Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Royal Ascot on Saturday. View selections below.
Back a winner at 4/1 or more and get a risk free bet up to £50, with bet365’s ITV 4/1 Offer
THOMAS HOBSON (5.35) can bring the curtain down on another spectacular Royal Ascot week by landing the 2m 5f Queen Alexandra Stakes.
Willie Mullins’s dual-purpose performer hacked up by six lengths in the Ascot Stakes on the Tuesday of last year and was brought out four days later to chase home Oriental Fox in this marathon. Mullins has brought him to England a fresh horse this time round and he will take a power of beating under Ryan Moore.
HARRY ANGEL (4.20) has yet to register a victory at Ascot from four starts but that is a rare blemish on an illustrious CV which should be corrected this year in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
He made a confident start to the new season in the Duke Of York Stakes, giving weight and a beating to Brando. Clive Cox’s sprinter split Caravaggio and Blue Point in the Commonwealth Cup 12 months ago and probably has Aidan O’Brien’s Australian recruit Merchant Navy as his main rival.
IDAHO (3.05) is back to defend his Hardwicke Stakes crown after winning this plum prize for older middle-distance horses last year. Idaho never really picked up the bridle behind Cracksman in the Investec Coronation Cup at Epsom but it may be best to overlook that aberration on testing ground.
The five-year-old seems to come alive at Ascot as he showed when running a gallant third to Enable and Ulysses in last year’s King George. Sir Michael Stoute saddles hot favourite Crystal Ocean and he’ll be hoping for a better showing from his very easy Newbury scorer than last year’s warm favourite Dartmouth (fourth). Crystal Ocean was a beaten favourite in last year’s King Edward VII Stakes (third) and I’d prefer to back Idaho at the price.
Dreamfield has been a warm order for the Wokingham Handicap ever since he landed a gamble over course and distance in early May.
He may well hose up again and although stall eight may be considered a slight negative, it’s worth recalling that last year’s winner Out Do surprised the pundits emerging from stall one. The horse Dreamfield beat at Ascot, SILENT ECHO (5.00), is berthed in box 27 on the stands’ side and he has since gone on to win twice at Windsor. He should give his backers a decent run at an each-way price.
Fillies look likely to dominate the Chesham Stakes and Mark Johnston’s Natalie’s Joy has been a hot favourite ever since she romped home by six lengths at Goodwood. Equally impressive last time out was Godolphin’s BEYOND REASON (2.30), a four lengths winner at Kempton over six furlongs. She seems sure to relish this extra furlong and will be hard to knock out of the frame.
Compare horse racing odds and bet at the best prices
Tally Ho
Alan
To compare the odds on all today’s horse racing, click here
NB. All odds shown are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change.
