Races

Andrew Hawkins’ Royal Ascot Preview: Day 5

Posted on | Posted by Andrew Hawkins

Race 1

The final day of Royal Ascot begins with the Listed Chesham Stakes over seven furlongs (1400m) for the two-year-olds. A race that’s been won by the likes of Churchill and Pinatubo in recent years, this looks to have plenty of depth. The market favours Aidan O’Brien’s PEARLS AND RUBIES with stable jockey Ryan Moore aboard, but I think Ballydoyle blueblood CONTENT might be the way to go as O’Brien looks for his fifth win in eight years (and his seventh overall) in the Chesham. By Galileo out of top-class sprinting mare Mecca’s Angel, she’s bred for both speed and stamina. She was unsuited by a lacklustre tempo at Leopardstown but her effort to get within a neck of her stablemate Buttons was commendable. I’d expect more of a tempo for her to run at here and that brings her right into the mix. A pair of Sea The Stars colts, QUATRE BRAS and MATNOOKH, can improve off maiden placings, while Pearls And Rubies must be included in all exotics.

Numbers: 12-8-6-16

Suggested Bet: Content WIN

Race 2

We remain at the seven furlongs for the G3 Jersey Stakes, this time for the three-year-olds. It’s worth noting that the winner of this race often develops into a G1 horse, with three of the last seven subsequently scoring at the highest level. It’s been a big week for owners Amo Racing and that can continue with OLIVIA MARALDA. She ran well (finishing in a bunch behind runaway quinella Mawj and Tahiyra) when ignored by the market in the G1 1000 Guineas and she franked that form with a huge Listed win at Epsom last time out. On a firm deck, she remains a major threat. Unexposed pair COVEY and ENFJAAR are likely to develop into G1 horses in time. This is their biggest test yet but both of them are players. Next best is THE ANTARCTIC, stepping up beyond six furlongs for the first time.

Numbers: 15-5-7-2

Suggested Bet: Olivia Maralda WIN

Race 3

Australia may not have had much success in the G1 King’s Stand Stakes on Tuesday, but the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes over six furlongs (1200m) looks a prime opportunity for us convicts to get on the board. ARTORIUS arguably should have won last year but bad luck and inopportune timing meant that he fell three-quarters of a length short. Zac Purton provided a blueprint on how to get the best out of Artorius when taking the G1 Canterbury Stakes and James McDonald is the right man to follow that plan to a tee. He gets the nod ahead of another Australian-bred, WELLINGTON. Winner of the G1 Hong Kong Sprint in December, he has otherwise played bridesmaid to Lucky Sweynesse this season. That said, the balance of his form is good enough here and he should be suited by the way this race will develop. BIG INVASION wheels back quickly, two weeks after running Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Caravel to three-quarters of a length in the G1 Jaipur at Belmont. American sprinters tend to be overlooked in these races but have a strong record in these straight races right across the world and he looks to be finding form at just the right time. Next best is AL SUHAIL, who looks likely to go to a new level here after a winter in Dubai.

Numbers: 2-13-4-1

Suggested Bet: Artorius WIN

Race 4

The G2 Hardwicke Stakes over a mile and a half (2400m) is a primary lead-up to the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at the same track and trip next month, as well as providing a look at potential horses for Australia. It was first seen with Almaarad 35 years ago, 15 months before he would win the Cox Plate, while it is 30 years since Jeune won the race, the year before his Melbourne Cup success. That said, the last winner to make the trip down was Snow Sky in 2015, although since then the contest has thrown up horses like Beautiful Romance, Exospheric, The Cliffsofmoher, Mirage Dancer and Anthony Van Dyck, who have performed well down under. It is those Shadwell colours of Almaarad and Jeune that can salute here with HUKUM, who is coming off a huge win in the G3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes. His mile and a half form is tremendous and this looks his race. Last year’s Melbourne Cup favourite DEAUVILLE LEGEND makes his first appearance since finishing fourth at Flemington. He is likely to be a better mile and a half horse and he can be expected to have made progress over the winter. FREE WIND has won six of her eight starts and should be improved for her first-up outing at York, while outsider GRAND ALLIANCE looks a potential Melbourne Cup contender and should be included in all exotics.

Numbers: 5-3-8-4

Suggested Bet: Hukum WIN

Race 5

The Wokingham Stakes is the handicap equivalent of the Jubilee earlier in the card. Often, it can throw up horses heading to stakes company or – at the top of the weights – it can feature horses dropping back in grade trying to find form. The one who makes most appeal is ORAZIO for Charlie Hills and William Buick. He’s been great in two turf runs since returning from a long break, having missed all of his three-year-old season, and he looks to have more to offer in terms of ratings. He goes on top of FRESH, who has disappointed in his last three Ascot starts but generally has a good record in these ratings. He’s drawn the other side to Orazio and could see them fighting out the finish. SPIRIT OF LIGHT backs up after an OK run on Thursday where he finished second in his group. If something can take him into the race, he’s a player. Worth including HURRICANE IVOR in all exotics too.

Numbers: 8-9-11-6

Suggested Bet: Orazio WIN

Race 6

The Golden Gates Stakes is the last of the new additions to the Royal Ascot meeting, having been added in 2020. The three-year-old handicap over a mile and two furlongs (2000m) sees a number of lightly raced types stepping out. LIBERTY LANE creates interest here if his Dante run is ignored. He led there and think he might be better if something can cross him. He does race fairly fiercely, but I’d be keen to see what he can do if he can get some cover while prominent. That could come here from the inside. He does have plenty of weight but I still think he’s worthy of a bet. Down in the weights is ZIRYAB, who is out of the Australian mare Reem. He looks like this trip should suit and this appears a good option for him. The opposite is the case for KNOCKBREX, who should be well suited dropping back in trip and the form around the likes of Gregory, Chesspiece, Land Legend and Perfuse reads well now. CUBAN DAWN is one worth watching here, too. While he is still a maiden, the 2000m should suit. Even if he doesn’t perform, he is bound for Australia following this run where he will race in the Mt Hallowell Stud colours for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

Numbers: 3-17-13-9

Suggested Bet: Liberty Lane EACH WAY

Race 7

Saving possibly my craziest push for the last race of Royal Ascot. It is Britain’s longest professional flat race, the Queen Alexandra Stakes at set weights and penalties over 4355m. Love GOSHEN as a betting prospect in here. I’m convinced if he’d been aimed at a Melbourne Cup as a four-year-old, he would have been a major contender but instead he has developed into one of the most quirky jumpers around. He’s not short of talent but he is his own worst enemy. No hurdles in the way is most certainly a plus and he has produced some terrific performances over the sticks here at Ascot. He will either win cosily or do something completely silly, but he is worth a bet just for the thrill he will give you during the five minutes of the contest. And, because of how quirky he is, you’re getting well over the odds here. FALCON EIGHT is crying out for the firm ground that he gets here and he is a contender, as is one-time Melbourne Cup runner STRATUM who is looking to become the first three-time winner of this race since the Great Depression. Next best is well-bred hurdler DAWN RISING, coming off a third on the flat in the G3 Saval Beg Stakes.

Numbers: 6-5-1-3

Suggested Bet: Goshen WIN (Best Bet)

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