Prince of Wales's Stakes Day round-up
Tipped in this morning’s Guardian when it was available at over 20-1, My Dream Boat was the surprise winner of the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, the day’s only Group One contest. Adam Kirby’s mount swooped late to beat Found in a photo finish as odds-on Japanese hot-pot A Shin Hikari was found uncharacteristically wanting and finished in last place.
Earlier in the day, the Richard Fahey-trained Ribchester won the Jersey Stakes under William Buick to score the first leg of a Godolphin hat-trick that was notched up by three different trainers from three different countries. The Maktoum family operation secured their second victory of the day in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes, when Mikael Barzalona scythed through the field to win on 9-4 favourite Usherette for French trainer Andre Fabre and made it three winners for the day in the Royal Hunt Cup, with James Doyle getting the leg-up to win on Portage from Michael Halford.
Easily the most impressive performance of the day came in the Queen Mary Stakes, when Frankie Dettori and Lady Aurelia left jaws on the floor as they blitzed the field in spectacular fashion to win by seven lengths for American trainer Wesley Ward. In the day’s closing race, Dettori made it a double with a win on favourite Persuasive. Tune in tomorrow for more top Flat racing action from Royal Ascot.
Updated
Sandringham Handicap (5.35)
Just as they did yesterday, Frankie Dettori and John Gosden double up to win the final race of the afternoon, to put Frankie Dettori on three winners and and clear at the top of the leading jockeys table.
Sandringham Handicap (5.35) result
1 Persuasive (L Dettori) 11-4 Fav
2 Diamond Fields (W M Lordan) 33-1
3 Sharaakah (J Fanning) 25-1
4 Radiantly (W J Lee) 20-1
21 ran
Non Runners: 2,10,19,21
Withdrawn: 24
CSF: 116.71
Tricast: 2060.01
No 24 Planchart (33-1) was withdrawn not under orders. Rule 4 does
not apply.
Updated
Sandringham Handicap (5.35) 1m
They’re off and running in the final race of the day, with Planchart left behind after playing up in the stalls and being backed out by the handlers. Quality Time leads from Gypsy Eyes ... while Alamode ploughs a lkone furrow on the near side. Inside the final furlong, Persuasive takes up the lead, hitting the front with Frankie Dettori rousting her along. Persuasive wins the Sandringham to give Frankie his second winner of the afternoon and his third of the week.
Godolphin score hat-trick in Royal Hunt Cup
Godolphin claimed their third winner on the second day of Royal Ascot when Irish raider Portage struck in the Royal Hunt Cup.
Mick Halford’s four-year-old was never too far off a generous pace set by Early Morning on the far side of the track. But once the nine-runner breakaway group converged into one, Portage really got going in the hands of James Doyle.
The 10-1 chance took the lead inside the final furlong and kept on powerfully on the far rail to deny Librisa Breeze by a length and a quarter. Onrushing duo Mitchum Swagger and Azraff were third and fourth respectively.
Sandringham Handicap (5.35) preview
- Persuasive 5-2
- Anamba 6-1
- Diploma 8-1
- Make Fast 12-1
- Dolce Strega 12-1
- Mise En Rose 16-1
- Aljulalah 16-1
-
25-1 bar
Sandringham Handicap (5.35) preview
Like the Hunt Cup but restricted to three-year-old fillies. The unbeaten Persuasive (John Gosden, Frankie Dettori) is a quite understandable favourite, as she can surely do a fair bit better than she has so far shown, though this ground is a question for her to answer, as is this big field.
Ireland’s Anamba has been keeping good company and won a Listed race last time, though her rating is not obviously lenient for this handicap debut. Diploma (Stoute, Moore) has been raised 10lb for beating a handful of rivals last time, albeit in good style.
This looks to me like a race that could throw up a shock, perhaps in the form of Sharaakah, from the resurgent Ed Dunlop yard, whose form at the end of last year had a nicely progressive look. She needs to be sharp for this reappearance but it is possible the trainer has saved her for this in the belief she is ahead of her mark.
What a day for Godolphin! It's a #RoyalAscot treble as PORTAGE proves too strong in the Royal Hunt Cup: https://t.co/UqjfyMXIJP
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) June 15, 2016
Royal Hunt Cup (5.00) result
1 Portage (James Doyle) 10-1
2 Librisa Breeze (R Winston) 8-1
3 Mitchum Swagger (G Baker) 14-1
4 Azraff (Andrea Atzeni) 20-1
28 ran
Also: 13-2 Fav Convey
Non Runners: 16,18
CSF: 74.04
Tricast: 1192.58
Updated
Portage wins the Royal Hunt Cup
It’s a win for Irish trainer Michael Halford, who gave jockey James Doyle the leg-up. It’s Godolphin’s third winner of the day, with three different trainers from three different countries doing the honours.
Royal Hunt Cup (5.00) 1m
They’re away and running in the Royal Hunt Cup, with Sir Michael Stoute’s colt Convey the firm 13-2 favourite in the hands of Ryan Moore. Donncha was slow out of the gates as the 28 runners split into two groups on the near and far side. The far side group lead, with Early Morning up in front .... Early Morning the grey continues to lead as the two groups merge ... Labrisia Breeze makes headway into the furlong ... Portage and Librisia Breeze are the first two home ... I think Portage won it. Portage wins the Royal Hunt Cup under a strong challenge from Librisia Breeze.
Royal Hunt Cup (5.00) betting
- Librisa Breeze 8-1
- Convey 10-1
- Portage 10-1
- Donncha 10-1
- Secret Brief 14-1
- Balty Boys 14-1
- Mitchum Swagger 16-1
- Gm Hopkins 16-1
-
20-1 bar
Royal Hunt Cup (5.00) preview
A cavalry charge as 28 horses come up the straight mile in this tricky handicap. The draw may play a part and there have been indications this week that the far side (low-drawn runners) might be the right place to be, although the evidence has not been so strong that I’d put you off a horse drawn elsewhere.
Convey, representing Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore, is understandably popular and looks well treated in light of his Group Three second last time, though one could worry about the fact that he hasn’t actually poked his head in front since winning his maiden in 2014.
GM Hopkins is 9lb higher than when winning this last year under Moore but does not look harshly treated in view of his subsequent efforts, though he could do with a drying day. Portage appeals to me as a previous winner here who bagged a Listed prize on his return. Early Morning went well for a long way in the Cambridgeshire and might be stronger this year. Captain Cat and Basem are among those who probably won’t like this ground.
Updated
My Dream Boat sets sail in Prince of Wales's Stakes
My Dream Boat was a surprising winner to give Clive Cox and Adam Kirby a second Group One success of the week in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Beaten a long way by Japanese superstar A Shin Hikari in France last time out, he was sent off the outsider of the seven-runner field at 16-1. Following on from the King’s Stand victory of Profitable, after which Kirby was reduced to tears on announcing that his wife had given birth just hours before, the jockey will never forget this week.
Odds-on favourite A Shin Hikari - the highest-rated Flat horse in the world - set out to make all the running but failed to get away from the field turning into the straight and Yutaka Take was soon sending out distress signals.
Ryan Moore then produced Found and looked sure to give Aidan O’Brien his 50th Royal Ascot winner, but Kirby was just starting his run on My Dream Boat.
Cox’s four-year-old even defied a drift into the centre of the track to beat Found by a neck.
“I was pretty confident he’d be in the first three,” said Kirby. “The race went perfect. He gave me a real good feel when he won two starts ago but he was bit free last time and didn’t get home. Full credit to the horse, he stayed at it. It was a very gutsy performance.”
My Dream Boat sports of the colours of owners Paul and Clare Rooney, more familiar in jumping circles and owners of Grand National runner-up The Last Samuri.
All hail mystic Chris Cook
Upset! Big improver but huge outsider MY DREAM BOAT lands the Prince of Wales's Stakes under Adam Kirby #RoyalAscot https://t.co/qKrB29UT7Y
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) June 15, 2016
Prince of Wales's Stakes (4.20) result
1 My Dream Boat (A Kirby) 16-1
2 Found (R L Moore) 4-1
3 Western Hymn (L Dettori) 12-1
6 ran
Also: 8-13 Fav A Shin Hikari, 10-1 The Grey Gatsby 4th
CSF: 77.05
Updated
My Dream Boat wins the Prince of Wales's Stake
The 16-1 outsider of the whole field of six wins the big race of the day under a fine ride from Adam Kirby. Fans of this website will be aware that Chris Cook tipped this one, so I hope you were on!
Updated
Prince of Wales’s Stakes (4.20) 1m 2f
... A Shin Hikari continues to make the running from Western Hymn with two furlongs to go ... Found swoops by with My Dreamboat on the wide outside. My Dreamboat and Found ... My Dream Boat looks to have won on the near side from Found. It’s a photo, but A Shin Hikari has been well beaten.
Updated
Prince of Wales's Stakes (4.20) 1m 2f
They’re off and running in the only Group One race of the day, with £425,325 first prize on offer. A Shin Hikari makes the early running, easy to pick out with the red and black visor, as Yutaka Take takes a firm hold ...
Prince of Wales's Stakes (4.20) betting
- A Shin Hikari 8-15
- Found 9-2
- The Grey gatsby 12-1
- Western Hymn16-1
- My Dream Boat 20-1
- Tryster 33-1
- Prince of Wales’s Stakes betting
Usherette shows the way home in Duke of Cambridge
Class rose to the top in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot as Andre Fabre’s Usherette justified favouritism with ease.
A winner at Newmarket earlier this season, Fabre had compared her with some of the best fillies he has trained in his long and illustrious career and the next step is surely a Group One.
Sent off the 9-4 favourite, Mikael Barzalona was happy to drop her in off just a steady pace set by Spangled.
A furlong and a half out the race began to develop with Barzalona hitting the front and taking two lengths out of the opposition.
John Gosden’s Furia Cruzada, an import from Chile, outran her 20-1 starting price to finish second, two and a quarter lengths away, just holding off the-fast finishing Always Smile, to give Godolphin a one-three.
It was Fabre’s eighth Royal winner, but a first for Barzalona, who said: “I think she’s really good and she travelled well. The ground didn’t suit her and I think she’s much, much better on good ground. She’s a lovely filly and she has a good character - she’s very tough.” PA Sport
Prince of Wales's Stakes (4.20) preview
A Shin Hikari is odds-on to become the first Japanese-trained winner at the Royal meeting and deservedly so after hacking up at Chantilly last time in a race that also proved his ability to cope with soft ground.
The main question is whether he can be quite so impressive on his second start after travelling around the world, that race having possibly taken something out of him. Found is classy and would be the obvious one to take advantage if the Japanese horse flops for any reason, though the Irish filly would probably like a drier surface.
My Dream Boat appeals to me at a big price, as he had looked very progressive before trailing A Shin Hikari in France and has excuses for that run. Western Hymn will doubtless put up his usual solid effort but The Grey Gatsby and Tryster really would have preferred less rain.
Class - USHERETTE shows her rivals a clean pair of heels in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes #RoyalAscot https://t.co/SXoJ2ysQ5A
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) June 15, 2016
Duke of Cambridge Stakes (3.40) result
1 Usherette (M Barzalona) 9-4 Fav
2 Furia Cruzada (P J Smullen) 20-1
3 Always Smile (James Doyle) 9-2
14 ran
Also: 12-1 Miss Temple City 4th
CSF: 57.27
Tricast: 200.55
Updated
Duke of Cambridge Stakes (3.40) 1m
... with two furlongs to go, Usherette takes up the lead, followed by Always Smile and Furia Cruzada. Usherette leads them home in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes.
Duke of Cambridge Stakes (3.40) 1m
A mile is the trip with £99,243 first prize to the winner in this fillies race. Usherette is the favourite, aiming to give French trainer Andre Fabre his seventh Royal Ascot win and his first in six years. He trains for Godolphin, who have four in this race. They break from the traps and Spangled takes up the lead, , followed by Maimara as the bunched field gambol along at a fairly steady pace ...
Updated
Duke of Cambridge Stakes (3.40) betting
- Usherette 9-4
- Always Smile 11-2
- Jazzi Top 8-1
- Devonshire 10-1
- Lucida 10-1
- Blond Me 11-1
- Maimara 12-1
-
14-1 bar
Lady Aurelia demolishes Queen Mary Stakes field
Lady Aurelia provided American trainer Wesley Ward with his seventh Royal Ascot winner in scintillating style when blitzing her rivals in the Queen Mary Stakes.
Ward, who broke new ground by bringing his speedier juveniles to the meeting in 2009, had told everyone who would listen the filly was the best he had run at the showpiece fixture to date.
Mark Johnston’s Camargue matched strides coming out of the stalls, but after half a furlong Frankie Dettori was in front on the US raider and the race never looked in doubt. By halfway her rivals were in trouble and when Dettori pressed the button the Scat Daddy filly took off again.
She passed the line seven lengths ahead of the French-trained Al Johrah with Clem Fandango third. Ward won the race 12 months ago with Acapulco, who went on to finish second in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York.
“It was breathtaking form the top,” said Dettori. “To win a sprint by seven lengths at Royal Ascot, I’ve never seen anything like that - especially from a two-year-old. I was throwing some very good splits and when I got to the furlong-and-a-half [pole] I asked her to go and she found another gear. I was completely shocked. Unbelievable, she’s a lovely filly. Well done to Wesley, he’s a master of the sprinters.” PA Sport
Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (3.05) preview
Here’s a mile race for females who are either just below top class or are not quite there yet. Usherette looks like getting there in the near future, judged by her comfortable success at this level at Newmarket last month, when the placed horses were both Group One winners. She hasn’t yet faced ground like this but has a sister who won on heavy, for what it’s worth.
Always Smile is a big runner, having gone down by just a nose in a handicap over this course and distance at the last Royal meeting. Godolphin’s runner showed a good level of form in landing a York handicap on her return. The ground has probably gone against Lucida but Jazzi Top might be all right on it and she has already won at this level, though she needs an excuse for her nine-length defeat by Usherette last time.
The general consensus at Royal Ascot ...
Well, it seems to be that Lady Aurelia’s win was one of the omst extraordinary performances by a two-year-old filly ever seen at Royal Ascot. She absolutely blitzed the field.
Wow! A sensational LADY AURELIA lands the Queen Mary under Frankie Dettori #RoyalAscot https://t.co/uK3L77fmF5
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) June 15, 2016
Queen Mary Stakes (3.05)
That was an astonishing win by Lady Aurelia, to give American trainer Wesley Ward his seventh Royal Ascot winner. She absolutely smithereened the rest of the field to win by an official distance of seven lengths - it looked like a lot more to me. “It was breathtaking from the top,” says Frankie Dettori. “When I got to a furlong to go and asked her for more she found another gear.”
Queen Mary Stakes (3.05) result
1 Lady Aurelia (L Dettori) 2-1 Fav
2 Al Johrah (G Benoist) 9-2
3 Clem Fandango (P Makin) 16-1
17 ran
Also: 16-1 Kocollada 4th
CSF: 9.43
Tricast: 127.82
Updated
Queen Mary Stakes (3.05) 5f
A brisk five furlongs is the short trip as the 17 fillies set off in the Queen Mary Stakes. Lady Aurelia was first out of the gates and makes her way towards the centre. Lady Aurelia blazes a trail in an attempt to make all as she gallops down the centre of the track. Lady Aurtelia pulls clear to win by six ... seven ... eight ... nine ... ten ... eleven lengths under Frankie Dettori. Lady Aurelia destroys the field in the Queen Mary Stakes under Frankie Dettori.
They're down at the start ...
There’ll be a delay, as Simmie has spread a plate, so the farrier has been called down to make her a new shoe. Her connections have the option to let her run without a shoe, with a new one, or to withdraw their horse. They’re opting for her to go fully shoed-up. Lady Aurelia remains the warm favourite at 5-2.
Queen Mary Stakes (3.05) betting
- Lady Aurelia 5-2
- Al Johrah 13-2
- Kachess 9-1
- Roly Poly 11-1
- Camargue 16-1
- Barroche 16-1
- Kocollada 20-1
- CIem Fandango 20-1
- Vona 20-1
- Madam Dancealot 25-1
- Jule In The Crown 28-1
-
33-1 bar
Ribchester romps to victory in the Jersey Stakes
Ribchester ran out an easy winner of the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot to give Godolphin their first winner of the meeting. Richard Fahey’s colt was carrying a penalty for his win in the Mill Reef last year, but had the best form heading into the race, having finished third in the Qipco 2000 Guineas.
With that form franked by winner Galileo Gold on Tuesday, he took full of advantage of a drop in class. Having tracked the pace-setter Gifted Master, William Buick never had an anxious moment, powering away to score by two and a quarter lengths from Thikriyaat.
Forge kept on gallantly for third, but the favourite Castle Harbour, previously unbeaten, could never get on terms. “He ran very well in the Guineas and he might have done a little bit better had things worked out differently,” said Buick. “He doesn’t mind that ground and it was real good performance. Richard said beforehand, ‘Just get the job done’.” PA Sport.
Queen Mary Stakes (3.05) preview
A contest for fast young fillies, although ‘fast’ will be stricly a relative term in these conditions. Lady Aurelia is favourite for the US trainer Wesley Ward but her only run so far was on dirt over four and a half furlongs. Whether she can handle five furlongs uphill on treacly turf is quite a question and she doesn’t look the most likely winner to me. Ward’s fancied Big City Dreamin failed to cope on day one. The French-trained Al Johrah is promising and unbeaten in two while her once-raced compatriot Spiaggia also appeals. Kachess was a stylish and promising winner at Goodwood.
Ribchester wins the Jersey Stakes (2.30)
Godolphin notch up their first winner of this year’s Royal Ascot.
Too good! RIBCHESTER runs out a very impressive winner of the opener on Day Two at #RoyalAscot: https://t.co/cRwJCeFMjv
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) June 15, 2016
Jersey Stakes (2.30) result
1 Ribchester (W Buick) 7-1
2 Thikriyaat (P Hanagan) 8-1
3 Forge (R L Moore) 12-1
19 ran
Also: 5-1 Fav Castle Harbour, 8-1 Ibn Malik 4th
Non Runners: 9,13
CSF: 57.99
Tricast: 698.94
Updated
Jersey Stakes (2.30) 7f
They’re off and running in the Jersey Stakes, with seven furlongs the trip and a first prize of £51,039 up for grabs. Haalick breaks like a hairy goat and soon falls behind ... Calder Prince leads them along on the near side as they come together in the centre of the track ... Ribchester, Scrutineer are up there ... Ribchester surges clear to pull away and win for William Buick and score the first winner of the week for Godolphin. Ribchester wins the Jersey Stakes.
Jersey Stakes (2.30)
The runners and riders have ambled down to the start, where they’re waiting to go behind the stalls for the first. No sooner do I type that sentence than the handlers come around to lead them behind and start loading up for the Jersey Stakes. Not long now.
Jersey Stakes (2.30) betting
- Castle Harbour 13-2
- Gifted Master 7-1
- Ribchester 7-1
- Remarkable 9-1
- Thikriyaat 9-1
- Ibn Malik 10-1
- Forge 12-1
- Haalick 14-1
- Light Music 16-1
- Herald The Dawn 20-1
- C Note 25-1
- Bolting 25-1
- Scrutineer 25-1
-
33-1 bar
This just in ...
Convey, a mount of Ryan Moore which is fancied in today’s Hunt Cup, is a major doubt. Librisa Breeze is the steamer in that race, currently at 8-1 in from 20-1.
Jersey Stakes (2.30) preview
A race for horses that people don’t quite know what to do with. If your pride and joy is neither sprinter nor miler, neither top class nor a limited handicapper, why not try him in this Group Three contest over seven furlongs?
Castle Harbour is the likely favourite being unbeaten in two runs, proven on soft and representing the powerful John Gosden / Frankie Dettori team, though this needs quite a bit more than his handicap success last time. Gifted Master might find this trip on this ground rather more of a test than is good for him.
Ribchester was a fine third in the Guineas, though you could worry about the way that he hung on his previous run in France on a testing surface. I shall take my chances at a slightly mad 40-1 about Ross Castle, a French raider who appears to be improving rapidly and landed a heavy ground Group Three at a shorter distance last time. His dam is a half-sister to the 2007 winner of this race.
The Royal Procession is underway ...
Making all from the front, the Queen is in the lead carriage wearing a pink hat and coat. She’s joined by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke of Argyle and plain old William Farish, the only person in the parade without a title. William’s dad used to be the US Ambassador to the USA and William himself is a businessman and former crony and advisor to George W Bush. Lovely.
Want to see A Shin Hikari win the 2015 Hong Kong Cup?
Of course you do. Here’s the favourite for today’s King James’s Palace Stakes grinding the opposition into the dirt at Sha Tin last year.
Channel 4's coverage begins ...
And our afternoon kicks off with Clare Balding standing outside a stable, whispering into a microphone about the myriad delights we can look forward to this afternoon. She wraps up by telling us she’s whispering because the occupant of the stable in question, A Shin Hikari, is enjoying an afternoon nap. The camera cuts to the interior of the stable, where we see the Japanese grey looking as nonplussed and discombobulated as you might expect somebody whose afternoon nap has just been interrupted by a whispering Clare Balding to be.
Updated
Never mind the racing ...
Here’s the carriage list for the procession on day two of Royal Ascot.
#RoyalAscot Carriage List (Day 2) pic.twitter.com/0HzJgfaZB9
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) June 15, 2016
Some news from the betting ring
The betting markets for today’s action are slowly coming to life and Ribchester, third home in the 2,000 Guineas, is the one for money in the opening Jersey Stakes. William Hill have cut him to 13-2 from an early price of 10-1, while there is continuing support for Al Johrah, one of two French-trained runners in the Queen Mary, and she is 13-2 from 8-1 with the same firm. One slight drifter with Hills is Godolphin’s Usherette, in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes. Andre Fabre’s filly is 9-4 from 2-1.
The big betting quandary of the day
Having looked a regal vision in yellow millinery yesterday, the Queen is fancied to wear a blue hat on day two of the Royal meeting. You can get 5-2 against her wearing blue, 5-1 against white, pink (6-1), cream (7-1), green (7-1) grey/silver (7-1) yellow (10-1), brown (12-1), purple (14-1), peach (16-1), turquoise (16-1), orange (20-1), red (25-1), black 50-1). Please gamble responsibly ... even though you’re betting on the colour of a hat, so that ship has already sailed.
Today's schedule for #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/ZMR4KT3omC
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) June 15, 2016
Today's non-runners
- 2.30: No9 Dragon Mail, No13 Kentuckyconnection
- 5.00: No16 Master The World
- 5.35: No10 Czabo, No19 Raaqy, No21 Promised Money
Sandringham Handicap (5.35) preview
Like the Hunt Cup but restricted to three-year-old fillies. The unbeaten Persuasive (John Gosden, Frankie Dettori) is a quite understandable favourite, as she can surely do a fair bit better than she has so far shown, though this ground is a question for her to answer, as is this big field.
Ireland’s Anamba has been keeping good company and won a Listed race last time, though her rating is not obviously lenient for this handicap debut. Diploma (Stoute, Moore) has been raised 10lb for beating a handful of rivals last time, albeit in good style.
This looks to me like a race that could throw up a shock, perhaps in the form of Sharaakah, from the resurgent Ed Dunlop yard, whose form at the end of last year had a nicely progressive look. She needs to be sharp for this reappearance but it is possible the trainer has saved her for this in the belief she is ahead of her mark.
Royal Hunt Cup (5.00) preview
A cavalry charge as 30 horses come up the straight mile in this tricky handicap. The draw may play a part and there have been indications this week that the far side (low-drawn runners) might be the right place to be, although the evidence has not been so strong that I’d put you off a horse drawn elsewhere.
Convey, representing Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore, is understandably popular and looks well treated in light of his Group Three second last time, though one could worry about the fact that he hasn’t actually poked his head in front since winning his maiden in 2014.
GM Hopkins is 9lb higher than when winning this last year under Moore but does not look harshly treated in view of his subsequent efforts, though he could do with a drying day. Portage appeals to me as a previous winner here who bagged a Listed prize on his return. Early Morning went well for a long way in the Cambridgeshire and might be stronger this year. Captain Cat and Basem are among those who probably won’t like this ground.
Prince of Wales's Stakes (4.20) preview
A Shin Hikari is odds-on to become the first Japanese-trained winner at the Royal meeting and deservedly so after hacking up at Chantilly last time in a race that also proved his ability to cope with soft ground. The main question is whether he can be quite so impressive on his second start after travelling around the world, that race having possibly taken something out of him.
Found is classy and would be the obvious one to take advantage if the Japanese horse flops for any reason, though the Irish filly would probably like a drier surface. My Dream Boat appeals to me at a big price, as he had looked very progressive before trailing A Shin Hikari in France and has excuses for that run. Western Hymn will doubtless put up his usual solid effort but The Grey Gatsby and Tryster really would have preferred less rain.
Duke of Cambridge Stakes (3.40) preview
Here’s a mile race for females who are either just below top class or are not quite there yet. Usherette looks like getting there in the near future, judged by her comfortable success at this level at Newmarket last month, when the placed horses were both Group One winners. She hasn’t yet faced ground like this but has a sister who won on heavy, for what it’s worth.
Always Smile is a big runner, having gone down by just a nose in a handicap over this course and distance at the last Royal meeting. Godolphin’s runner showed a good level of form in landing a York handicap on her return. The ground has probably gone against Lucida but Jazzi Top might be all right on it and she has already won at this level, though she needs an excuse for her nine-length defeat by Usherette last time.
Queen Mary Stakes (3.05) preview
A contest for fast young fillies, although ‘fast’ will be strictly a relative term in these conditions. Lady Aurelia is favourite for the US trainer Wesley Ward but her only run so far was on dirt over four-and-a-half furlongs. Whether she can handle five furlongs uphill on treacly turf is quite a question and she doesn’t look the most likely winner to me. Ward’s fancied Big City Dreamin failed to cope on day one. The French-trained Al Johrah is promising and unbeaten in two while her once-raced compatriot Spiaggia also appeals. Kachess was a stylish and promising winner at Goodwood.
Jersey Stakes (2.30) preview
A race for horses that people don’t quite know what to do with. If your pride and joy is neither sprinter nor miler, neither top class nor a limited handicapper, why not try him in this Group Three contest over seven furlongs?
Castle Harbour is the likely favourite being unbeaten in two runs, proven on soft and representing the powerful John Gosden/Frankie Dettori team, though this needs quite a bit more than his handicap success last time. Gifted Master might find this trip on this ground rather more of a test than is good for him.
Ribchester was a fine third in the Guineas, though you could worry about the way that he hung on his previous run in France on a testing surface. I shall take my chances at a slightly mad 40-1 about Ross Castle, a French raider who appears to be improving rapidly and landed a heavy ground Group Three at a shorter distance last time. His dam is a half-sister to the 2007 winner of this race.
Betfair Royal Ascot tipping competition
Congratulations to waltersobchak, who won yesterday’s competition on a final score of +27, thanks to Ardad (20-1), Galileo Gold (6-1) and Profitable (4-1).
You could have £100 credited to your betting account with Betfair by proving your tipping prowess on today’s races. All you have to do is give us your selections for all of today’s races at Ascot. As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price. Non-runners count as losers.
Please post all your tips in a single posting, using the comment facility below, before the first race at 2.30pm. There are six races at Ascot today and you must post a single selection for each race.
Our usual terms and conditions will apply, except that this will be a strictly one-day thing. If we get a tie after all the races have been run, the winner will be the one who posted their tips earliest out of those with the highest score.
If you don’t win today, don’t despair. We are running an identical competition on each day of the Royal meeting, up to Friday.
Post your tips or racing-related comments below.
Updated
Prince of Wales's Stakes scene-setter
It was a dry night in Berkshire and a glorious early morning too according to Ascot’s Twitter feed, though noone who charged in head-down for the odds-on prices about rain on every day of the meeting will be feeling nervous yet. A few showers seem a near-certainty at some point today while there could even be the odd thunderstorm around, and the going remains soft ahead of a six-race card which features the Group One Prince of Wales’s Stakes.
As a contest, this race suffered badly when Time Test, the second-favourite, did not make it past the final declaration stage due to the soft ground. There will be no complaints from the connections of A Shin Hikari, however, as he now seems sure to set off at odds-on to become the first horse trained in Japan to win at the Royal meeting.
America, Australia, Hong Kong and even Spain - via Equiano in the 2010 King’s Stand Stakes - have celebrated winners here in recent years, so Japan’s continued absence from the roll of honour is a little surprising given the strength of the country’s racing industry and the increasing willingness of its trainers and owners to campaign their best horses abroad.
On the face of it, today’s race is a close to a penalty kick as a Japanese-trained runner is ever likely to get, with A Shin Hikari trading at around 8-11 to follow up his wide-margin success in last month’s Prix d’Ispahan. The official winning distance was 10 lengths, with proven Group One horses well beaten, and while the actual margin was probably closer to seven, it was a thrilling statement of intent from Masanori Sakaguchi’s five-year-old.
Big margins on soft ground can prove difficult to repeat, however, not just because the going exaggerates the winner’s superiority but also because they can take more out of a horse than it appears at the time. A win like A Shin Hikari’s also puts future opponents on red alert, and Ryan Moore in particular is likely to have formulated a plan to foil the favourite aboard last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf winner, Found.
She has yet to show her best form this season, and was comprehensively beaten by Postponed in the Coronation Cup just 11 days ago. She ensured that Golden Horn’s career ended in defeat at Keeneland in November, however, and will be a stern opponent if she is close to her best. My Dream Boat, tipped by colleague Chris Cook, is another interesting each-way alternative to the favourite, and it would be foolish to assume that it will be another stroll to victory for A Shin Hikari.
Early market movers this morning include the French-trained Al Johrah, who was a winner on soft ground at Chantilly last month, in the Queen Mary Stakes over five furlongs for juvenile fillies. Wesley Ward’s Lady Aurelia remains the favourite here at around 11-4, but Ward made it clear earlier this week that the soft ground is an unknown for his contenders at this year’s meeting.
