Royal Ascot gets me more excited than the weekend racing fare so I am going to put up four horses who could well go off shorter when they line up for their respective targets next week. First up in RASHABAR in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes on Tuesday (4.20 p.m.). Brian Meehan’s three-year-old colt caused an upset at this meeting a year ago when landing the Coventry Stakes at odds of no less than 80-1.
Admittedly, next week he has to take on arguably the best horse in training in the form of Field of Gold but this race might just cut up to less than eight runners by the off, in which case the current three places would be attractive. For starters, the likes of Shadow of Light and Jonquil are more likely to run instead in the Commonwealth Cup and I suspect there may be one or two other defections amongst the 11 runners who accepted earlier this week.
Rashabar had one or two fitness niggles earlier in the season but his handler is convinced he has him back to his best now. Field of Gold, Ruling Court and Henri Matisse could, of course, fill the first three places in the race but 25-1 is too big for the Meehan runner, especially as we know he loves this track and fast ground.
Back Rashabar 1 point each way at that price – available with all leading bookmakers, but makes sure you place it with those paying three places (a couple of firms are only offering two places ante-post). It’s not impossible that he could spring a big surprise at this meeting for the second year running but a place would yield a nice profit.
Also on day one, DOCKLANDS is a big price in the Queen Anne Stakes (2.30 p.m.) for a horse that just loves Ascot. Trainer Harry Eustace’s five-year-old has form figures from his six runs at the course of 113222. He was also second in this very race last year.
Admittedly, this year’s renewal looks a tougher contest and the first three home in the BoyleSports Lockinge Stakes at Newbury – Lead Artist, Dancing Gemini and Rosallion – could fill the three places again on Tuesday.
However, racing is rarely that straightforward and so back Docklands one point each way each way at 25-1 with bet365, SkyBet, Paddy Power or Betfair. I am pretty sure he is better than he has shown in his first two runs this season and he will have been trained to peak for the Queen Anne by his astute handler.
Two-year-old races aren’t usually my bag but I think trainer Michael Bell’s filly SPICY MARG is overpriced to win the Queen Mary Stakes on Wednesday (2.30 p.m.). Trainer Karl Burke’s runner Zelaina has been all the rage over the past week or so on the back of her hugely impressive debut at Nottingham on 4 June when she routed a decent field.
However, Spicy Marg was equally impressive when winning a far less competitive four-runner race at Newmarket in early May. Bell has resisted the temptation to run her again, preferring to keep his charge fresh for Royal Ascot.
Bell is an excellent target trainer. As well as training a Derby winner (Motivator in 2005), he has enjoyed nine winners at Royal Ascot, and three of those wins came in juvenile contests. Bell said earlier this month of Spicy Marg: ‘We think she’s very smart. With the ground, I wouldn’t mind if it was fast but if it was very soft that would be an unknown. We really like her.’ The chances of soft ground are virtually non-existent given the weather forecast and so the five furlongs trip and the going should be perfect if she takes to the track.
There will almost certainly be more places available on the day but back Spicy Marg one point each way at 16-1 with William Hill or 888sport. I would be surprised if she goes off at 16-1 on the day and she is already as short as 10-1 with several firms.
Last but not least for Royal Ascot, I am looking forward to the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes a week tomorrow on June 21 (3 p.m.). Quite a few of those entered for this six furlong contest will not run because they will take their chances earlier in the week in Tuesday’s King Charles III Stakes over five furlongs.
One horse will just the single entry next week, as he is very much a six-furlong specialist, is Karl Burke’s ELITE STATUS and I can see him going off shorter than his current ante-post odds. It’s asking a lot of him to reverse the form of his Group 2 York race last month when he finished a well-beaten fourth to Inisherin and he may fail to do so.
However, Elite Status did not get a clear run at York and I am certain he will come on for his seasonal debut. His form has always been at its best in the late spring and early summer, sometimes tailing off by the autumn. Back Elite Status one point each way at 25-1, a price available with most bookies, all paying three places.
Anyway, that’s four more horses, three at 25-1, for an interest next week. That’s also the ante-post book for Royal Ascot done and dusted.
I have already put up two more ante-post bets: Native Warrior each way at 50-1 for the Royal Hunt Cup and Trawlerman each way at 8-1 for the Ascot Gold Cup. Sadly, the former is unlikely now to make the cut for the Royal Hunt Cup but we live in hope as this horse is made for that race and 50-1 would be a steal if he does line up.
Away from Royal Ascot, I am going to go in double handed for the Jenningsbet Northumberland Plate at Newcastle on June 28, having already put up Duke of Oxford each way at 33-1.
A lot of the horses at the top of the market for this race are going to run in one of the two staying handicaps at Royal Ascot on Tuesday and most that do are therefore unlikely to run in the Plate less than two weeks later. One horse that needs soft ground or an all-weather terrain is WHO’S GLEN so he has no entries next week at the royal meeting due to the anticipated quick ground.
Andrew Balding’s stayer made a promising seasonal debut when fifth in the Chester Cup early last month. There is no way he will go off at 16-1 for the Plate if, as I hope, he lines up for the race. Back him 1 point each way at those odds with bet365, SkyBet, Paddy Power or Betfair.
My thanks to all those who posted grateful comments on my winning tip, Lambourn, for the Epsom Derby last weekend. I will be back on Tuesday morning with the first of five daily columns for each day of the royal meeting. I will certainly be putting on my betting boots for a couple of really strong fancies in two of the handicaps for which there are no ante-post odds as yet so… watch this space.
Last weekend: + 8.8 points.
1 point each way Elwateen at 12-1 for the Oaks, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Lambourn at 10-1 for the Derby, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. + 10.8 points (Rule 4: 10p in the £).
Pending:
1 point each way Docklands at 25-1 for the Queen Anne, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Rashabar at 25-1 for the St James’s Palace, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Spicy Marg at 16-1 for the Queen Mary, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Native Warrior at 50-1 for the Royal Hunt Cup, paying ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Trawlerman at 8-1 for the Ascot Gold Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Elite Status at 25-1 for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Duke of Oxford at 33-1 for the Northumberland Plate, paying 1/4 odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Who’s Glen at 16-1 for the Northumberland Plate, paying 1/4 odds, 4 places.
2025 flat season running total: – 5 points.
2024-5 jump season: – 47.61 points.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jump season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jump season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
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