Wednesday 18th June - Royal Ascot Day 2
By SP2A Analysis
HANDICAPS-:
5.00 Royal Hunt Cup - Class 2 - 1 mile - 30 run - Good to Firm
Let's start with the obvious and I do strongly suggest a win bet (or crafty e/w if you can get 9/2) on MY CLOUD. We may all feel cheated when a short priced favourite wins a 30 runner handicap but his price looks fair to me, so we should cover off the possible win to fund 4 each way pokes IF the probable happens.
A few drawn low (single figures) would have been almost certain tips but my eyes and head tell me that unless they have watered to compensate that for now Middle to High is the place to be draw wise, especially when a 30 runner field really gives those far side fewer tactical options.
So reluctantly I leave out Fox Legacy and Bullet Point, who may well have been 1-2 tips with a better draw, and I would mention the chances too of EBTS GUARD whose price does not take in to account some very strong form and who would be my reserve IF one of the others is a non runner - or you may wish a small punt to 6th or 7th places.
My top 4 though without My Cloud are in preference order-:
ARABIAN LIGHT - drawn 25 and one with a clear touch of Class, Charlie Appleby and William Buick will be salivating with a berth in Stall 25 and their only dilemma may be whether to go with a split high against the Stands rail or to tuck more in to the arrowhead of the echelon down the middle.
QIRAT has been in the TRACKER waiting for this and gets a potentially ideal berth in Stall 21, he wears headgear for the first time ; and if that has any sort of positive impact he really will surely place at least here.
TONY MONTANA drops back in trip and my only niggle would be traffic problems later on, a draw in Stall 12 though should see him able to latch on down the centre where it may be less crowded from the 3 furlong pole and if he did get a clear run through his proven Class and stamina could see him fly home literally.
TOKENOMICS just got the nod over EBTS GUARD purely on a lovely looking draw in Stall 26 and from a very canny yard that looks to have primed and prepared this as a target. (The Advisor)
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5.35 - Kensington Palace Stakes (a Handicap) Fillies - Class 2 - 1 mile - 24 run
I am very keen on RAINBOWS EDGE, the Class horse of the race, drawn 17 and the one they all have to best for a win bet or a crafty e/w banker. AROLLA made an impressive return on seasonal debut and the step back up to a mile is a big plus too. My 3rd rated on pure form is Sky Safari but a draw on the far rail in Stall 1 does her no favours on yesterday's evidence so I reluctantly leave out but if the bias is not against her, no doubt she could take this, but i have to go with gut feel.
Julia Augusta is another probably penalised by a low draw who would have been a strong consideration otherwise and Snellen, Serialize for Jessie Harrington and Arisaig and Queen Of Atlantis in single figure Stalls also merited a close look as did Cheshire Dancer at a price.
With the perceived Draw bias I think that both UNASSUMING and ROSE PRICK are well worth a small each way investment in this tricky race (RJ)
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STAKES RACES-:
2.30 Queen Mary - Cl1 G2 - Fillies - 2 year old - 5 furlongs - 25 run
It's hard to fathom the price of Zelania on pure form whilst True Love has more obvious claims. I will have a small side reverse F.Cast on them but really want to find some value.
Spicy Mary really caught my eye but is drawn in Stall 5, at bigger prices I think Flowerhead and Justice Twice could easily outrun Odds.
CARDIFF BY THE SEA drawn 16 looks the best each way punt against the top 2 and closely behind comes SOCIETY KISS who is drawn in Stall 10 from a yard you cannot ignore in this genre. Finally I think that at a price SOLANA ROSE despite a low draw looks the best of the ones largely ignored by the market (Caro)
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6.10 Windsor Castle Stakes (Handicap) Class 2 - 2 year olds - 5 furlongs - 23 run
I think the Northern trio of UTMOST RESPECT trained by Richard Hannon and drawn in Stall 22 and the Karl Burke trained pair of AZIZAM drawn in Stall 23 and JAN STEEN have great chances here.
Purely on merit, I would nominate HAVANA HURRICANE as their biggest rival (Northern)
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PLACEPOT PERM
2.30 - 23 True Love / 19 Society Kiss
3.05 - 7 Pinhole / 10 Skakleton
3.40 - 6 Running Lion / 5 One Look
4.20 - 1 Anmaat / 5 Sea The Fire
5.00 - 27 My Cloud / 1 Arabian Knight
5.35 - 1 Rainbows Edge / 3 Arolla
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TRACKERS
Ascot 5.00 Qirat
Hamilton 5.55 Kalikapour
Ripon 9.00 Canaria Queen / Jamie Bond