Races

Andrew Hawkins’ Royal Ascot Day 1 Preview

Posted on | Posted by Andrew Hawkins

Race 1

It does look as though we have our first ‘lock’ of this year’s Royal Ascot meeting in the traditional curtain-raiser, the Queen Anne Stakes. PALACE PIER has only been beaten once, which was over this course and distance in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in October. He did come out of that race lame, though, and he strikes better ground here. Trained by John Gosden and his son Thady, Palace Pier won the St James’s Palace Stakes at the meeting last year, beating Pinatubo, while he comes in off an easy success in the G1 Lockinge Stakes. Perhaps the play is the quinella with REGAL REALITY, who should be suited fresh and on top of the ground.

Suggested Bet: Palace Pier WIN

Race 2

The Coventry Stakes for the two-year-olds is the closest thing the Brits have to the Golden Slipper – while there are bigger races later in the season, this is their closest equivalent. American trainer Wesley Ward is known for his precocious types and he has built up quite the record at Royal Ascot, particularly with juveniles, although he has never won this race. He has KAUFYMAKER, a filly who was absolutely dominant at Keeneland at her one start to date. She will be hard to beat, but at the price, it might be worth taking her on with EBRO RIVER, who did so much wrong at Sandown last start but was still able to forge clear to win the Listed National Stakes.

Suggested Bet: Ebro River EACH WAY

Race 3

The King’s Stand Stakes has been a terrific race for Australia (and for WA in particular) with Choisir, Takeover Target, Miss Andretti and Scenic Blast featured on the honour roll. No Australians this year, of course, but returning to defend his title is BATTAASH. He’s a logical favourite but he had a setback over the winter and has been in a race against time ever since to make it to this race. Instead, it might be worth chancing one of the beaten brigade from last year, LIBERTY BEACH, who should be suited back on top of the ground after winning one of the traditional lead-ups, the G2 Temple Stakes, on a heavy track. She’s very speedy and she’s the right type to take advantage of an underdone Battaash.

Suggested Bet: Liberty Beach EACH WAY

Race 4

The three-year-old colts do battle here with favourite POETIC FLARE surely setting some type of record, having run in the UK 2000 Guineas, the French 2000 Guineas, the Irish 2000 Guineas and now contesting the St James’s Palace Stakes. He does look the logical selection on exposed form but it might be worth going to another of the lead-ups, the Listed Heron Stakes. MOSTAHDAF was the winner on that occasion and he’s met with support, but I’m quite keen on the runner-up HIGHLAND AVENUE. The Charlie Appleby-trained grey had won all three of his starts at three heading into that race and was back in trip from 1800m to 1600m. He was on the worst ground and his effort to get within a half-length of Mostahdaf, conceding weight, was terrific. This looks a very suitable target for him and he can reverse the form.

Suggested Bet: Highland Avenue WIN

Race 5

The first of the handicaps for 2021 is the Ascot Stakes, a race that has been won by two future Melbourne Cup runners before in Simenon and Thomas Hobson. Both were trained by Willie Mullins, who has won this race three of the last six years. He has the two favourites here in M C MULDOON and RAYAPOUR, both coming back from races over hurdles, but it might be worth looking at the third of his runners, ROYAL ILLUSION. She should relish this stamina test and she gets ‘Aussie Tom’ Marquand aboard. Last year’s winner COEUR DE LION is also very capable at a mark that is only three points higher than last year.

Suggested Bet: Royal Illusion EACH WAY

Race 6

If you are watching any race to see a future horse for Australia, the Wolferton is it. Five of the six winners from 2012 to 2017 raced in Australia, including future G1 winner Contributor, while two-time G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Addeybb took the race in 2019, defeating eventual G1 Mackinnon Stakes winner Magic Wand. Last year, runner-up Sir Dragonet went on to win the G1 Cox Plate. PATRICK SARSFIELD looks the bet of the day at $5 at time of writing. The son of Australia was actually entered for the Melbourne spring last year but didn’t make the trip. He was a Group 3 winner in July and Group 1-placed in Germany later that month. He should improve for his first-up run at the Curragh. Expect him to win on his way to bigger and better things.

Suggested Bet: Patrick Sarsfield WIN

Race 7

This race was only run for the first time last year, when Fujaira Prince took the prize before heading to the £1m Ebor Handicap and taking the spoils there too. Grade 1-winning hurdler SALDIER is favourite with Willie Mullins attempting to turn him into his latest dual-purpose galloper. He’s the one to beat, but it might be worth having an each-way play at a huge price on SEXTANT. He won at Ascot at three, a season in which he developed into a Listed winner and a Group 3 runner-up when trained by Sir Michael Stoute and owned by Queen Elizabeth II. Last year, he was delayed by injury but he finished within three lengths of Listed Warrnambool Cup winner Le Don De Vie at Windsor before he was purchased to go jumping. He won a novice hurdle at Carlisle in December. He has had two runs on the flat for new trainer Keith Dalgliesh, beaten a long way both times but in races where he was simply outclassed. His rating may still be too high but he is worth a speck at potentially triple-figure odds.

Suggested Bet: Sextant EACH WAY

PLAY OF THE DAY

Race 1 – Quinella #6 and #9

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