That’s Royal Ascot wrapped up for another year. Hope you managed to end up in front and enjoyed the week. Ryan Moore; Gleneagles; Frankie Dettori; Time Test ... there were plenty of highlights. See you in 2016.
Queen Alexandra (5.35) result
1 Oriental Fox (J Fanning) 4-1
2 Taws (Andrea Atzeni) 25-1
3 Teak (S De Sousa) 10-1
10 ran
Also: 5-4 Fav Wicklow Brave 4th
Non Runners: 1,10,12,13
Tote: win £5.90 places £1.60 £5.10 £2.90
Tote Exacta: £121.40
CSF: £104.18
Tricast: £956.72
Queen Alexandra Stakes (5.35) betting
- 10-11 Wicklow Brave
- 9-2 Marzocco
- 13-2 Oriental Fox
- 11-1 Times Up
- 14-1 Teak
- 25-1 Mawaqeet
- 40-1 Taws
- 40-1 Longshadow
- 50-1 Pilgrims Rest
- 150-1 Ofcoursewecan
Queen Alexandra Stakes (5.35) preview
This staying race for runners of variable quality is rather a low key way to end matters. Wicklow Brave will surely be a strong favourite, coming from the Willie Mullins yard that has won this twice in three years and with Ryan Moore on board. The horse has long looked a classy beast and finally made good at the Cheltenham Festival in March, hacking up in the County Hurdle. Fast ground is likely to be fine for him and he should be hard to beat, though he made life hard for himself with a couple of slow starts in his hurdle races earlier this year. Marzocco was third in the Queen’s Vase last year and fifth in the Leger, so he has more ability than most that run here. Rawaki has some useful form around Listed level but this is a significant step up in distance. Oriental Fox was fifth in last year’s Gold Cup at 50-1 but has not been seen in public since running sixth in a valuable handicap later that month.
Verdict: Willie Mullins has won this twice in three years and there is really no getting away from his Wicklow Brave, a classy Cheltenham Festival winner who should be fine on fast ground and has Ryan Moore on board for the first time.
Updated
Wokingham Handicap (5.00) result
1 Interception (G Baker) 10-1
2 Robert Le Diable (D M Oliver) 12-1
3 Lancelot Du Lac (R Winston) 25-1
4 Related (D Sweeney) 50-1
25 ran
Also: 7-1 Fav Watchable
Non Runners: 11,21
Withdrawn: 25
No 25 Huntsmans Close (8-1) was withdrawn not under orders. Rule 4 applies to board prices prior to withdrawal. Deduct 10p in the £. New market formed.
Updated
Huntsmans Close a late withdrawal in the Wokingham
The Wokingham market looks like this after the withdrawal of Huntsmans Close... #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/ygLWGpJgGl
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) June 20, 2015
Wokingham Handicap (5.00) betting
- 15-2 Watchable
- 8-1 gamesome
- 9-1 Tatsilu
- 10-1 Intrinsic
- 12-1 bar
Wokingham Handicap (5.00) preview
A favourite betting race for many a punter, here is a big-field sprint handicap as the penultimate race at Royal Ascot. If the draw bias stays as it has been all week, you want to be on a horse drawn low, towards the stands’ rail, but biases on this straight course have sometimes had a ‘will o’ the wisp’ quality, evaporating moments after being spotted. Huntsmans Close has run well in similar races in the past and won the Ayr Silver Cup last autumn. Tatlisu (Moore) wears blinkers for the first time after running a fair fourth at York when Moore was aboard for the first time. Intrinsic won last year’s Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood and is only 5lb higher. Although his season tailed off after that, ‘sprint king’ Robert Cowell is likely to have him ready for this reappearance. From the low draws, Gamesome is a progressive and unexposed type, though he ran into trouble in his last race and you could worry about whether that will happen again.
Verdict: As already discussed, a low draw seems likely to be an advantage here and Gamesome is of most interest among those in the right half of the starting stalls. He caught the eye running on strongly after plenty of trouble in running at Newmarket last month and looks the sort of progressive type who could be a force in a fast-ground sprint handicap. Watchable, third in a slightly longer race here last year, could also run above his odds.
Diamond Jubilee Stakes (4.20) result
1 Undrafted (L Dettori) 14-1
2 Brazen Beau (Craig Williams) 7-2 Jt Fav
3 Astaire (J P Spencer) 25-1
15 ran
Also: 7-2 Jt Fav Mustajeeb, 14-1 Music Master 4th
Tote: win £17.40 places £3.80 £2.00 £7.30
Tote Exacta: £68.50
CSF: £60.10
Tricast: £1300.28
Dettori wins Diamond Jubilee Stakes
Undrafted, trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by Frankie Dettori, won the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, the feature race on the final day of Royal Ascot.
Ward is no stranger to success at the big meeting but all his previous winners had come in two-year-old races. The final 100 yards turned into Australia versus America as Brazen Beau, who had ploughed a lone furrow throughout from his draw in stall 15, looked to be taking the prize Down Under.
However, Dettori, who could not have been further away from the Australian in terms of track position, made his move right round the outside of the field and prevailed by half a length. Undrafted (14-1) was having his second run in England having finished fourth in the July Cup last summer.
Updated
More non-runners, relayed by our man at the track Greg Wood
Zarwan is NR in the Wokingham, so too Brave Richard in the Queen Alexandra Stakes. #RoyalAscot
— Greg Wood (@Greg_Wood_) June 20, 2015
Diamond Jubilee Stakes (4.20) betting
- Brazen Beau 7-2
- Mustajeeb 5-1
- Due Diligence 6-1
- Tropics 6-1
- Wandjina 12-1
- Music Master 14-1
- Undrafted 14-1
- Pearl Secret 20-1
- Moviesta 25-1
- Glass Office 25-1
- Gordon Lord Byron 25-1
- Caspar Netscher 33-1
- Astaire 33-1
- Lucky Krystale 40-1
- Ansgar 50-1
Updated
Diamond Jubilee Stakes (4.20) preview
The last Group One race of this Royal Ascot is a sprint over six furlongs, won by the great Australian raider Black Caviar three years ago. Brazen Beau is the Australian trying his luck this time and, while his form would not match hers, it is good enough to command respect. He has won Grade Ones in two of his last three starts and in between was beaten by a very talented rival when dropped back to five furlongs. Mustajeeb won the Jersey at Royal Ascot last year and now drops back in distance by a furlong. He is quite convincing as a fast horse and won over this distance of six furlongs last time but if the morning rain misses Ascot, he could be vulnerable to one or two quicker rivals. Pearl Secret has his second run of the week, having stuck on gamely to be a close fourth in a shorter race on Tuesday, when he was the first home from a high draw. Alas for him, he has another high draw, albeit one place better than Brazen Beau. Backers of both have to hope that stall position doesn’t count for as much here and perhaps the rain could change things. Due Diligence (Ryan Moore) was second in this last year and will be sharper for his reappearance run. Gordon Lord Byron is good enough but probably needs more rain than is in the forecast.
Verdict: It seems a pity to begin discussion of a Group One race by talking about a possible draw bias but, following yesterday’s Commonwealth Cup over the same strip of ground, it really does look as though horses racing towards the far side of the home straight have an advantage. Perhaps there is a horse in the field for today’s Diamond Jubilee who is so superior to the rest that he can overcome whatever bias there happens to be, but that, for me, is not the way to bet. Some of the most interesting horses are drawn high and will therefore at least start the race towards the stands’ side, notably the Australian runner Brazen Beau in stall 15 of 15. Pearl Secret and Due Diligence are others in high stalls but Mustajeeb has got lucky in stall four and appeals most at odds of 5-1. The winner of the slightly longer Jersey Stakes at last year’s Royal Ascot, he has twice run well in Group Ones at a mile. But sprinting could be his game, judging by the way he won over six furlongs last time, beating an Abbaye winner.
Hardwicke Stakes (3.40) result
1 Snow Sky (P J Smullen) 12-1
2 Eagle Top (L Dettori) 2-1
3 Postponed (A Kirby) 7-2
7 ran
Also: 6-4 Fav Telescope, 33-1 Sheikhzayedroad 4th
Tote: win 11.40 places 3.50 1.90
Tote Exacta: 44.50
CSF: 36.89
Hardwicke Stakes (3.40) betting
- Telescope 13-8
- Eagle Top 11-4
- Postponed 3-1
- Snow Sky 12-1
- Hillstar 20-1
- Sheikhzayeroad 33-1
- Red Cadeaux 50-1
Hardwicke Stakes (3.40) preview
Sir Michael Stoute must love this race, having won it a record eight times, starting in 1986 and including five times in the last nine runnings. On two of those occasions, the Hardwicke saved Stoute from enduring a blank Royal Ascot and it may well perform that function again, as he has three of the seven runners, including the expected favourite, Telescope. Now five, this horse won last year’s Hardwicke by seven lengths over Hillstar, who runs again, and a similar performance is expected, based on his recent form. But if the track takes plenty of rain, that could be a concern, as he has been below his best on a soggy surface. Postponed is a serious contender, having come within half a length of Group One success last time, over a mile and a quarter. This mile and a half is probably more to his liking and he represents the Luca Cumani stable that scored a surprise victory over Telescope on that horse’s seasonal reappearance. Snow Sky, a Stoute runner, beat Brown Panther in the Yorkshire Cup last time. His lack of pace might make him vulnerable here. Eagle Top looks a serious horse in the making and can surely do better than his fourth at Sandown last time, his first run for 10 months. He has two lengths to make up on Telescope from last summer’s King George, in which they were second and fourth.
Verdict: It has been a poor week for Sir Michael Stoute but if any race can rescue him it is this one, which he has won five times in the past decade and in which he fields three of the seven runners. It is possible that one or two others may have potential for progress but his Telescope is the standout quality here and can repeat last year’s success.
Updated
Wolferton Handicap (3.05) result
1 Mahsoob (P Hanagan) 7-4 Fav
2 Sennockian Star (F Norton) 12-1
3 Fire Fighting (P Mulrennan) 16-1
13 ran
Also: 11-1 Mount Logan 4th
Non Runners: 7,14
Withdrawn: 6
CSF: 25.87
Tricast: 280.91
No 6 Ocean Tempest was withdrawn not under orders. Rule 4 does not
apply.
Updated
Wolferton Handicap (3.05) betting
- Mahsoob 15-8
- First Flight 8-1
- Provenance 10-1
- Collaboration 11-1
- Mount Logan 12-1
- Sennockian Star 14-1
- Educate 16-1
- Fire Fighting 16-1
- Super Moon 33-1
- Groundbreaking 33-1
- Dont Stare 40-1
- Fattsoa 50-1
Updated
Ocean Tempest is out of the Wolferton Handicap.
Ocean Tempest out of the Wolferton. I would guess due to the ground. #RoyalAscot
— Rory Jiwani (@roryjiwani) June 20, 2015
Updated
Wolferton Handicap (3.05) preview
This ought to be one of the more solvable handicaps of the week, though there have certainly been some head-scratching results in the past. Mahsoob looks the standout on form, having won all three of his races in the style of a horse who will be competing in Group races before long and doing well in them, too. But 16-runner races on this round course do not always allow a smooth passage for every horse and it is not impossible that Paul Hanagan could run into trouble with the hold-up tactics employed on this horse in his last two starts. Collaboration has won his last three and seems versatile as to ground. First Flight was beaten less than a length by Mahsoob last time. Ayrad appears progressive and unexposed, while Sennockian Star is a game horse on fast ground and has won twice in his last three starts.
Verdict: Mahsoob is an entirely convincing favourite who is probably passing through handicaps on his way to Group races but a best price of 2-1 is ridiculous for a competitive event at the Royal meeting. Ayrad made each-way appeal but was withdrawn earlier today and the suggestion is to look for value away from the favourite.
Chesham Stakes (2.30) result
1 Suits You (C Demuro) 14-1
2 Ballydoyle (R L Moore) 7-4 Fav
3 Sixth Sense (James McDonald) 12-1
12 ran
Also: 33-1 Palawan 4th
Tote: win 16.80 places 4.40 1.30 3.00
Tote Exacta: 59.60
CSF: 37.87
Tricast: 323.13
Updated
The Queen's Hat: amended result
William Hill state: “The official description of the Queen’s Hat at Royal Ascot has left punters baffled, with the palace announcing the colour as ‘Orange’. However, William Hill are paying out on both ‘Peach’ and ‘Orange’ because the description didn’t seem to match the actual colour. The whole crowd at Ascot thought the hat looked peach, so for the palace to describe it as Orange is quite baffling for punters,” said William Hill spokesman Jon Ivan-Duke. “The only fair decision is to pay out on both, which means we’ve lost on the Queen’s Hat betting for every single day at Royal Ascot. The double result means that it is a clean-sweep for punters, as William Hill lost on the Queen’s Hat betting for ALL five days of Royal Ascot.”
Updated
Chesham Stakes (2.30) betting
- Ballydoyle 7-4
- Tonkinese 4-1
- Force 8-1
- Red Artist 11-1
- Sixth Sense 12-1
- Love The Kitten 14-1
- Dessertoflife 16-1
- Suits You 18-1
- Cymric 18-1
- Palawan 25-1
- Sixties Sue 66-1
- Lady Nayef 100-1
Chesham Stakes (2.30) preview
There are four last-time-out winners in this field but the favourite is a horse who could manage only fourth on her sole run to date. Ballydoyle is the beast in question and she is well connected, being trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore. Everyone imagines it is of great significance that she has been named after O’Brien’s stable and she certainly looks a fair prospect, being a sister to a horse who twice won Group Ones as as two-year-old. She’ll be a lot straighter here than for her debut last month but will need to be. Tonkinese won easily last time and the form of his debut third is working out well, though his breeding raises a question over how well he will cope if there is no rain to ease the ground. Dessertforlife was a most taking winner on soft at Doncaster last weekend, while Red Artist scored in more workmanlike fashion at Newcastle the weekend before.
Verdict: Ballydoyle ran a fairly promising debut and the fact that she has been named after the owners’ stable suggests she is highly rated but the available odds are too short. The more experienced Tonkinese won easily at Leopardstown last time and the form of his debut third has worked out well. He wouldn’t want very fast ground but rain is forecast.
The Queen’s hat ... it’s officially orange. This was William Hill’s betting on “the event”:
7-2 White, 5-1 Pink, 6-1 Green, Grey/Silver, 7-1 Blue, Cream, 12-1 Brown, Yellow, 14-1 Purple, 16-1 Peach, Turquoise, 20-1 Orange, 25-1 Red, 50-1 Black.
William Hill win!
Updated
Memory Lane: Royal Ascot down the years – in pictures
Superb selection from colleague Steve Bloor, which includes Brown Jack, Lester Piggott and a man in hot pants ...
The Royal procession is on its way ...
It’s almost that time ... for the royal procession to wend its way down the centre of the track. I attended a Serpentine gallery exhibition by artist Mark Wallinger back in 1994 when one of his installations was a series of video monitors on top of wheeled flight cases, each isolating the royal carriage’s leisurely progress down the track on the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (respectively, as it was then) of Royal Ascot.
The British Council described the work thus: ‘Simultaneous footage exposes precise choreography: the Queen’s frozen smile and rigid curls, the tilt of her head, her gloved wave, the Duke of Edinburgh raising his top hat, the national anthem striking up. Appropriately for an event whose media coverage focuses on the parade of hats and dresses rather than the sport, here we have a close-up on clothes, on the Queen’s dolly mixture of pinks, tangerines, limes; the difference from day to day is barely discernible, just as the four BBC commentaries merge in a confused blather.’
Non-runner update
3.05pm Wolferton Handicap
Ayrad (going), Dick Doughtywylie (bruised foot)
Betting moves
2.30pm Chesham Stakes
Ballydoyle 6-4 from 2-1 Betfair, 13-8 from 7-4 Betfred, 7-4 from 2-1 William Hill
Sixth Sense 16-1 from 25-1 William Hill
3.05pm Wolferton Handicap
Mahsoob 15-8 from 9-4 Betfair, 7-4 from 2-1 Betfred and William Hill
Sennockian Star 14-1 from 16-1 Betfred and William Hill
3.40pm Harwicke Stakes
Eagle Top 11-4 from 7-2 Betfred and William Hill
Postponed 3-1 from 7-2 Betfair and Betfred
Telescope 5-4 from 7-4 Betfred, 13-8 from 7-4 Ladbrokes
4.20pm Diamond Jubilee Stakes
Due Diligence 11-2 from 7-1 Betfair, 6-1 from 8-1 William Hill, 6-1 from 7-1 Betfred
Music Master 14-1 from 20-1 William Hill, 14-1 from 18-1 Betfred
5.00pm Wokingham Handicap
Gamesome 8-1 from 10-1 William Hill, 9-1 from 12-1 Betfred, 10-1 from 14-1 Ladbrokes
Huntsmans Close 10-1 from 14-1 Betfair
Polybius 20-1 from 28-1 Betfred
Tatlisu 10-1 from 14-1 Betfair
Watchable 12-1 from 14-1 William Hill
5.35pm Queen Alexandra Stakes
Brave Richard 16-1 from 18-1 Betfair
Oriental Fox 8-1 from 10-1 Betfair
Updated
There’s another “non”, as those in the trade refer to horses absenting themselves from the action on the track.
3.05pm Wolverton Handicap
7 Ayrad (Reason as yet unkown ...)
Updated
Mr John Hunt, better known as the BBC 5 Live racing commentator, is adamant you don’t need to change any betting plans based on the rain so far in Berkshire.
Really don't feel the "rain" we have had so far @RoyalAscot will make any difference at all. It was little more than a mist. Clearer now.
— John Hunt (@HuntyCaller) June 20, 2015
Updated
Royal Ascot returns us to a Hogarthian England in which loafers and princes were in the same stew ...
For those interested in reading a more nuanced analysis of this meeting, which our own Greg Wood described here as being “pickled in aspic”, I can recommend Ian Jack’s article in the Guardian from 2008
Updated
It was also reported overnight that Takeover Target, who won the King’s Stand Stakes in 2006 at Royal Ascot, died after suffering a broken leg in a paddock accident.
No doubt the huge news story over night the loss of the amazing Takeover Target. Fairytale. Enjoy. https://t.co/ww9qpE8aaX … #rip
— Matt Chapman (@MCYeeehaaa) June 20, 2015
The royal procession will be making its way down the track around 2pm as usual and news is beginning to emerge of who will be in the carriages (Guardian readers, this matters). Pleased to see Mr Timothy Taylor drawn in Carriage Two. Very much enjoy a pint of Timothy Taylor.
ROYAL PROCESSION Carriage 4 Commander Andrew Canale Mrs Andrew Canale Captain Guy Disney Dr Kitty Acheson #RoyalAscot
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 20, 2015
ROYAL PROCESSION Carriage 3 Mr Sam Waley-Cohen Mrs Sam Waley-Cohen Mr Richard Hannon Mrs Richard Hannon #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/aAt5XCNuEF
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 20, 2015
ROYAL PROCESSION Carriage 2 Mr Timothy Taylor The Lady Helen Taylor Mr Peter Deal Mrs Peter Deal #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/dUV1I8Y811
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 20, 2015
ROYAL PROCESSION Carriage 1 The Queen The Duke of Edinburgh Mr John Warren Mr Andrew Feilden #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/bTdR5ix1s8
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 20, 2015
Mr & Mrs Richard Hannon & Mr & Mrs Sam Waley-Cohen in the royal procession today!!
— marcus townend (@captheath) June 20, 2015
One correspondent suggested the mass Qatari investment might trigger a royal carriage invite or two. Day 5 list is out and again, no Qataris
— Oliver Brett (@sport_oliver) June 20, 2015
Updated
Some sad news just emerging is that Stravagante, who went off favourite for the King Edward VII Stakes on Friday, has had to be put down after going lame and being pulled up by Frankie Dettori in the final furlong of the event. Stravagante’s trainer Sir Michael Stoute, who has a wretched week by his high standards, has hot favourite Telescope in the Hardwicke Stakes this afternoon.
...owners' spokesman Harry Herbert said: "The horse was very brave. It’s very sad, a shocker, one of those awful things...
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) June 20, 2015
Stravagante has unfortunately had to be put down after suffering an injury in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot on Friday...
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) June 20, 2015
Updated
The non-runners so far (via official Ascot news service with handy reasons for absence included)
5.00pm Wokingham Handicap
21 Dutch Masterpiece (Going)
5.35pm Queen Alexandra Stakes
10 Vif Argent (Self Certificate, Stiff)
It has just started raining at Royal Ascot ...
Let's see how much rain we get at #RoyaAscot. Going currently good to firm, firm in places... pic.twitter.com/XIWpzesGVq
— Geoffrey Riddle (@Louchepunter) June 20, 2015
Scene-setter from our man at the track
It has been Royal for more than a decade, but there is no denying that, in terms of the racing at least, the final afternoon of the Royal meeting remains the most low-key card of the week. Yet it is likely to attract a bigger crowd than any other day too, albeit one that is not worth as much to the racecourse “per head”, because many are families and friends on a day out rather than corporate jollies.
It might be unfair to call it only semi-Royal, but a third of the programme is taken up by the Wolferton Handicap and the bizarre spectacle that is the Queen Alexandra Stakes. It appears to be crying out for a Group One switched from the Tuesday card, which has three, but the Queen Anne is the traditional opener and the St James’s Palace Stakes is the traditional feature, and moving the King’s Stand Stakes would make it impossible for the Aussie sprinters to run in both that and today’s Diamond Jubilee. So the final day seems, like so much else about this meeting, to be pickled in aspic.
Still, there are six more chances for Ryan Moore to extend his modern-day record of nine winners at the current Royal meeting ever closer to Fred Archer’s all-time mark of 12. The Diamond Jubilee, meanwhile, has two live contenders from Down Under in Brazen Beau, possibly the best sprinter in Australia at present, and Wandjina, representing probably the country’s most famous trainer in Gai Waterhouse. Moore, meanwhile, rides Aidan O’Brien’s Due Diligence, who finished second in this race last year and then sidelined for the remainder of the season with an injury, but has looked like a Group One sprinter in waiting several times.
The weather is much gloomier today, with some rain expected at Ascot later for the first time this week, but the ground will still be very quick. The official going description is good-to-firm, firm in places, from good-to-firm overnight, and all the GoingStick readings are 0.4 or 0.5 of a point higher all over than at 8.15 yesterday morning. The stands side reading is 9.2 today, while it is 9.0 on the far side and 9.1 in the centre.
Congratulations Cerises ...
There is no tipping competition today...
... but you are welcome to share your tips with us through the comments section below!
Congratulations to cerises, who won Friday’s competition on a final score of +9, thanks to Muhaarar (10-1) and Ervedya (3-1). BearRides also scored +9 but posted his tips later than cerises and therefore, alas, lost out under our tie-breaking rules.
Friday’s top scores:
cerises +9 at 12.13pm
BearRides +9 at 1.33pm
yasmin11 +6
Harrytheactor +6
wemeanyounoharm +5
graftonway +5
melonk +5
Goldkid999 +3
JimmyDeuce +3
thereason1986 +3
GForce1 +2.50
brownalebelly +2.50
Cerises and other winners this week, we’ll be in touch by email to arrange your bets.
Top Jockeys after Day 4
Ryan Moore 9
William Buick 2
Frankie Dettori 2
Richard Hughes 2
Graham Lee 1
Maxime Guyon 1
Martin Harley 1
Jim Crowley 1
James Doyle 1
Pat Smullen 1
Jamie Spencer 1
Dane O’Neill 1
Christophe Soumillon 1
Top Trainers - after Day 4
Aidan O’Brien 5 wins
Richard Hannon 2
Charles Hills 2
Roger Charlton 1
David Wachman 1
Ed Dunlop 1
Charlie Appleby 1
Robert Cowell 1
Freddy Head 1
Mark Johnston 1
Willie Mullins 1
John Gosden 1
Wesley Ward 1
David O’Meara 1
Dermot Weld 1
David Simcock 1
Jean-Claude Rouget 1
Hughie Morrison 1
Updated
Race-by-race guide
2.30 Chesham Stakes
There are four last-time-out winners in this field but the favourite is a horse who could manage only fourth on her sole run to date. Ballydoyle is the beast in question and she is well connected, being trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore. Everyone imagines it is of great significance that she has been named after O’Brien’s stable and she certainly looks a fair prospect, being a sister to a horse who twice won Group Ones as as two-year-old. She’ll be a lot straighter here than for her debut last month but will need to be. Tonkinese won easily last time and the form of his debut third is working out well, though his breeding raises a question over how well he will cope if there is no rain to ease the ground. Dessertforlife was a most taking winner on soft at Doncaster last weekend, while Red Artist scored in more workmanlike fashion at Newcastle the weekend before.
3.05 Wolferton Handicap
This ought to be one of the more solvable handicaps of the week, though there have certainly been some head-scratching results in the past. Mahsoob looks the standout on form, having won all three of his races in the style of a horse who will be competing in Group races before long and doing well in them, too. But 16-runner races on this round course do not always allow a smooth passage for every horse and it is not impossible that Paul Hanagan could run into trouble with the hold-up tactics employed on this horse in his last two starts. Collaboration has won his last three and seems versatile as to ground. First Flight was beaten less than a length by Mahsoob last time. Ayrad appears progressive and unexposed, while Sennockian Star is a game horse on fast ground and has won twice in his last three starts.
3.40 Hardwicke Stakes
Sir Michael Stoute must love this race, having won it a record eight times, starting in 1986 and including five times in the last nine runnings. On two of those occasions, the Hardwicke saved Stoute from enduring a blank Royal Ascot and it may well perform that function again, as he has three of the seven runners, including the expected favourite, Telescope. Now five, this horse won last year’s Hardwicke by seven lengths over Hillstar, who runs again, and a similar performance is expected, based on his recent form. But if the track takes plenty of rain, that could be a concern, as he has been below his best on a soggy surface. Postponed is a serious contender, having come within half a length of Group One success last time, over a mile and a quarter. This mile and a half is probably more to his liking and he represents the Luca Cumani stable that scored a surprise victory over Telescope on that horse’s seasonal reappearance. Snow Sky, a Stoute runner, beat Brown Panther in the Yorkshire Cup last time. His lack of pace might make him vulnerable here. Eagle Top looks a serious horse in the making and can surely do better than his fourth at Sandown last time, his first run for 10 months. He has two lengths to make up on Telescope from last summer’s King George, in which they were second and fourth.
4.20 Diamond Jubilee Stakes
The last Group One race of this Royal Ascot is a sprint over six furlongs, won by the great Australian raider Black Caviar three years ago. Brazen Beau is the Australian trying his luck this time and, while his form would not match hers, it is good enough to command respect. He has won Grade Ones in two of his last three starts and in between was beaten by a very talented rival when dropped back to five furlongs. Mustajeeb won the Jersey at Royal Ascot last year and now drops back in distance by a furlong. He is quite convincing as a fast horse and won over this distance of six furlongs last time but if the morning rain misses Ascot, he could be vulnerable to one or two quicker rivals. Pearl Secret has his second run of the week, having stuck on gamely to be a close fourth in a shorter race on Tuesday, when he was the first home from a high draw. Alas for him, he has another high draw, albeit one place better than Brazen Beau. Backers of both have to hope that stall position doesn’t count for as much here and perhaps the rain could change things. Due Diligence (Moore) was second in this last year and will be sharper for his reappearance run. Gordon Lord Byron is good enough but probably needs more rain than is in the forecast.
5.00 Wokingham Handicap
A favourite betting race for many a punter, here is a big-field sprint handicap as the penultimate race at Royal Ascot. If the draw bias stays as it has been all week, you want to be on a horse drawn low, towards the stands’ rail, but biases on this straight course have sometimes had a ‘will o’ the wisp’ quality, evaporating moments after being spotted. Huntsmans Close has run well in similar races in the past and won the Ayr Silver Cup last autumn. Tatlisu (Moore) wears blinkers for the first time after running a fair fourth at York when Moore was aboard for the first time. Intrinsic won last year’s Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood and is only 5lb higher. Although his season tailed off after that, ‘sprint king’ Robert Cowell is likely to have him ready for this reappearance. From the low draws, Gamesome is a progressive and unexposed type, though he ran into trouble in his last race and you could worry about whether that will happen again.
5.35 Queen Alexandra Stakes
This staying race for runners of variable quality is rather a low key way to end matters. Wicklow Brave will surely be a strong favourite, coming from the Willie Mullins yard that has won this twice in three years and with Ryan Moore on board. The horse has long looked a classy beast and finally made good at the Cheltenham Festival in March, hacking up in the County Hurdle. Fast ground is likely to be fine for him and he should be hard to beat, though he made life hard for himself with a couple of slow starts in his hurdle races earlier this year. Marzocco was third in the Queen’s Vase last year and fifth in the Leger, so he has more ability than most that run here. Rawaki has some useful form around Listed level but this is a significant step up in distance. Oriental Fox was fifth in last year’s Gold Cup at 50-1 but has not been seen in public since running sixth in a valuable handicap later that month.
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Preamble
Hello and welcome to the final day of Royal Ascot. It’s far from the most prestigious day but it is the most popular and has been a huge success since the track decided to extend the Royal meeting to extend the meeting and add an extra day.
The Diamond Jubilee Stakes is the feature race, but if the week is anything to go by so far we are likely to have more ‘Ryan Ascot’ with Ryan Moore, who is chasing the all-time record of 12 winners at the fixture, in the saddle on two short-priced horses in Telescope and Wicklow Brave.
There is some rain forecast so keep your eyes peeled here as we relay the latest news from the track with racing correspondent Greg Wood at the course.
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