That's all folks ...
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Caravaggio maintained his unbeaten record with a superb display in the Commonwealth Cup. The Godolphin-owned pair of Harry Angel and Blue Point threw down major challenges in what looked a cracking renewal, but Ryan Moore had maximum confidence in the 5-6 favourite and timed it to perfection to beat the former by three-quarters of a length.
Moore and O’Brien also prevailed in the day’s other Group 1 contest, when dual 1000 Guineas heroine Winter proved in a different class to her rivals in the Coronation Stakes, recording another big-race success for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore.
Permian bounced back from his disappointing run in the Investec Derby to claim the King Edward VII Stakes in the hands of William Buick. Mark Johnston’s colt was supplemented for the premier Classic at Epsom following victory in the Dante Stakes at York, but finished a well-beaten 10th.
There was a turn-up in the Albany Stakes, with the Matthieu Palussiere-trained French raider Different League defying odds of 20-1 to beat Jessica Harrington-trained favourite Alpha Centauri by a neck, taking her unbeaten record to three.
In the Queen’s Vase, Stradivarius came home quickest under Andrea Atzeni to emerge victorious and make it a double on the day for John Gosden. Shortly afterwards in Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, the 20-1 outsider Rare Rhythm finished two lengths clear of a tightly bunched posse to give jockey William Buick his second winner of the day.
Today’s winners
Albany Stakes (2.30): Different League (A Hamelin) 20-1
King Edward VII Stakes (3.05): Permian (W Buick) 6-1
Commonwealth Cup (3.40): Caravaggio (R L Moore) 5-6 Fav
Coronation Stakes (4.20): Winter (R L Moore) 4-9 Fav
Queen’s Vase (5.00): Stradivarius (Andrea Atzeni) 11-2
Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (5.35): Rare Rhythm (W Buick) 20-1
Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (5.35)
1 Rare Rhythm (W Buick) 20-1
2 Appeared (Andrea Atzeni) 13-2
3 Star Storm (George Wood) 14-1
4 Top Tug (P J Smullen) 8-1
19 ran
Also: 4-1 Fav Wadigor
Non Runner: 8
CSF: 139.43
Tricast: 1947.78
Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (5.35) 1m 4f
Oasis Fantasy continues to lead from Rare Rhythm as they strike for home. Rare Rhythm takes up the lead and is a length clear with a furlong to fgfo. Rare Rhythm wins the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes in the hands of William Buick, his fourth winner of the week. Rare Rhythm wins the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes by two lengths.
Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (5.35) 1m 4f
Ryan Moore is on board Mainstream, running in the colours of the Queen, as the horses break from the gates. Oasis Fantasy leads from Rare Rhythm, Soldier In Action ...
A short delay ...
Star Storm, ridden by George Wood, needs a new shoe and the farrier is currently busy filing down his handiwork with his rasp. The horse stood patiently while he was being re-shod, is trotted up and down in front of the vet to make sure he’s OK and promptly gets the all clear.
Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (5.35) betting
- Wadigor 9-2
- Sixties Groove 9-2
- Mainstream 11-2
- Appeared 7-1
- Top Tug 8-1
- Cape Cove 12-1
Frankie Dettori's missed winners ...
- Lady Aurelia
- Con Te Partiro
- Coronet
- Big Orange
- Stradivarius
If I’d time, I’d add up the winning prize money for each race and work out what his 10% would be. It must be somewhere near the thick end of £100,000.
Stradivarius forces field to play second fiddle
Stradivarius came home best to emerge victorious in the Queen’s Vase. The Group Two contest was run over a mile and three-quarters having been reduced from two miles but it was nevertheless a thorough test of stamina.
Time To Study made much of the running along with Wisconsin, who hung badly heading out for the second circuit and raced very wide before eventually rejoining the remaining runners. That pair rounded the home turn in front, but Wisconsin predictably faded quickly soon after and try as he might, Time To Study was unable to hold off the chasing pack.
Count Octave hit the front inside the final two furlongs, but John Gosden’s 11-2 chance Stradivarius came at him late under Andrea Atzeni and got up to score by a neck. Secret Advisor was a couple of lengths away in third.
“Mr Gosden was keen for me to get a good position and I got one on the rails,” says Atzeni. “He’s a horse that is still learning but he was very brave to go through the gap, when he got through he picked up really well.
“It was fairly messy at that first bend, but I was lucky my horse travelled into it and I could get a good position. It’s great to have a winner here, I’ve waited two years (since first one) and I’ve had good chances all week.”
Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (5.35) preview
Gelded over the winter, Sixties Groove made quite a promising reappearance at Epsom this month, staying on into seventh over too short a distance. He has already proved his stamina for this distance and still looks nicely weighted. Roger Varian has two good chances, most obviously with Appeared, who won over this course and distance last month after being gelded.
His Wadigor is unbeaten and seems a challenge for the handicapper, who raised him a stone before his last run and then saw him hack up. He’s up another 8lb. Mainstream, owned by the Queen, has been steadily progressive but hasn’t won for more than a year. He took a keen hold again last time, despite having been gelded.
Spare a thought for Frankie Dettori
Oh, Frankie. The jockey, who ruled himself out of Royal Ascot on Tuesday morning with a shoulder injury, has missed out on yet another winner. Andrea Silenzi took his ride on Stradivarius and by my estimation that’s three, if not four or five, winners Frankie has missed out o0n this week. There’s no guarantee he’d have won on all of them, of course ... but if he’s watching at home he’ll be sick.
Queen's Vase (5.00) result
1 Stradivarius (Andrea Atzeni) 11-2
2 Count Octave (Oisin Murphy) 8-1
3 Secret Advisor (W Buick) 10-1
13 ran
Also: 5-1 Fav Belgravia 4th
Tote: win 6.20 places 2.10 3.40 3.40
Tote Exacta: 65.00
CSF: 50.02
Tricast: 438.34
Updated
Queen's Vase (5.00) 1m 6f
Inside the final furlong, Count Octave takes the lead, but he’s headed by Stradivarius who goes on to win by a length for trainer John Gosden and jockey Andrea Atenzi.
Queen's Vase (5.00) 1m 6f
Into Swinley Bottom they go, with Wisconsin out very wide again ... Time to Study leads as Wisconsin rejoins the group having run about half a further further ... Wisconsin leads from Time To Study ...
Queen's Vase (5.00) 1m 6f
The 13 runners and riders are away and running and there’s less than a quarter of a furlong into the first turn. Wisconsin makes a dog’s breakfast of the bend and veers over to the far rail, with Time To Study leading on the near side ...
Queen's Vase (5.00) betting
- Belgravia 5-1
- Time To Study 7-1
- Stradivarius 7-1
- Desert Skyline 8-1
- Wisconsin 8-1
- Count Octave 8-1
- Haripour 10-1
#WinterIsHere pic.twitter.com/DKyuYaT8wq
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 23, 2017
Queen's Vase (5.00) preview
This test of stamina should suit Stradivarius, mugged at Chester last time after a muddling early pace. Since he was trying to give 13lb to the winner, it’s hard to hold that against him and he can resume his progress here. The likely favourite is Time To Study, a battling winner of a Musselburgh handicap last time. He comes from the Mark Johnston yard that has won this seven times but might be disadvantaged by the fact that the race has been reduced in distance this year by quarter of a mile.
Aidan O’Brien has won this for the last two years and fields two, with Belgravia the first-string on jockey bookings. He looked a bit ploddy in Listed company at Navan last time. O’Brien’s other runner is Wisconsin, a son of the Irish Oaks winner Peeping Fawn, who won a Tipperary maiden last time and now takes a whopping step up in grade.
Winter's connections speak ...
Dermot and Jamie and Paul and Damien and Hazel all get a mention as Aidan O’Brien once again namechecks all those responsible for getting the three-year-old filly, out of Galileo, to the course in impressively-tip-top shape. It was a fine performance and O’Brioen adds that “the horse is always thriving”.
Ryan Moore: “She’s just doing what she has to do,” says her jockey. “She’s getting more and more professional. It’s a hard thing to do to win two Guineas and then come here. She’s a very good filly and she’s beaten some very good horses from France and America.”
Coronation Stakes (4.20) result
1 Winter (R L Moore) 4-9 Fav
2 Roly Poly (J A Heffernan) 12-1
3 Hydrangea (P B Beggy) 16-1
7 ran
Also: 13-2 Dabyah 4th
CSF: 7.26
Coronation Stakes (4.20) 1m
They’re off and running in the Coronation Stakes ... Roly Poly leads at the halfway page and contests the lead with Precieuse. Winter moves to the front and there’ll be no stopping the filly as she bolts up to win the Coronation Stakes. It’s a one-two-three for Aidan O’Brien, with Winter winning from Roly Poly and Hydrangea finishing third.
Sound the Chamberlin klaxon!
ITV Racing presenter Ed Chamberlin has stuck his neck on the block and said “I expect Roly Poly to run a big race today.”
Coronation Stakes (4.20) betting
- Winter 1-2
- Dabyah 13-2
- Precieuse 8-1
- Roly Poly 14-1
- Hydrangea 16-1
- La Coronel 20-1
- Tomyris 33-1
Aidan O'Brien on Caravaggio
As is customary, Aidan O’Brien was quick to thank the horse’s work-rider and groom back in Ireland, as well as the chaps who looked after him on the course here today, mentioning each and every one of them by name - a nice touch by a good man. “He’s obviously a brilliant horse,” he said. “It was only his second run back and we’ve been afraid to do too much because we didn’t want to lose that brilliance that he has. Ryan gave him a brilliant ride and his change of pace is unbelievable.
“Ryan was very confident in him, he said he was just going to pop him out and let it happen and that’s exactly what he did, he said he’d come there very late and that’s exactly what he did. He’s very quick - I don’t think we’ve ever had a quicker horse. It was a big step up from his first run at Naas. We knew it was against three-year-olds today but it will be older horses next time.”
He's the Scat man!
It’s worth noting that, if he’s been lookiung down from horsey heaven, the deceased stallion Scat Daddy will have seen four of his progeny win at Royal Ascot this week, with Caravaggio being the latest.
Caravaggio a picture in Commonwealth Cup
Caravaggio maintained his unbeaten record with a superb display in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot. The six-furlong contest was billed as one of the races of the week, as the Aidan O’Brien-trained Caravaggio, so impressive in the Coventry Stakes at last year’s meeting, took on a couple of major Godolphin-owned contenders in Harry Angel and Blue Point.
Just as he had done when bolting up in last month’s Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock, Clive Cox’s Harry Angel was soon racing enthusiastically at the head of affairs and ensured a strong pace. Blue Point, trained by Charlie Appleby, had beaten Harry Angel in the Pavilion Stakes over the course and distance in early May and loomed up to challenge inside the final furlong.
Harry Angel managed to see him off on this occasion, but had no answer when the more patiently-ridden 5-6 favourite Caravaggio stormed by late on under Ryan Moore and there was three-quarters of a length between them at the line. Harry Angel was in turn half a length in front of Blue Point, with the trio pulling nicely clear of American challenger Bound For Nowhere.
Coronation Stakes (4.20) preview
Coolmore have already met disappointment when bringing one dual Guineas winner, Churchill, here. He was unplaced on Tuesday but they should fare better with Winter, successful in the 1000 Guineas in England and Ireland. She looked a cut above her rivals on both days and it takes quite a bit of imagination to see her getting beaten here.
Dabyah missed the French Guineas last month because of an infection but would be the main challenger if entirely recovered and fit once more. Hydrangea beat Winter in the Guineas Trial in April but was well held by her in both Guineas and it rather looks as though she won’t be able to beat her again. La Coronel is a US raider from the yard that won last year’s Queen Anne. She’d need to improve on her form in eight races so far.
Updated
Caravaggio wins the Commonwealth Cup
Having reared up in the stalls just before the off, Caravaggio was lucky not to miss the break. Ryan Moore sat quiet as a mouse as the field ran into a headwind, but he came late and picked off the horses in front of him to win by a couple of lengths. “That was a very good race,” says Ryan Moore. “They were two very good horses in front of me and they weren’t slowing down.”
Commonwealth Cup (3.40) result
1 Caravaggio (R L Moore) 5-6 Fav
2 Harry Angel (A Kirby) 11-4
3 Blue Point (W Buick) 9-2
12 ran
Also: 10-1 Bound For Nowhere 4th
CSF: 3.34
Tricast: 7.68
Commonwealth Cup (3.40) 6f
They leap out of the stalls with Harry Angel making the running on the far rail ... towards the halfway point, Intelligence Cross takes over in the lead ... Caravaggio sent in hot pursuit with less than a furlong to go ... Caravaggio wins from Harry Angel to become the champion three-year-old sprinter. Blue Point was third.
Updated
Commonwealth Cup (3.40) betting
Caravaggio, a horse Aidan O’Brien claims is the fastest in his yard at Ballydoyle, has now gone odds on, he’s 10-11. Should the American raider Bound For Nowhere win this race, one punter will win £1m from Ladbroke’s. He’s trained by Wesley Ward - the horse, not the Ladbroke’s punter - and is a bit of an unknown quantity.
Commonwealth Cup (3.40) betting
- Caravaggio evens
- Harry Angel 11-4
- Blue Point 9-2
- Bound For Nowhere 9-1
- Intelligence Cross 28-1
- Tis Marvellous 33-1
Permian puts Derby disappointment behind him
Permian bounced back from his disappointing run in the Investec Derby to claim the King Edward VII Stakes. Mark Johnston’s colt was supplemented for the premier Classic at Epsom following victory in the Dante Stakes at York, but finished a well-beaten 10th.
Returning to action less than three weeks later, the son of Teofilo raced on the front end throughout under William Buick and kicked for home rounding the final bend. Crystal Ocean, the 9-4 favourite, threw down a strong-looking challenge, but Permian (6-1) fought him off.
Khalidi came from further back to mount a late bid, but Johnston’s charge was not for catching and held on by half a length. Khalidi was a clear second ahead of Crystal Ocean in third.
“Mark gave me a lot of confidence in the sense that he just wanted his horse to go forward and get across without asking him too much,” said Buick. “I know Mark and the team were surprised how badly he ran in the Derby, but I couldn’t help as I had no explanation really. He certainly felt like a much better horse today. It was a good performance.”
Commonwealth Cup (3.40) preview
In just its third year, the Commonwealth Cup is established as one of the highlights of the week and rather overshadows the Coronation Stakes, formerly unchallenged as the Friday highlight. The established excellence of Caravaggio, unbeaten in his five races, clashes with the rapid progress and unexplored potential of several interesting rivals. The concern about Caravaggio is that we’ve seen him just once in 10 months, in a race he was fully entitled to win, and it would be nice to have more recent evidence of his continued brilliance, in view of how short his odds are.
Harry Angel is a more attractive option and may continue Godolphin’s fine run, carrying their colours for the first time. Trained by Clive Cox, who does so well with sprinters, Harry Angel pinged off the fast ground at Haydock when landing a Group Two last month. He is 4lb better off with Blue Point for his defeat here before that and seems on a steep upward curve. The US raider Bound For Nowhere is very hard to assess but there is a suspicion that 10-1 might be on the big side about the latest Wesley Ward speedster to roll up here.
King Edward VII Stakes (3.05) result
1 Permian (W Buick) 6-1
2 Khalidi (O Peslier) 10-1
3 Crystal Ocean (Andrea Atzeni) 9-4 Fav
12 ran
Also: 25-1 Raheen House 4th
Non Runner: 13
Tote: win 6.50 places 2.30 3.10 1.40
Tote Exacta: 68.00
CSF: 62.15
Tricast: 173.01
King Edward VII Stakes (3.05) 1m 4f
The field is tightly grouped as they approach the final half-mile. Glencadam Glory leads, but Permian with Crystal Ocean in second. Permian leads by a length and holds on to win the King Edward VII from Khalidi in second. Permian wins by half a length under William Buick.
King Edward VII Stakes (3.05) 1m 4f
They’re away and running, with Call To Mind running for the queen and Jim Crowley wearing her colours. Thirteen set off and they’re led by GLencadam Glory leading them along on the rail with Permian in second, Frankuus is in third as they pass halfway ...
King Edward VII Stakes (3.05) betting
- Crystal Ocean 5-2
- Permian 13-2
- Best Solution 7-1
- Salouen 8-1
- Sir John Lavery 8-1
- Best Of Days 8-1
Different League prevails in Albany Stakes
French challenger Different League claimed top honours in the Albany Stakes. Despite having won both of her previous two starts, Matthieu Palussiere’s filly was a 20-1 shot for the opening race on day four of the meeting in the hands of Antoine Hamelin.
The daughter of Dabirsim made a smart start and was soon leading the group that raced on the far side of the track. Alpha Centauri, the 2-1 favourite, did her best to make inroads in the final furlong, but Different League never looked in real danger of being caught and passed the post a neck to the good. Take Me With You fared best of those that raced on the stands side in third.
“It’s amazing, I’m really happy to be here, this is great for me but it’s great for everyone back home at the yard,” said Hamelin. “A first winner at Royal Ascot is a dream for me.”
King Edward VII Stakes (3.05) preview
Sir Michael Stoute pinged a couple of shots off the bar yesterday but may finally find the back of the net with Crystal Ocean. He was having just the third start of his life in York’s Dante last month, in which he kept on strongly into third. The second, Benbatl, has franked that form here this week. Meanwhile, Permian, the Dante winner, had a hard race in the Derby when fading after chasing a strong pace and this will be his sixth start of the year, which may take its toll.
There are five Derby runners here and Best Solution did best of them at Epsom, fading into eighth after also sitting close to that hot pace. The others are Glencadam Glory, Salouen and Khalidi. Best Of Days makes his seasonal reappearance, having failed to be ready in time for the Derby; he also has a tongue tie for the first time and would be interesting if Hugo Palmer’s yard were in better form. Intern is interesting. He was only second in the Sandown Classic Trial, which wouldn’t be good enough, but it was only his first start after switching from David Wachman to Ralph Beckett and there might be a good deal more to come.
Different League wins the Albany Stakes
Trained in France but owned by an Irishman from Tipperary who bought her for £8,000, tried to seell her and couldn’t get anyone to take her off his hands, Different League wins the Albany Stakes by about a comfortable neck or half-length down the far side rail, doing enough to prevent favourite Alpha Centauri getting up the inside.
Updated
Albany Stakes (2.30) result
1 Different League (A Hamelin) 20-1
2 Alpha Centauri (C O’Donoghue) 2-1 Fav
3 Take Me With You (G Mosse) 20-1
20 ran
Also: 66-1 Mistress Of Venice 4th
Non Runner: 20
Tote: win 28.80 places 7.00 1.40 7.80
Tote Exacta: 103.10
CSF: 56.70
Tricast: 902.39
Updated
Albany Stakes (2.30) 6f
They’re off and running in the afternoon’s opener, a six-furlong dash with 21 runners. The field splits into two groups, with Fairyland leading the near side group and Summer Shamal on the far. With over a furlong to go Alpha Centauri makes his move but can’t get past Different League, which wins the Albany for France. Different League wins the Albany.
Albany Stakes (2.35) betting
- Alpha Centauri 5-2
- Clemmie 6-1
- Fairyland 9-1
- Black Sails 9-1
- Snowflakes 10-1
- Natural 12-1
- Ertiyad 14-1
The first race may be delayed
The Royal Procession is ... em, proceeding into a strong headwind, with crowds of proles gathered at least 10 deep on the rails to cheer the Queen along. As usual, her landau is first past the post having started on pole position. The four carriages have now left the course and are en route to a packed parade ring. For the third consecutive day, Prince Philip is absent through illness and will not be at the course to present the winning connections of his eponymous race, the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, with their prize.
Updated
It's Royal Procession time
And a ferocious argument has broken out on the Guardian Racing desk over whether the Queen’s hat is light blue or spearmint. On ITV racing, the official fashion team and their royal-watcher are torn between “muted jade” and “macaroon”. I’m sticking with spearmint, thanks. You’ll be able to judge for yourself just as soon as the first photos filter through.
Updated
Jockey Oisin Murpy rocking the pink flip-flops... #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/Ib3i8jjtlp
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 23, 2017
Albany Stakes (2.35) preview
Alpha Centauri is a big, likeable filly with an unbeaten record in Ireland and proven on a fast surface. A stablemate of hers was beaten less than a length in the Coventry on day one, so her trainer knows the required level. But this might be another juvenile race in which the best idea is to side with a Wesley Ward runner, specifically Fairyland. Her US win was a furlong and a half short of this but she stayed on strongly and has some European turf blood in her pedigree. Her sire, Scat Daddy, has had three winners from four runners here this week. I’m not a huge fan of the way she’s more than doubled in price from 3-1 to 8-1, however.
Aidan O’Brien’s runner is Clemmie, a sister to Churchill, who got his first win at last year’s Royal Ascot after running third on his debut, just as Clemmie did last month. Unlike him, she wore a tongue tie, though that’s left off this time. Also, he won when stepped up to seven furlongs, whereas she is kept to six here and might find it on the sharp side.
Your full #RoyalAscot runners and riders for the 2.00 Carriage Stakes. #JohnnyG drawn wide pic.twitter.com/xq4WWakk5s
— Tony Paley (@tonypaley) June 23, 2017
Top trainers this week
- Aidan O’Brien 2 wins
- Wesley Ward 2
- Charlie Appleby 1
- Richard Fahey 1
- Richard Hannon 1
- Willie Mullins 1
- Richard Spencer 1
- Clive Cox 1
- Andre Fabre 1
- Jean-Claude Rouget 1
- Amanda Perrett 1
- Michael Bell 1
- John Gosden 1
- Saeed bin Suroor 1
- Roger Charlton 1
- David Simcock 1
By adding the Norfolk to his Prince of Wales, Aidan O’Brien has got to the top of the table despite that shaky start to the week. He has five second places already, which means he will probably still be top trainer if someone manages to tie him for number of winners at the end of the week. Meanwhile, Sir Michael Stoute remains locked out of the winner’s enclosure, needing just one win to go ahead of Sir Henry Cecil as the most successful Royal Ascot trainer in history. William Haggas and Mark Johnston are also hoping their luck turns in the last two days of the week.
Updated
Top jockeys this week
- Ryan Moore 3 wins
- William Buick 2
- James Doyle 2
- Jamie Spencer 2
- Stevie Donohoe 1
- John Velazquez 1
- Adam Kirby 1
- Gregory Benoist 1
- Pierre-Charles Boudot 1
- Martin Dwyer 1
- Oisin Murphy 1
- Olivier Peslier 1
- Kieran Shoemark 1
As expected, Ryan Mighty has gradually edged his way to the front by dint of sheer firepower and is likely to stay there. The bookmakers have him at 1-8 to finish the week as top jockey and he already has four second places, so he’ll probably still win if there’s a tie for number of winners. Andrea Atzeni, Jim Crowley and Silvestre de Sousa are among the big names yet to score this week.
Tom Jenkins' unique Ascot view
Here’s our brilliant photographer’s Royal Ascot gallery
Today's non-runners
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2.30: Time For Wine
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3.05 Wolf Country
- 5.35pm Knight’s Table
Updated
It’s windy at Ascot ...
Updated
Big Orange sound as a bell
If you haven’t heard Talksport commentator Rupert Bell describing the victory of his brother’s horse in the Gold Cup on Thursday then here it is:
Got very pumped listening to @Rupertbell s commentary this evening in my car
— Craig Middleton (@OnixFounder) June 22, 2017
This is what commenting on your brothers horse sounds like pic.twitter.com/SwEsdECvNM
Meanwhile, Michael Bell reports Big Orange is well and arrived back home probably in a better state than his handler. “We’re all back at home, with no runners today at Ascot,” said the trainer on Friday.
“He got back last night, he’s bright as a button. His legs are ice cold and he looks very pleased with himself. They didn’t get back until 9pm last night so it is a very long day and an arduous race, but he’s got a very good constitution and the initial signs are he’s as bright as a button.
“Training racehorses is a roller-coaster of emotions, the highs are huge and yesterday was a massive high.
“It’s the feature race of Royal Ascot. It’s a massively historic race with loads of tradition attached to it. It takes a mighty horse to win over two and a half miles. When the commentator said they’d just past halfway after a mile and a quarter you think, ‘Oh my god’, but James Doyle gave him a wonderful ride. He got the fractions absolutely spot-on.”
Bell believes there could still be more to come from Big Orange, who will now attempt to win the Goodwood Cup for a third consecutive year.
The Newmarket-based trainer said: “We wanted to run him in the Gold Cup last year but the ground was on the slow side. Hopefully this time next year he’ll be back at Royal Ascot defending his crown.
“He’s won the last two [Goodwood Cups] so he’ll now go there and try to chalk up the hat-trick.”
He will definitely not be running in the Melbourne Cup.
Online gambling firms face clampdown after CMA investigation
Off the track here’s an important story about the gambling industry that has broken this morning.
Culturati out of the Wokingham
The Wokingham Stakes tomorrow is one of the big betting races of the week and there’s important news about one of the favourites, Culturati, who is a non-runner. Godolphin have had an excellent week so far, but that’s a blow. Check out the latest betting here.
Key non runner in the Wokingham - Culturati @Ascot @itvracing as per @godolphin https://t.co/uL67cngkj8
— Patrick Cooney (@patcooney_365) June 23, 2017
Far side v Near side ... the debate rumbles on
After three days, the discussion continues about which part of Ascot’s straight course is the best place to be. On Wednesday evening, there was broad agreement that the stands’ side was looking pretty good. A day later, the far-side runners came out on top in the Britannia. After a third night of watering, today’s GoingStick readings suggest the ground is fastest on the stands’ side (9.0), pretty quick on the far side (8.6) and is still slowest of all up the middle (8.3).
We don’t have a straight-course handicap today but the draw might be an issue in the 21-runner Albany that opens the card. The only sensible thing for the field to do, it seems to me, is split into two groups with all jockeys heading for the nearest rail. All the evidence suggests that just going up the middle will be a bad move. But I bet someone still does it and perhaps the whole field will just congregate in the centre of the track. The actions of one jockey can be hard to predict. The actions of 20-odd make for a real conundrum.
Duke of Edinburgh Handicap (5.35) preview
Gelded over the winter, Sixties Groove made quite a promising reappearance at Epsom this month, staying on into seventh over too short a distance. He has already proved his stamina for this distance and still looks nicely weighted. Roger Varian has two good chances, most obviously with Appeared, who won over this course and distance last month after being gelded.
His Wadigor is unbeaten and seems a challenge for the handicapper, who raised him a stone before his last run and then saw him hack up. He’s up another 8lb. Mainstream, owned by the Queen, has been steadily progressive but hasn’t won for more than a year. He took a keen hold again last time, despite having been gelded.
Queen's Vase (5.00) preview
This test of stamina should suit Stradivarius, mugged at Chester last time after a muddling early pace. Since he was trying to give 13lb to the winner, it’s hard to hold that against him and he can resume his progress here. The likely favourite is Time To Study, a battling winner of a Musselburgh handicap last time. He comes from the Mark Johnston yard that has won this seven times but might be disadvantaged by the fact that the race has been reduced in distance this year by quarter of a mile.
Aidan O’Brien has won this for the last two years and fields two, with Belgravia the first-string on jockey bookings. He looked a bit ploddy in Listed company at Navan last time. O’Brien’s other runner is Wisconsin, a son of the Irish Oaks winner Peeping Fawn, who won a Tipperary maiden last time and now takes a whopping step up in grade.
Coronation Stakes (4.20) preview
Coolmore have already met disappointment when bringing one dual Guineas winner, Churchill, here. He was unplaced on Tuesday but they should fare better with Winter, successful in the 1000 Guineas in England and Ireland. She looked a cut above her rivals on both days and it takes quite a bit of imagination to see her getting beaten here.
Dabyah missed the French Guineas last month because of an infection but would be the main challenger if entirely recovered and fit once more. Hydrangea beat Winter in the Guineas Trial in April but was well held by her in both Guineas and it rather looks as though she won’t be able to beat her again. La Coronel is a US raider from the yard that won last year’s Queen Anne. She’d need to improve on her form in eight races so far.
Commonwealth Cup (3.40) preview
In just its third year, the Commonwealth Cup is established as one of the highlights of the week and rather overshadows the Coronation Stakes, formerly unchallenged as the Friday highlight. The established excellence of Caravaggio, unbeaten in his five races, clashes with the rapid progress and unexplored potential of several interesting rivals. The concern about Caravaggio is that we’ve seen him just once in 10 months, in a race he was fully entitled to win, and it would be nice to have more recent evidence of his continued brilliance, in view of how short his odds are.
Harry Angel is a more attractive option and may continue Godolphin’s fine run, carrying their colours for the first time. Trained by Clive Cox, who does so well with sprinters, Harry Angel pinged off the fast ground at Haydock when landing a Group Two last month. He is 4lb better off with Blue Point for his defeat here before that and seems on a steep upward curve. The US raider Bound For Nowhere is very hard to assess but there is a suspicion that 10-1 might be on the big side about the latest Wesley Ward speedster to roll up here.
King Edward VII stakes (3.05) preview
Sir Michael Stoute pinged a couple of shots off the bar yesterday but may finally find the back of the net with Crystal Ocean. He was having just the third start of his life in York’s Dante last month, in which he kept on strongly into third. The second, Benbatl, has franked that form here this week. Meanwhile, Permian, the Dante winner, had a hard race in the Derby when fading after chasing a strong pace and this will be his sixth start of the year, which may take its toll.
There are five Derby runners here and Best Solution did best of them at Epsom, fading into eighth after also sitting close to that hot pace. The others are Glencadam Glory, Salouen and Khalidi. Best Of Days makes his seasonal reappearance, having failed to be ready in time for the Derby; he also has a tongue tie for the first time and would be interesting if Hugo Palmer’s yard were in better form. Intern is interesting. He was only second in the Sandown Classic Trial, which wouldn’t be good enough, but it was only his first start after switching from David Wachman to Ralph Beckett and there might be a good deal more to come.
Albany Stakes (2.30) preview
Alpha Centauri is a big, likeable filly with an unbeaten record in Ireland and proven on a fast surface. A stablemate of hers was beaten less than a length in the Coventry on day one, so her trainer knows the required level. But this might be another juvenile race in which the best idea is to side with a Wesley Ward runner, specifically Fairyland. Her US win was a furlong and a half short of this but she stayed on strongly and has some European turf blood in her pedigree. Her sire, Scat Daddy, has had three winners from four runners here this week. I’m not a huge fan of the way she’s more than doubled in price from 3-1 to 8-1, however.
Aidan O’Brien’s runner is Clemmie, a sister to Churchill, who got his first win at last year’s Royal Ascot after running third on his debut, just as Clemmie did last month. Unlike him, she wore a tongue tie, though that’s left off this time. Also, he won when stepped up to seven furlongs, whereas she is kept to six here and might find it on the sharp side.
Our tips for today
2.30 Albany Stakes Fairyland 8-1
3.05 King Edward VII Stakes Crystal Ocean 5-2
3.40 Commonwealth Cup Harry Angel 100-30
4.20 Coronation Stakes Winter 1-2
5.00 Queen’s Vase Stradivarius 9-1
5.35 Duke of Edinburgh Handicap Sixties Groove 13-2
It’s mostly short odds stuff in the four main races, I’m afraid, though Fairyland has drifted to a bigger price than I expected. If, as most of us anticipate, Aidan O’Brien wins the Coronation Stakes, that will make this a perfectly acceptable week for him after an unpromising beginning. Wesley Ward would get his third winner of the week if Fairyland did the business, while Sir Michael Stoute could finally get on the board with Crystal Ocean. Without really intending to, I’ve got a couple of my favourite jockeys down for doubles: Andrea Atzeni (Crystal Ocean, Stradivarius) and Adam Kirby (Harry Angel, Sixties Groove). Go on, lads!
Ladbrokes Royal Ascot tipping competition
You could win a £50 bet from Ladbrokes 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. You’ll have one more chance tomorrow. Congratulations to Mulldog, winner of yesterday’s competition. It ended in a three-way tie, as he, Mickle1 and mcwsj finished on +13.50, thanks to Benbatl, Big Orange and Atty Persse. Mulldog wins through our established tie-breaking procedure, having been the first of the three to post his tips. I’m afraid we can’t always dish out prizes to every dead-heater, as we did on Tuesday, when two people tied on the exceptional score of +31. Sorry to those who came so close.
Please post your tips or racing-related comments below.
It's Commonwealth Cup day at Royal Ascot
On Tuesday morning, with all 30 of the Royal meeting’s races still in the immediate future, there was a widespread belief that today’s Commonwealth Cup, a race that was introduced to the programme just two years ago, would be the best and most competitive Group 1 contest of the week.
That was before Thursday’s Gold Cup set the bar at a very high level, but it is a measure of the Commonwealth Cup’s depth that it might yet live up to its early billing. According to the betting, it is a four-cornered fight between Aidan O’Brien’s unbeaten Caravaggio, two runners in Godolphin blue in Harry Angel and Blue Point, and Wesley Ward’s Bound For Nowhere. There will be nowhere to hide as the four of them set out to sprint six furlongs at 3.40.
Caravaggio is a shade of odds-on pretty much across the board, but Harry Angel has been the stronger of the two Godolphin runners in the betting overnight. Bound For Nowhere, meanwhile, would surprise no-one were he to give Wesley Ward his third winner of the meeting, and even the 40-1 shot Tis Marvellous, a stable companion of Harry Angel at the Clive Cox stable, has form in the book that gives him at least an outside chance.
Godolphin has had the better of Aidan O’Brien so far this week with five winners in all to O’Brien’s pair, but the score in the Group 1 events is 2-1 and the Commonwealth Cup promises to be the decider, as O’Brien’s Winter is hot favourite for the Coronation Stakes, which is due off 40 minutes later.
The dip in year-on-year crowd figures on the first two days of the meeting was reversed on Thursday, when the Ladies’ Day attendance of 68,320 was up by around 4,000 on 2016. They will hope for an even bigger crowd today, when the other attractions on the card include the King Edward VII Stakes, where several Epsom also-rans will attempt to boost the Derby form in the same manner as Benbatl here on Thursday.
The Queen also has two runners on the card, including Mainstream, a possible favourite for the last race, the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes. The ground at Ascot remains good-to-firm after 4mm of water was applied overnight, to add to the 5mm on Wednesday night.
The GoingStick readings are 9.0, 8.3 and 8.6 on the far, middle and near side of the straight course respectively, which will feed into the daily guessing game of which side may be favoured in races on the straight course. This may have some significance only when it comes to the first race on the card, the 21-runner Albany Stakes for juvenile fillies, although the runners in the Commonwealth Cup will start in the middle of the course, where the readings suggest the ground is slowest of all.
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