Races

Andrew Hawkins’ Royal Ascot Preview: Day 1

Posted on | Posted by Andrew Hawkins

Race 1

As always (except for the weird COVID year of 2020), Royal Ascot begins with the G1 Queen Anne Stakes over the straight mile. While the European milers don’t look a particularly strong bunch, this is as good as it gets and it’s a cracking contest featuring plenty of international formlines – including an Australian angle with LIGHT INFANTRY, sixth in the Golden Eagle last year behind I Wish I Win as joint favourite. He was a neck behind INSPIRAL too in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville last year too so on that form he’s not without claims. However, it is the mare Inspiral that deserves top billing here. She was phenomenal over the round mile here in the G1 Coronation Stakes last year but failed at the end of the season last year down the straight. If she produces a similar performance to the Coronation, think she wins. MODERN GAMES is sure to have admirers after his victory in the main lead-up, the G1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, although that was a significant turnaround after a poor performance fresh in the G1 Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland in the United States. However, I think the race may set up well enough for MUTASAABEQ to turn the tables – it all depends on how Jim Crowley is able to rate him on the speed. CHINDIT, with form around both horses, is also a chance in an open race.

Numbers: 12-8-7-4

Suggested Bet: Inspiral WIN

Race 2

Even though a couple of expected acceptors didn’t pay up, this still looks a tremendous G2 Coventry Stakes over six furlongs (just longer than 1200m), beginning a top week of two-year-old racing in Berkshire. Sometimes considered England’s equivalent of the Golden Slipper, it is probably closer to a Magic Millions 2YO Classic insofar as its position in the calendar. Still, though, it has a long record of producing top-class horses. It does look a race for the Irish juveniles, but which one? Aidan O’Brien is aiming for his 10th win in the race with RIVER TIBER, who was ever so impressive in winning a Navan maiden by 10 lengths before pressing on to win a conditions contest at Naas. The step up to six furlongs looks logical and he’s a deserving favourite. However, in what is Frankie Dettori’s final Royal Ascot, don’t be surprised to see him score an early victory with GIVEMETHEBEATBOYS, who sold for £1.1m (about $2.05m) yesterday. Something of a surprise winner on debut at Navan, he followed up with a tenacious victory in the G3 Marble Hill Stakes. He ticks so many boxes and it would be a great story to see him score for Jessica Harrington. The other main contender is ASADNA, who recorded the joint third-best debut figure in the UK and Ireland with his huge maiden win at Ripon. While I prefer the Irish form, he appears best of the English and victory would not surprise. Include ARMY ETHOS in all exotics.

Numbers: 12-17-3-2

Suggested Bet: Givemethebeatboys and River Tiber QUINELLA

Race 3

The Australian assault on Royal Ascot begins in the G1 King’s Stand Stakes over five furlongs (1000m), a race that we have won five times. Nature Strip did break a drought stretching back 13 years with his victory last year, though. This year, Australia sends out two live chances – both three-year-olds – and, while COOLANGATTA is rated the better chance by the market, I think that CANNONBALL can score for Brett Prebble, Peter and Paul Snowden and James Harron. He had niggling issues in the spring and yet still ran well enough, including a third to Giga Kick in the G2 Danehill Stakes just two weeks before Giga Kick won The Everest. Since joining the Snowden camp, he’s developed into a more rounded sprinter and he only looks to have improved since his last-start third in The Galaxy. He’s far from suited at the weights but everything I’ve seen speaks to a sense of timing with him. This is the time to capitalise. Local mare HIGHFIELD PRINCESS is suited dropping back to the five furlongs and she will be tough to beat, while Coolangatta will likely find the front but could be running on empty late when confronted by the uphill finish. At huge odds, MOONEISTA can sneak into the placings too.

Numbers: 2-12-10-13

Suggested Bet: Cannonball EACH WAY

Race 4

It’s always a highlight when the winners of the English 2000 Guineas and Irish 2000 Guineas clash in the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes over the round mile. We get that here with CHALDEAN for England and PADDINGTON for Ireland. The first major stand I’m taking this year is opposing Paddington and hoping to get him out of the placings. His win in the Irish 2000 Guineas was strong but I’m still not entirely convinced about him. A line through Hi Royal, second to Chaldean at Newmarket and third to Paddington at the Curragh, suggests that Paddington is every bit as good, if not better, than Chaldean. However, I do feel Chaldean has more upside and is the better horse. Is that going to be the case on Tuesday? I think it will be, but I’m even more confident that if they met in six months’ time, Chaldean would be vastly superior. The hugely progressive MOSTABSHIR, the enigmatic ISAAC SHELBY and the unbeaten CICERO’S GIFT can all play enough of a part to keep Paddington out of the trifecta, so exotics through them with Chaldean to win might allow us to build a bit of a bank.

Numbers: 1-7-6-3

Suggested Bet: Chaldean WIN

Race 5

The Ascot Stakes over two miles and four furlongs (4000m) is a race that has produced Melbourne Cup contenders before, including Simenon and Thomas Hobson. The introduction of the Copper Horse Handicap later in the card has potentially changed that equation slightly, but last year’s winner Coltrane did go on to win the G2 Doncaster Cup and is favourite for the G1 Ascot Gold Cup on Thursday. Really quite keen to see what ZOFFEE can do here after he was just run down by Metier in the Chester Cup. He did fail in the Goodwood Handicap at this trip in July last year but Goodwood can be an awkward track. A similar effort to his Chester outing will see him right in the mix here. URBAN ARTIST drops back from stakes grade, although she was well beaten at Longchamp last start. Not sure she wants this trip but wouldn’t be surprised to see her make rapid improvement. Willie Mullins and Ryan Moore have had so much success in this race, hence why BRING ON THE NIGHT is favourite. He hasn’t raced since finishing second in this race last year and it would be a remarkable effort to get him back for this, but if anyone can do it, it is Mullins. LAW OF THE SEA has been good since a failed Dubai campaign and this looks an appropriate race.

Numbers: 11-4-5-17

Suggested Bet: Zoffee EACH WAY

Race 6

The Wolferton Stakes, over 10 furlongs (2000m), may as well be known as the “Australian Graduation Stakes” these days given its propensity for producing horses who race down under. It has not been as prevalent the last three years with the winners not heading down here – although beaten runners like Sir Dragonet, New Mandate and Blue Cup have – but from 2012 to 2019, six of the eight winners came to Australia including the likes of Contributer and Addeybb. I’ve liked HIGHLAND AVENUE’s two runs since returning from over a year on the sidelines and this looks the right race. Beaten three lengths by G1 Epsom Derby winner and current G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes favourite Adayar first-up was a good effort at level weights while he stuck on well enough in the G3 Diomed Stakes at Epsom last time out. Stamina is the query but he looks as though he will be a ridiculous price for what should be a suitable assignment. SAGA would be a popular first victory for King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the monarch’s silks. He was just beaten in the Britannia last year and his return at Newmarket was strong. Expect him to be a Group level performer this season. Last year’s runner-up CADILLAC, to be ridden by James McDonald, and the lightly raced FRANCESCO CLEMENTE are best of the others.

Numbers: 10-14-6-9

Suggested Bet: Highland Avenue EACH WAY

Race 7

The Copper Horse Handicap over a mile and six furlongs (2800m) is one of the newer additions to the programme. This will be the fourth time it is run but there are some potential Melbourne Cup candidates in the race this year, as well as a previous runner in RAYMOND TUSK. Once upon a time, VAUBAN almost certainly would have ended up in Melbourne before returning for the National Hunt season. A high-class hurdler, he is likely underrated in the official ratings on the flat and he looks so well treated here. He should be winning and a big effort could see him emerge as a Melbourne Cup contender. RULING DYNASTY might be his main danger stepping up to this trip for the first time. He was a big winner with a huge weight in much weaker company last time out and drops more than eight kilograms towards the bottom of the handicaps. He’s the clear danger. POINT KING, for owner Lloyd Williams and jockey James McDonald, is a chance, as is last year’s winner GET SHIRTY, but the day hinges on Vauban getting home.

Numbers: 7-14-4-1

Suggested Bet: Vauban WIN

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