Royal Ascot Tuesday 14th June

ROBIN- Royal Ascot 5.00 Ascot Stakes - 2 miles 4 furlongs - Class 2 - 20 run - Good to Firm

 

A few very well backed horses in here especially the Mullins runner, a few old favourites who could always pop up at big prices, some very interesting contenders too whose form suggests the step up in trip may suit and a few pace angles that suggest it may be a truly run race for a change as on occasions in the past they've dawdled round slower than Harry Maguire and then sprinted up the straight in an ungodly mess.

 

Bring On The Night is a typical Mullins / Moore plunge horse, its Flat Racing credentials are pretty much non-existent and to be honest with you, just not any value and one to take on in my opinion.

 

There were actually 6 of the 20 runners that I looked most seriously at having whittled them down, outside of that list Arcadian Sunrise is a worthy second favourite but will need a strong end to end gallop and at the price isn't really each way value for me and would be more of a face-saver and I think there is better value elsewhere. The likes of Just Hubert and Who Dares Wins may have been also rans last year but their proximity to the winner in an untidy race shows just how hard this race can be to assess.

 

I do think there is an obvious pace angle here though in GOLDEN FLAME who ran very well over 2 miles last time and set sail getting the field stretched, if similar tactics are applied here then half the field could be off the bridle as they turn in rather than just queueing up in a huge traffic jam behind and I think the run of GOLDEN FLAME will dictate the race and wouldn't rule it out nicking a place or even slipping the field as they approach the bottom turn on the run in.

 

MAKE MY DAY for Gary Moore is well worth a long look it's had a couple of sighters at 2 miles and looks a nice each way price and one who could outrun its odds. PROSCHEMA for Dan Skelton is a very interesting contender as it travels very well, has a touch of Class and some decent Flat runs before Hurdling. I think it's the best of the NH horses in here and has strong e/w claims. RESHOUN sprang a 66/1 surprise last year, it has been a horse that's not unlike Just Hubert and Who Dares Wins, running well and finishing in the pack at extreme trips but it clicked in the race last year and grabbed the chance. I'm not 100% sure a truly run race will suit it as much but it ticks all the same boxes once again.

 

The 3 I like most though are COLTRANE for Ian Balding who was very impressive at Chester, a horse given time by his astute Trainer and who may now as a 5 year old just be approaching its bst with plenty of untapped scope and potential still. I like him a lot. ROCK EAGLE is another scopey type who still has untapped potential for Ralph Beckett, he looks ready to step up and although needing to find a bit they go for a tongue tie that should help him settle and could eek out a bit more.

 

I see COLTRANE as being a really improving horse, ROCK EAGLE being the next most scopey and PROSCHEMA being the most likely of the NH brigade with Reshoun and Make my Day the biggest dangers outside the top 2 in the market and I'll have some shrapnel on GOLDEN FLAME who is the one most likely to possibly slip the field and give some sticky bums in behind as they turn in! 

 

 

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I looked at th 6.10 race as it's not a Placepot or Lucky 31 race and whilst Cleveland is the one they all have to beat I will have some shrapnel to enhanced places on ALOUNAK who usually needs a couple of runs but who has won third race up and is very well handicapped here and BARDINELLI whose last run was just too bad to be true but who was very progressive beforehand.