Alex Hammond’s Tip of the Day: Sky Sports’ Alex goes for 4/5 chance Born To Sea in the 15:45 at Ascot. £10 Risk Free at Skybet.
Day 1 Preview…..
The Royal meeting gets underway with a bang on Tuesday with no less than three Group Ones and with the Frankel factor it’s set to be an outstanding day of sport. You don’t need me to tell you how wet the weather has been in the run up to the meeting and it’s likely the five day fixture will kick off on softish ground – at the time of writing it was described as good on the straight course and good to soft, good in places on the round course with some showers forecast.
So, what a start, and all eyes will be on the world’s highest rated horse, Frankel, when he lines up in the Queen Anne Stakes. It’s just a shame that there appears to be nothing to give him a race. Still, it’s a privilege to have a horse like him around and the Royal meeting is blessed with the two best racehorses in the world top and tailing (no pun intended) the meeting.
Skybet have Frankel 1/6 favourite for the race with Excelebration 6/1 although that horse has seen the back of Frankel a few times and barring drama or incident that shouldn’t change on Tuesday. Richard Hannon’s Strong Suit (11/1 at Skybet) has a good record at the Royal meeting having won the Coventry and Jersey in the last two years. He hasn’t run since the Breeders’ Cup meeting last November but looks the each way bet to me at the prices. This is a race to savour and I certainly wouldn’t back anything against Frankel.
Selection:Strong Suit (each way) 11/1 at Skybet
The King’s Stand is another of the Group Ones. This five furlong sprint is missing one or two of its protagonists and we won’t know until nearer the time (possibly raceday) if Bated Breath (5/1 co-favourite at Skybet ) will run.
His trainer Roger Charlton dropped him back to the minimum trip at Haydock in the Temple Stakes last time out and he wasn’t inconvenienced by it (all his best form had been over 6 furlongs prior to that run). That was on firm ground and he is more effective on top of the ground, so it could be that they wait for the Golden Jubilee on Saturday where he will have to take on Black Caviar over what was always considered his preferred trip of six furlongs. So, if he does run and the ground is on the easy side, that would be a negative. Ortensia and Wizz Kid are also 5/1. This is a race that has been poached by overseas raiders on numerous occasions (Australia have won it four times in the past nine years) Ortensia is trained in Australia and Wizz Kid in France.
Ortensia won the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan in March, that was her last outing. Wizz Kid won’t mind cut in the ground and was a winner of a Group Two in Chantilly last time out. There is plenty of confidence behind Ortensia and she looks to have outstanding claims and shouldn’t mind some cut in the ground. At a bigger price Tangerine Trees can’t be ruled out.
Bryan Smart’s horse is 20/1 so could be each way value. He won the Prix de l’Abbaye last October and ran a respectable race on his reappearance behind Bated Breath in the Temple Stakes carrying a penalty. It’s also worth remembering that Margot Did (20/1) is a Group One winner and although she has to improve on her recent form the old saying ‘form is temporary, class is permanent’ is in the back of my mind.
Selection: Ortensia 5/1 at Skybet
The St James’s Palace Stakes is the other Group One and it sees the best milers from the Classic generation taking each other on. Power is Skybet’s clear favourite at 7/2 after his win in the Irish Guineas (interestingly he is also entered in the Golden Jubilee on Saturday). He has Royal Ascot form as he won the Coventry here last season.
Hermival and Most Improved are next in the betting at 8/1. The former is trained in France and he was behind Power in the Irish Guineas. Brian Meehan’s Most Improved had a belated start to his season after missing the Guineas. He reappeared in the French Derby and didn’t get any luck and deserves another chance. You may remember he was being hyped up before the Guineas so it will be interesting to see if he can prove himself dropping back to a mile. Fencing is a 12/1 chance for John Gosden and I think he’s one to keep on the right side of. He didn’t appear to quite stay in the Dante and the drop in trip should suit.
Born to Sea is closely related to superstar Sea The Stars. Although he isn’t as good as his brother (could Pavarotti’s brother sing?) he is very smart. John Oxx’s colt is an 8/1 chance to better his efforts in the English and Irish Guineas and he could well do. He wore a hood at the Curragh and probably settled a bit too well and stayed on strongly. It could be a different story on Tuesday and I think he could offer each way value. Richard Fahey has supplemented Gabrial for this race and he is 14s so I hope he repays their faith in him.
Selection: Born to Sea 8/1 at Skybet
There was a significant market mover in the week for Cristoforo Colombo to give Aidan O’Brien a winner in the Coventry Stakes. He is the winner of his only start in a six furlong Navan maiden, but would be a bit concerned that Joseph O’Brien felt he would be suited by faster ground. I was impressed with at Skybet at Sandown in the five furlong National Stakes. He had the option of the Norfolk or this race and his trainer Richard Hannon hasn’t shirked the tougher challenge with this colt. He won his maiden over six furlongs so the trip should be fine.
He looks the best of British in this race and has been described as top class by his connections. Dawn Approach is another leading contender for Jim Bolger, the colt has won all three of his starts and his trainer seems to rate him very very highly. He had the option of the Chesham this week too. I’m with Sir Prancealot who oozed class at Sandown.
Selection: Sir Prancealot 7/2 at Skybet
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