Katie Midwinter (23/06/23)
ROYAL ASCOT
2:30pm – Chesham Stakes (Listed Race)
Pearls And Rubies 9/4 – A P O’Brien, Ryan Moore
The No Nay Never filly made a winning start to her career with a debut success at Navan earlier this month. She showed greenness, breaking slowly from the stalls and taking her time to get going in the straight, but quickened effectively and ran on well to finish first past the post. A step up in trip will suit, and she represents the powerful Ballydoyle yard.
3:05pm – Jersey Stakes (Group 3)
The Antarctic 6/1 – A P O’Brien, Ryan Moore
A full-brother to legendary sprinter and three-time Group One winner Battaash, this three-year-old colt has shown plenty of speed in his career to date, winning two Group Three races. He is Group One placed, finding only his former stablemate Blackbeard too good in the Middle Park Stakes last September.
A step up to 7f shouldn’t be too much of a problem, but he is unproven over the trip which does reflect in his price. His sire excelled over shorter distances, and his dam was untried over further than 6f, but his damsire was a Group One winner over a mile-and-a-quarter and there is proven form over 7f in the family.
3:40pm – Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (Group 1)
Australian-raider Artorius sets the standard following a third-placed finish in the race last year, behind the Godolphin pair Naval Crown and Creative Force. He has won a Group One in Randwick since, but could only manage fourth when up in trip on his most recent appearance.
Another Australian-bred horse in the line-up is Richard Gibson-trained Wellington, who has been enjoying plenty of success in Sha Tin. All of his racing to date has taken place at the Hong Kong track, and it will be interesting to see how he fares out of his comfort zone. If the six-year-old gelding claimed the prize at Royal Ascot, his total career earnings would surpass £6m.
Highfield Princess was perhaps unlucky to lose out on the King’s Stand Stakes on the opening day of the Royal Meeting, intimated in the final stages by eventual winner Bradsell, but the placings remained unaltered. This is a quick turnaround for the six-year-old classy mare, but she is in good form and could benefit from the extra furlong.
Sixth in the contest last year, but only three-quarters-of-a-length behind Artorius, she has an excellent chance of making the frame.
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint runner-up Emaraaty Ana makes his first appearance following wind surgery. The five-time winner is likely past his best, but he can still show a good level of form on a going day, and may be worth considering at a huge price.
Win selection:
Highfield Princess 11/2 – John Quinn, Jason Hart
Each-way selection:
Emaraaty Ana 40/1 – Kevin Ryan, Neil Callan
4:20pm – Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2)
Hat-trick seeking Hukum heads the market in this Group Two contest over a mile-and-a-half. The course-and-distance winner won the Brigadier Gerard Stakes when last seen, beating last year’s Derby winner Desert Crown. It was his first run of the season, after almost a year off track.
A Group One winner at Epsom last season, he beat Pyledriver by four-and-a-quarter-lengths to land the Coronation Stakes and, with the Owen Burrows yard performing at a 43% strike rate in recent weeks, the son of Sea The Stars will be difficult to beat.
Five-year-old mare Free Wind has six wins from eight starts so far in her career. She has been progressing well and has shown versatility. winning over an extended mile-and-three-quarters as well as over 1m2½f when last seen.
The daughter of Galileo has 7lbs to find on ratings, receiving the fillies’ allowance, and has the ability to pose a threat to the favourite.
Pyledriver has to show improvement to reverse form with Hukum, but hasn’t been seen since last July and could need the run.
Win selection:
Hukum 9/4 – Owen Burrows, Jim Crowley
5:00pm – Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap)
Mr Wagyu 18/1 (EW) – John Quinn, Jason Hart
A regular selection on The Conditional is this eight-year-old gelding. He remains on a mark of 96, 5lbs lower than when fourth in the contest last year. Always one to consider at this level, he was disappointing at Haydock when last seen but has previously run well in third at Epsom. If on a going day, he is likely to be in the mix.
5:35pm – Golden Gates Stakes (Class 2 Handicap)
Liberty Lane 22/1 (EW) – K R Burke, Clifford Lee
The Teofilo colt started his career well with success on soft ground at Nottingham. He followed up with a second-placed finish to subsequent Group Three winner Waipiro, before seventh of eleven in the Dante Stakes at York. There could be more to come from the Karl Burke-trained three-year-old, and these colours have already been successful at this week’s Royal Meeting. He has each-way claims at a big price.
6:10pm – Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions Race)
Run For Oscar 10/3 – C Byrnes, Jim Crowley
The Cesarewitch winner represents a shrewd trainer that is more than capable of preparing a horse for a prize such as this. The gelded eight-year-old has shown good form on the flat, coinciding with fair hurdle form, and receives 3lbs from Willie Mullins’ favourite, Stratum.
AYR
2:59pm – Class 2 Handicap
Dark Jedi 7/1 (EW) – Tim Easterby, Duran Fentiman
The course-and-distance winner tasted success in this contest twelve months ago when rated 3lbs lower. He has winning form on good ground and is an enticing each-way price.
3:34pm – Land O’Burns Fillies’ Stakes (Listed Race)
Treasure Trove 9/2 – P Twomey, W J Lee
This three-year-old daughter of Siyouni represents an in-form Paddy Twomey yard, currently performing at a 50% strike rate.
The softer going may have been to blame for a below par performance at Cork on reappearance, and it remains to be seen how much improvement she has made over the winter, following on from an impressive juvenile campaign in which she landed a Group Three victory at the Curragh, beating recent Commonwealth Cup fourth Ocean Quest.
The return to 5f on better ground will suit and she holds leading claims.
LIMERICK
5:55pm – Semblance Of Order 5/2
7:00pm – Mary Salome 10/3
All runners/prices correct at the time of writing.
Photo by Danny Gallegos on Unsplash
THE CONDITIONAL 