Alex Hammond’s Tip of the Day: Sky Sports presenter Alex fancies 13/2 shot Glen’s Diamond: 3.05 at Ascot. Bet with Skybet. Ascot Day 4 preview below
Alex’s tips: Friday, June 17th 2011
Glen’s Diamond in the King Edward VII Stakes at 3.05 (each-way) @ 13/2 with Skybet
Maqaasid in the Coronation Stakes at 3.45 @ 8/1with SkyBet.
Royal Ascot Day 4 Preview: Friday 17 June
The King Edward VII Stakes is a Group 2 for three-year-olds over a mile and a half – Ascot’s Derby. Nathaniel represents John Gosden and William Buick and he had this race on his agenda following his second place to subsequent Derby runner up Treasure Beach in the Chester Vase last month.
He was singled out as a horse to follow last year after he ran Frankel to ½ length on his debut in a Newmarket maiden. He stays very well and won’t mind ground that isn’t super fast with rain forecast.
He is very likeable and Gosden is sure to win some nice prizes with him. Of his rivals, there are several that stand out. Mark Johnston has a decent entry which includes the horses he saddled to be first and second in the Lingfield Derby Trial – Dordogne and Hurricane Higgins.
I’d be with the latter to reverse those placings as I think he’ll be much more at home at Ascot than he was at Lingfield.
Aidan O’Brien is, of course, also represented with four entries – Seville will be the shortest priced of that quartet. Sir Henry sends World Domination to the race. This is a horse we tipped up for the Derby before he made his debut and he was impressive on his first start.
However, he ran flat in the Dante and he has been off since. I won’t write him off just yet, though, and he can run well. Genius Beast won Sandown’s Classic Trial for Mahmood Al Zarooni but was then beaten in France in Group 2 company and he looks more of a staying type.
Glen’s Diamond is an interesting runner for Richard Fahey. He has won both his starts this season including the Dee Stakes at Chester last time out and he will be better suited to this track.
Finally, another one to mention is Fiorente for Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore. He was behind World Domination on his first start, but then won his maiden impressively and he now takes the step up into Group company. I think this is a tough race to call, but I’m going to side with Glen’s Diamond each way.
The feature on Friday is the Coronation Stakes – a Group 1 for three-year-old fillies over a mile. It looks like a red hot contest with some smashing fillies in the line up. Together is the market leader at 4/1 for Aidan O’Brien. Her form looks solid – she was second in the 1000 Guineas and the Irish Guineas and deserves to win a big one.
With some of her contemporaries stepping up in trip she looks the outstanding miler in this. There is no doubting Memory’s ability and she would be shorter than 11/2 if she was straightforward.
However, you are taking a real gamble on whether she behaves after she planted herself in the stalls in the 1000 Guineas and essentially took no part in the contest. I wouldn’t be backing her just in case.
Theysken’s Theory is a 6/1 shot for Brian Meehan. She won easily at York last month and steps back up to the highest level. She should pick up a decent prize this season and comes here’s fresh.
Maqaasid is also 6/1. She was third in the Guineas before running midfield in the French equivalent where she was drawn badly and was always up against it. I’m going to take a chance on her for John Gosden and Richard Hills.
Good luck with all your bets
Alex Hammond
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