14:30 - No bet
I’d be lying if I said I was bullish about anything here when pretty much anything at the top end of the market has only had one start. I may chance Adrestia if she hits 66/1 (50/1 at time of writing) who shaped with promise on her debut at Windsor and going down to 5 furlongs should suit. Overall, there are better opportunities.
15:05 - No bet
The Queen’s Vase looks a slightly below par renewal to my eye and Aiden O’Brien will be looking to tie level with Henry Cecil by winning this race for an eighth time.
He has a real stronghold on the race, fielding four of the twelve at the time of writing. Illinois is the standout form pick after his 2nd to Ambiente Friendly at Lingfield but there is something about him I’m not sure about, he looks a real grinder and 7/4 is not my cup of tea there. It would be no surprise to me if Ryan got this one wrong and Highbury went and won for Wayne Lordan.
15:45 - Running Lion 10/1 1pt win
I think there has always been the impression that Running Lion is a better horse than what she has shown on the track and hopefully she can deliver some of that promise at the biggest flat meeting of them all.
Now don’t get me wrong, this season has been below par, she traded at 1.01 in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket, before being beaten easily enough and was then last in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom. However, I can make excuses for both of those starts, arguably going for home too early in the former and then not having the sufficient gap in the latter.
I am hopeful that a drop back to a mile will see her in better light as her stamina has flagged a couple of times now and I mean her father Roaring Lion wasn’t too bad when dropping back to the mile to win the QEII Stakes!
Rogue Millennium will be a big player if back to her best but her price now reflects that at 11/4 and Laurel is untouchable for me at 5/1, especially off the back of that unconvincing gallop. I’d back Running Lion win only at any odds of 8/1 and above.
16:25 - Alflaila 15/2 1pt ew
This isn’t the Prince Of Wales’ Stakes it looked like it was going to be following the rerouting of Inspiral to this and the non participation of White Birch; who would have been a strong fancy here.
That has left Auguste Rodin as a strong 7/4 favourite and Inspiral her market rival at 3/1. If the latter is at his best, he should take the stopping here and Inspiral was impressive on her only effort at 10 furlongs in America.
However, both of these have a history of blowing out which leads me to an each way bet in the race. The one I have landed on is Alflaila for Owen Burrows, a horse I have always thought could land a G1 if he could stay sound.
He makes his seasonal debut here, which may at first look a worry, but he has won first time out in all three seasons he has raced so I have no doubt he will be tuned up for this. Last time he ran was when 5th to Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes, staying on strongly at the line after being positioned too far back to get involved. I think with a more handy position, he can make his presence felt and he is a fair price at anything 15/2 and above.
17:05 - Wild Tiger 8/1 1pt ew
- Tempus 20/1 0.5pt ew
The Hunt Cup deserves some form of achievement for picking the winner with 30 runners spread across the Berkshire venue, but it is a race I like to tackle and I am happy throw a few darts this year.
My strongest fancy is Wild Tiger who I have had on my mind for this race since his latest victory at Goodwood. Since returning to English turf, this horse has won easily twice and just looks very progressive. He has bagged a high draw which in general proves the place to be in these races and he is thoroughly unexposed at a mile.
Saeed Bin Suroor won this race with Real World a few seasons ago and I think he has another group horse in a handicap and I would be dissapointed if he isn’t involved in the finish here. I’d have him a 5/1 shot so anything 6/1 + strikes as a strong selection.
The other one I am happy to take a swing at is Tempus who is available at 20/1, which seems a big price for a horse who has an excellent record over C&D. He is a veteran in this race too, finishing 7th off a mark of 109 last year and 3rd off a mark of 101 in 2022. He also won here off a mark of 103 after that effort that year.
He returns to this race off 96, 13lb lower than his effort last year so is handicapped to go well and hopefully a return to the venue can spark a return to form. His draw in stall four may not be ideal but he could make his own pace if required. Archie Watson has also added the blinkers and he has a 15% strike rate in the first try at this which is a very respectable strike rate too.
I would be happy to back both each way with 6 - 8 places available across different bookmakers.
17:40 - No Bet
I find the Kensington Palace a very hard to work out every year and changing from the round track to the straight track hasn’t made it any easier. I’ll leave that for better opportunities later this week.
18:15 - Shadow Army 5/1 1pt ew
The Windsor Castle is what people seem to deem the ‘most winnable’ of the juvenile contests at Royal Ascot and I think that Wathnan just want a winner on the board so have chosen this race rather than the Norfolk for Shadow Army.
He was such an eye-catcher when winning at York, defying a very slow start to strike late on, displaying a very good turn of foot. That form isn’t spectactular but it was more the visual impression that he left that made me want to be on his side next time out.
His draw in stall six may prove a stopping block to winning, you never know with Ascot, but I expect him to run well with a stiff 5 furlongs set to be right up his street. I would be happy backing him each way with 5 places at anything 4/1 or above.
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