Andy Holding’s Saturday horse racing tips for Royal Ascot.
14:30 Saturday
Team Ballydolye will be buoyed by the victory of Fairy Godmother with regard to the chances of Bedtime Story in this opening juvenile contest, but it may pay to look elsewhere for the value in the shape of PENTLE BAY (best price 9-1).
Well touted prior to his debut at Leicester, the chances of him making a winning start took a turn for the worst when he was badly hampered as the gates flew back but to his great credit, he managed to overcome adversity by powering through inside the final quarter of a mile to get up close home.
Considering he managed to achieve this feat racing away from the track bias over towards the far side was an indication he might be an above-average type and with the same view held by new connections who had to go to 400k to purchase him subsequently, hopefully that initial outlay ends up being money well spent.
PENTLE BAY – 1-point each-way @ 9-1
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16:25 Saturday
Being a refugee from one of the Guineas before coming here and winning has been a common theme in recent years, so it’s easy to see why Haatem and River Tiber dominate the market in their bid to keep that trend going.
Age Of Kings, for instance, only managed to beat one home in last season’s Irish 2000 Guineas before causing a 22-1 shock in last year’s renewal and of the two who fought out the finish at The Curragh 28 days ago, the latter is very much expected to come out on top.
The only problem is everyone thinks the same and as a value seeker, there looks to be a better option from an each-way stance with TASK FORCE (best price 8-1).
A top-class juvenile, good enough to finish hot on the heels of Vandeek in the Group 1 Middle Park, connections were fully entitled to have a crack at the 2000 Guineas to see whether he stayed the mile and unlike many of his type, he ended up not quite seeing out the trip.
That said, he travelled well for a long way in a truly run affair and with the form, as we know, working out a treat since, this intermediate distance could end up being just about right for Ralph Beckett’s colt.
17:05 Saturday
The draw has proved less of a conundrum for punters throughout the week, where the pace has come from being the determining factor, but even so, finding the winner of this puzzle still isn’t any easier.
If you are going down the solid C&D winning form route, then look no further than DARK TROOPER (best price 7-1), who revisits the Berkshire venue following a stint over in France for new connections.
Previously with Ed Walker, the son of Dark Angel arrives here following a taking performance at Saint Cloud and although that display is hard to line up in context of today’s examination, the fact he came from last to first in a short space of time strongly suggests he is really beginning to get his act together again.
2-3 from over today’s C&D, his only defeat suffered at the hands of genuine pattern performers in a Group 3 on his final start last season, the four-year-old looks primed to keep those impressive stats intact for owners who clearly know the price of fish when assembling their burgeoning team.
Of those at a bigger price, FERROUS (best price 20-1) looks to have been slightly underestimated and he deserves to be played accordingly.
Impressive with two all-weather wins since gelded during the Spring, Jack Channon’s inmate was well backed to land a competitive six-furlong handicap back on the turf at Newbury last time out and although he came up a little short on the day, he still ended up running a big number in defeat.
Reportedly going well at home since, he has enough enate ability to adapt to today’s track at the first time of asking.
17:40 Saturday
The perceived wisdom with many is a wide draw on the round track can be more of a positive than negative but even so, Hand Of God might just need some divine intervention to win from box 17 of 17 and at the prices, he passed over in favour of PRIMO LARA (best price 8-1) and APPROVAL (best price 8-1).
The former represents a stable who have done well with the same team they’ve sent here in recent times and Jane Chapple-Hyam’s inmate arrives at the Berkshire venue on a high having captured two competitive handicaps with some comfort. Time wise he is right up there with some of the better fancied runners and there could still be more to come.
The latter is one of the more unexposed members of the field and he also clocked a smart speed figure when hacking up at Windsor last time out. Although he made all that day, he doesn’t necessarily have to lead and his opening mark of 90 looks more than workable.
18:15 Saturday
In Trueshan’s likely absence, probably not the classiest renewal of the traditional curtain closer and the one with the standout form is undoubtably QUEENSTOWN (best price 10-3).
Progressing with each run, Aidan O’Brien’s gelding has had the misfortune to lock horns with Gold Cup hero Kyprios twice this season and the latest one of the pair resulted in by far and away his best speed figure.
Obviously, he must prove that he gets this sort of trip but as they don’t often go that fast, his natural speed compared to the rest might well be the determining factor.
Of those at much bigger odds, DRAWN TO DREAM (best price 33-1) ran much better than his finishing position suggested in the Copper Horse handicap earlier in the week and he can put that valuable course knowledge to good use.
Drawn out on the wing four days ago, Jamie Osbourne’s gelding was rushed up to gain a prominent position but in doing so, he rather got lit up and ran with the choke out for the thick end of a mile and a half.
To his credit, therefore, to keep going as well as he did to finish sixth was testimony to his tenacity and, providing he is ridden with a little more efficiency this time around, this 2m4f winner on the Flat in Germany could prove the joker in the pack.
