The Royal Hunt Cup (tomorrow 5pm) is just the sort of big-field handicap that I relish. At first glance, finding the winner seems impossible with no less 30 runners charging down Ascot’s straight track and the draw having a big effect on the result.
Perotto is a worthy favourite: he has proven form at the course and he is well handicapped on his best form. He has probably got a good draw in stall 30 but that’s by no means guaranteed. However, a couple of big-name tipsters have championed his chances over the past week and so odds of 7-1 or less make little appeal.
David O’Meara’s Blue for You and Daniel and Claire Kubler’s Astro King are others to consider but, once again, they are close to the top of the market. Instead, I am going to put up two horses with very different profiles at bigger prices, both of whom are also drawn high.
The first tip is POINT LYNAS, who is in the form of his life for up-and-coming trainer Ed Bethell. He has been second in his most recent two races, including last time out at Nottingham when he took a keen hold. The handicapper has raised him 3 lbs for that run but, because tomorrow’s race is an “early closing” handicap, he can run off his old mark of 95.
The jockey booking of Tom Marquand catches the eye as does his price. Back him each way at 33-1 with bet365, Betfred, Ladbrokes or Coral, all paying six places.
The other horse I hope can outrun his odds in the Royal Hunt Cup is ATRIUM, who has been disappointing to date this season in three runs. However, he has first time cheekpieces on tomorrow and I have a feeling that his trainer, Charlie Fellowes, has teed him up for this race as he loves having runners with a chance at the royal meeting.
Atrium has top-class form at Ascot, having won a 13-runner handicap at the course last season by three lengths under today’s jockey, Kieran Shoemark. Later in the season, he landed a 16-runner handicap at Doncaster off a rating of 96 and he can race off just a l lb higher mark tomorrow. Back Atrium each way at 20-1 with Paddy Power, paying seven places in the hope that the cheekpieces have the desired effect and he returns to his best.
I also fancy CIRCLE OF FIRE, who will run in the royal colours of HM The King and HM The Queen. Trained by Sir Michael Stoute , the colt’s last run in the Lingfield Derby Trial last month suggested the best is yet to come from this horse. He is also likely to be suited by a step up in trip to 1 mile 6 furlongs in the Group 2 Queen’s Vase (tomorrow 5.35pm). Back Circle of Fire each way at 13/2 with bet365, paying four places.
In the Kensington Palace Fillies’ Handicap (tomorrow 3.05pm), I am backing TARRABB from the in-form Owen Burrows yard. Three of the trainer’s eight runners from the past two weeks have won and he is a handler who rarely wastes “bullets” when sending his horses for big-race targets. Back his improving four-year-old filly each way with Sky Bet at 10-1, paying seven places.
In tomorrow’s big race, the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes (tomorrow 4.20pm), I was tempted to put up My Prospero, who will relish the step up in trip from 1 mile to ten furlongs. However, he faces stiff opposition and best odds of 7-2 are not quite big enough to get me to bet.
Jumbly is the best horse in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes (tomorrow 3.40pm) but is only 2-1 and that is too short to back him, while the two races for two-year-olds, the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes (tomorrow 2.30pm) and the Windsor Castle Stakes (tomorrow 6.10pm) are races that I can easily leave alone from a betting viewpoint.
I will be back tomorrow with my tips for day three of Royal Ascot. Until then, happy punting.
2023 flat season running total: – 7.3 points.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
Pending bets:
1 point each way Twilight Calls at 16-1 for the King’s Stand Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
2 points win Royal Scotsman at 14-1 for the St James’s Palace Stakes.
1 point each way Chillingham at 22-1 for the Copper Horse Handicap, paying 1/5 odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Zoffee at 14-1 for the Ascot Stakes, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Tarrabb at 10-1 for the Kensington Palace Fillies’ Handicap, paying 1/5th odds, seven places.
1 point each way Point Lynas at 33-1 for the Royal Hunt Cup, paying 1/5 odds, six places.
1 point each way Atrium at 20-1 for the Royal Hunt Cup, paying 1/5 odds, seven places.
1 point each way Circle of Fire at 13/2 for the Queen’s Vase, paying 1/5th odds, four places.
1 point each way Zoffee at 20-1 for the Northumberland Plate, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
Settled bets:
1 point each way Royal Scotsman at 17/2 in the 2000 Guineas, 1/5 odds, paying four places. 3rd. + 0.5 points.
1 point each way Call My Bluff at 4-1 in the Chester Cup, paying six places, 1/5th odds. 3rd. – 0.2 points.
1 point each way Safe Voyage at 12-1 in the Victoria Cup, paying seven places, 1/5th odds. 5th. + 1.4 points.
1 point each way Popmaster at 6-1 in the Connect It Utility Services Handicap
Unplaced. – 2 points
1 point each way Royal Acclaim at 6-1 in the Temple Stakes. Unplaced. – 2 point.
1 point each way Sprewell at 10-1 for the Derby paying 1/5 odds, five places. 4th. + 1 point.
1 point each way Arrest at 4-1 for the Derby, paying 1/5 odds, four places. Unplaced. – 2 points. 2 points win Saga at 14-1 for the Royal Hunt Cup.
1 point each way Mokaatil at 12-1 for the Epsom Dash, paying 1/5th odds, seven places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
2 points win Saga at 14-1 for the Royal Hunt Cup. Non Runner. – 2 points.
Comments