14:30 - Shareholder 9/1 1pt win
It is no surprise to see Whistlejacket a strong favourite for this race as he was very impressive in defeating Arizona Blaze on his second start. Especially considering that form has been boosted since with Arizona Blaze winning the Marble Hill next time out.
However, 11/8 doesn’t entice me to a bet, whereas the 9/1 about Shareholder does.
Shareholder was very green on his debut at Beverley in the Two Year Old Trophy but he still managed to overturn the more experienced Moving Force. Karl Burke clearly thought there would be a bucket load of improvement to come off the back of that from this expensive breeze up purchase and I can’t argue with him off the back of that. I expected him to be around a 5/1 shot so he has to rate a bet with some huge scope for improvement from his debut.
15:15 - Gilded Water 11/2 1pt win
I’m not going to lie, I have missed the price on Gilded Water and do think the 11/2 is short enough, but I would be sick if he won without my money on it.
He was so visually impressive at Chepstow when winning there and I said at that point about how I could see him rocking up here, especially with the exact same connections as Desert Hero last year.
That bare form is nothing to boast about but it is a different line of form to most of these and I think that performance displayed potential to be a better horse than one rated 92.
There is clear potential to blowout so he is only a win only bet but I think he has the most upside.
15:45 - No bet
16:25 - Coltrane 10/1 1pt ew
I’ve got to say this race will never be the same to me without Stradivarius being involved, but never the less, it looks a great renewal of the race.
Kyprios is a short priced favourite at 5/4 and I’m not sure he should be so short based off what he has done this season, looking very workman like in both successes. I feel he is priced on his remarkable 2022 campaign which makes me have to take him on.
Last year’s winner is not in this race but the runner up, Coltrane is. Andrew Balding’s horse has generally been a model of consistency and if you look at his form at Ascot, he is even more trustworthy. On his six starts at the track, he has won three times, finished 2nd twice and only been out of the frame once. That alone makes him an enticing each way proposition when you see him at odds of 10/1.
17:05 - Starlore 9/1 1pt win
The Brittania Stakes is not as good a race for each way betting as a lot of the handicaps this week, but I still want to have a bet on Starlore in this race for Sir Michael Stoute.
I have been a fan of this since he won on his debut at Sandown and to be honest have been dissapointed since that he hasn’t turned out to be a group performer.
His latest run at Goodwood was very eye-catching though, drawn widest of all which is always a problem at that course, then travelling the best into the race before finishing 7th after a luckless passage. Being out of Kingman, I am hopeful a well run mile at Ascot should allow him to tank through the race and hopefully Kingscote can deliver him late. I am happy to bet him at 8/1 upwards win only.
17:40 - No Bet
18:15 - English Oak 5/1 1pt ew
Ed Walker is having a great season so far and I think he has an excellent chance of making it even better by winning the Buckingham Palace Stakes with English Oak.
This horse looks ultra progressive and picked up where he left off last season by finishing 2nd at Newmarket to Noble Dynasty on his seasonal comeback; he looks a group horse in the making for the Godolphin team. English Oak then went to Haydock and destroyed a small but competitive field, full of well treated horses. He travelled all over them and won by 4 1/2 lengths eased down.
The handicapper has put him up 9lb for that to a mark of 99, but I am not sure that will be enough to stop him. He has bagged stall 26 which should prove useful, has form at Ascot over this trip and just looks a horse on the up. I will be shocked to see him out of the frame and he is a strong each way bet at anything 4/1 and above.
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