/1 (both each-way)
4:25pm – St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1)
An exciting renewal of the St James’s Palace Stakes sees eight runners head to post, with unbeaten Dubawi colt, and 2000 Guineas winner, Notable Speech, as the warm favourite. He was able to go clear of the field in the Classic at Newmarket, running competitively on Turf for the first time, with Rosallion giving chase in second, unsuited by the slight ease in the ground. This quicker surface will suit Irish 2000 Guineas winner Rosallion, but he has 4lbs to find on official ratings if he is to match the level shown by the favourite.
Henry Longfellow must put a disappointing effort in the French Classic behind him, but is another for whom the ground should be in favour. Also by Dubawi, the well-bred colt is out of top-class mare Minding, and is certainly bred for success.
He remains unexposed in this sphere, despite winning a four-runner Curragh Group One in his final start as a juvenile. The ground is likely the biggest factor for his Longchamp eighth, therefore he’s worth forgiving and should put in a much better showing on this occasion.
The supplemented Metropolitan is three from four in his career so far, most recently a narrow winner of the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, when four-lengths ahead of favourite, Henry Longfellow. Untried on a sound surface, he must cope with the conditions on track, but the best may be yet to come from this son of Zarak.
Fellow French-raider Darlinghurst is bidding for a fifth successive victory, dropping back down in trip following a Group Three success in the Prix de Guiche. This is a big step up in grade, and he has plenty to find on ratings, but he has experience on varied ground conditions and is an intriguing inclusion in the race.
Ballydoyle’s apparent second string, Unquestionable, is a big price at 33/1 considering the level of form he had shown as a juvenile, including when winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
More exposed than most, he has plenty of experience in his favour and, although he may not be capable of showing much more improvement, he has only a length to find with Rosallion on the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere form, and could come on plenty for his reappearance at the Curragh.
Verdict:
Richard Hannon may have the best horse in the race in the form of ROSALLION, but he must prove himself by reversing form with the unbeaten Notable Speech, who is the one to beat. The ground will certainly help Rosallion’s cause however, with the slight dig in the ground inconveniencing him at Newmarket.
Henry Longfellow is likely to pose a threat, whilst his stablemate, Unquestionable, is unquestionably too big at current odds, and is likely to take advantage if any of the main protagonists underperform.
Selection: Rosallion 7/2
Wildcard: Unquestionable 33/1 (each-way)
5:05pm – Ascot Stakes (Heritage Handicap)
There have been two winning favourites of the Ascot Stakes in the past ten renewals, both trained by Willie Mullins, and both ridden by Ryan Moore, which bodes well for supporters of the current market leader, My Lyka.
The five-year-old is a recent recruit for the Closutton maestro, and finished second on yard debut at Killarney. Now sporting a first-time tongue tie, the unexposed gelding could improve plenty on his second start for his new connections, in the familiar colours of Absurde.
Top-weight Pied Piper will enjoy the quicker conditions at the track, and a mark of 100 is workable considering he was only narrowly beaten when rated 4lbs lower in the Cesarewitch, when things didn’t go his way. He has plenty of experience in his favour too, and should be competitive.
Pledgeofallegiance has been rapidly improving and showed great tenacity to win at Goodwood when last seen. He remains unexposed as a stayer, attempting this marathon trip for the first time, but can make his presence felt on a mark of 88, with the ceiling of his ability unlikely to have been reached yet.
Selection(s): Pied Piper 13/2 & Pledgeofallegiance 12/1 (each-way)
5:40pm – Wolferton Stakes (Listed Race)
There are plenty of interesting contenders in this field including some improving types, but the experienced Ancient Rome, despite carrying a 5lb penalty, is the standout contender. The son of War Front has returned to form since arriving at Charlie Hills’ yard, making the switch from Andre Fabre in France. He landed a valuable handicap at Goodwood on his first start for new connections, before landing a $1million pot in the Mint Millions Stakes at Kentucky Downs.
Ground versatile, he has the ability to successfully shoulder the penalty, given the high level of form he has shown in the past. He goes well when fresh too, and looks great each-way value at 16/1.
Selection: Ancient Rome 16/1 (each-way)
6:15pm – Copper Horse Handicap (Class 2)
Another recent recruit for Willie Mullins on the opening card at Royal Ascot, Belloccio had shown plenty of ability on the Flat for David Menuisier before convincingly landing his maiden hurdle at Punchestown last month. He has plenty of class and stamina, and has been competitive at a higher level in the past, including when landing a Listed prize at Kempton.
The ground may be of slight concern, given he is unraced on ground with firm in the description and was withdrawn on account of it in the past, he holds leading claims if it isn’t too much of an inconvenience.
Selection: Belloccio 4/1
All runners/prices are correct at the time of publication.
Photo by Julie Bishop on Unsplash.
THE CONDITIONAL 