So briefly a review of yesterday the first race a fillies race and not many handled the conditions, Samitar did best and looks one to follow next season in staying events, Nathaniel confirmed his dramatic improvement from his previous race with an easy win just not sure if many of the others handled the going, Immortal Night was given a perfect waiting ride to give the French a one two in the Coronation again they handled the conditions best, and as predicted the fav wasn’t up to it in the Wolferton and my selection Beachfire loved the going and romped home for us at a nice price, and in the next our selection Namibian as predicted outstayed them all to enhance Mark Jonhston’s record in this race, the last race was won pretty well by Manassas again confirming that even on soft going you need a high draw, so gloating over and on to today’s racing.
2.30 the Chesham stakes one of the weakest races at the meeting and a no bet race for me with lots of unknowns, mainly that few have run on the going or over the trip so lots of improvement could be made by any runner, Fort Bastion ran second in a weak race at Haydock won by Mezmaar who has already been turned over this week, Polydamus might sneak a place he was very green last week and should come on a bomb for that and might sneak a place, the two with the best form are Maybe and Falls of Laura both are Danehill fillies and of the two I think that at the prices I would go with Falls of Laura she has won over todays trip and might be a better stayer but as I said a no bet race.
3.05 the Hardwicke stakes not a race for me to take odds on about any horse on today’s going, I think he might be beatable, Drunken Sailor was impressive last time it could have been the way the race was run though so a watching brief advised, but I think there is a horse in this race that is sure to be placed and could even win, but you need to subscribe to my services to find out that horse.
3.45 the Golden Jubilee an open looking contest, doubts about the going with Dalghar, doubts about the form and the going for Bated Breath but Richard Hughes is a positive booking, again doubts about Delegator on the going even if he will run or not, he ran well below par the only time he has encountered it, it’s interesting that Sir Michael Stoute runs Kingsgate Native again so soon, he does not often do that, cheekpieces are on today for the first time but he is so hard to win with, the ground and whether the race will come too quick have to be a worry about Star Witness who ran so well the other day, don’t think Bewitched looks good enough for this, I’ve narrowed this down to just three runners I think can win Hooray, Elzaam and Definightly, Definightly is pretty consistent on this going but he might just be wanting of a run to sharpen him up, very hard to split Hooray and Elzaam both have been much better since returned to shorter, Hooray will love the going but may be poorly drawn, and for that reason I would favour Elzaam but because there is a doubt about the going with him I couldn’t put him up as a selection.
4.25 the Wokingham just my cup of tea a massive field, doubts about the draw and what is in form and will handle the going, lots to get my teeth into, don’t think Hoof it has the form to win this, yes he is improving but he needs to find much more with the weight he has, Pastoral Player finally came good at Newmarket but will he repeat it on today’s going, Blue Jack would have a squeak if returning to top form, Burning thread with Dale Swift claiming five pounds would have a chance also if handling the going, Mac’s Power has been much better since sprinting but again the going is an unknown, waffle and Imperial Guest look to need to improve significantly to win this, don’t think Swiss Cross will last home on this going, narrowed this down to six runners that I think have a chance Victoire de Lyphar who has solid form ran a bit free last time but hopefully the run will have got rid of that, Lui Rei who has the cheekpieces on for the first time and will love the going, Deacon Blues who is hard to win with but generally runs a good race, Nasri who is perfectly drawn against the rails to make use of his front running skills, Fathsta who I am having a small place bet on, this is the first time for a while the gelding has encountered his favoured soft ground, but the worry is the poor draw, but Ascot draw bias can change overnight so a small place bet for me, and I personally am having a small bet on High Standing the class horse in the race and previous winner, to return to form, Ryan Moore keeps the ride when I am sure he could have picked from many others, blinkers he has worn the last are dispensed with and the ground has come in his favour the worry is though that he normally gradually comes to form rather than bounces back so for that reason only I am not giving him out as a selection.
5.00 the Duke of Edinburgh a wide open race and I would imagine that by this time the going is coming very testing so a true stayer needed to win this, don’t think Sharayeen is as good as needed to win this even though he is Richard Hills pick, the races he has contested have been fairly moderate in comparison to this race, not sure if Rock a Doodle Doo’s finishing burst will be so effective on today’s stamina sapping ground, Modun won a pretty moderate race well but you have to guess if he will improve ,which seems likely and if he will handle this bad going and I don’t know the answer to that so as favourite not for me giving weight all round, I’ve narrowed it down to just four runners that I think have a chance of winning but to find out what they are and what the selection is you need to subscribe to my service.
5.30 the Queen Alexandra stakes one of the most interesting races on the card and the hardest to fathom out with some horses improved enormously over jumps since they last ran on the flat so you don’t know what to expect from them, so not even going to make any comments about what will or won’t win just point out that Ryan Moore has chosen to ride Degas Art who was good on the flat and seems to be coming back to form over jumps, and Swingkeel will as usual relish the trip but whether he is good enough is any bodies guess.
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