Racing
Royal Ascot 2020 Day 1 Preview
It’s with a combination of trepidation and excitement that I approach Royal Ascot week. The opening day features five Group races but with far from ideal betting conditions for punters who will have to find winners without the aid of a run in many cases, as well as all the question marks which the circumstances of this season’s beginnings produces. Thankfully, the opening day’s Rollover Place 6 is without 2-year-old affairs at least. Read on for my Royal Ascot 2020 day 1 preview and feel free to join my Syndicate.
Royal Ascot 2020 Day 1 Preview
13:15 – Buckingham Palace Handicap
The only handicap in this Royal Ascot 2020 day 1 preview, so we’ll be hoping to shed a few units here by taking on some of those at the head of the market. It’ll be a huge relief just to get through this so I’ll throw a number of darts.
The ante-post favourite is Daarik, John Gosden’s lightly-raced 4-year-old who arrives on the back of success on the All-Weather at Newcastle. That was a solid showing on return but he is unraced on turf since May 2018 when beaten by 14 lengths at Nottingham on debut. I’m always keen to take on a favourite in a big field handicap but he has to be included as one who may have improvement to come. He is possibly the Group horse in a handicap that we’re looking for.
At the other end of the scale is 8-year-old Firmament who appears to finish just outside the places on every run, I can’t believe I’m saying it but dropped back to 7f, the trip over which his last win came, and 2lbs lower in the weights for a fair fourth at Newcastle, I feel this experienced handicapper will give a good run for her double figure price.
Another at a price who I like is War Glory, a horse I put in the tracker after catching my eye with a strong finish on Oaks day last year. I then painfully missed his 25/1 win in the Chelmsford City Cup but his flat turf mark of 96 looks workable and I think he could run a big race.
I’m also chucking in the two remaining Al Maktoum runners, Mutamaasik and Motakhayyel are both 4-year-olds running in a big field handicap for the first time but their scope to progress is appealing in a field where many appear to be well handicapped.
Selections: Daarik, Firmament, War Glory, Mutamaasik, Motakhayyel
13:50 – Queen Anne Stakes
A race which has produced a couple of big priced winners in recent years with Lord Glitters victorious in 2019, 12 months after Accidental Agent got up. They were 14/1 and 33/1 respectively. I’m not expecting a repeat of that having backed Circus Maximus ante-post and fully expect him to be involved in the finish. Last year’s St. James’ Palace Stakes winner returns over the same trip and the lack of a run is of no concern for a colt under Aidan O’Brien’s care.
Terebellum was mighty impressive at Newmarket over 1m 2f last, I’m surprised to see her back in trip in this but she warrants inclusion on the promise of that run and gets a fillies allowance.
Duke of Hazzard is likely to be on the scene but I question whether he is of true Group 1 quality and may find a few too good. Fox Chairman appears to be a 10 furlong horse, Mustashry disappointed in this last year and there are question marks over the form of his Lockinge win.
Billesdon Brook ran very well under a penalty in the Snowdrop after Richard Hannon had suggested she’d need the run, that puts her in contention. I was disappointed to see One Master and Lord North not declared as they would have been on the shortlist.
Selections: Circus Maximus, Terebellum, Billesdon Brook
14:25 – Ribblesdale Stakes
Frankly Darling delivered an impressive performance over 10 furlongs on only her second run. She was a going away winner and was 5 lengths clear of second, suggesting that a mile and a half is well within her reach. At a best price of 12/1 for the Oaks, she’ll be expected to go very well here.
My second selection, Miss Yoda, has done little wrong with a 2nd placed effort in the Group 3 Zetland Stakes, the only blot on an otherwise perfect early record. She won an Oaks trial at Lingfield, knuckling down late on after being very slow away. That form would suggest she needs to improve significantly to be on terms with the favourite who appears more progressive but she’s fair value for a place.
Trefoil and Born With Pride didn’t show enough on their first runs of the season for me to be too interested just yet. Ennistymon holds more appeal as one who could improve from a first win at Leopardstown last week for Aidan O’Brien but in truth I think John Gosden’s filly looks to be one of the week’s bankers.
Selections: Frankly Darling, Miss Yoda, Ennistymon
15:00 – King Edwards VII Stakes
A field of just 6 for this renewal. Mogul’s fourth behind Kameko in the futurity received a boost when he took the first classic of the season. The colt steps up to a mile and a half for the first time here and his runs to date suggest that this could bring about improvement but. at 6/4 two days out, he holds limited appeal and could be a bit vulnerable in a two place race.
Rated as his 3lb inferior is stablemate Arthur’s Kingdom who was second in a Group 1 at Saint-Cloud at the end of last season, there’s little doubt he will be suited by further and Frankie Dettori’s mount represents better value.
Mohican Heights’ win at Salisbury was a smart performance and that form is working out okay with third placed Berlin Tango a Group 3 winner at Kempton in the opening week. If going well and remaining fresh, the son of Australia should be involved in the finish.
A note for Pyledriver who has the benefit of a run under his belt, that being a useful second in the aforementioned Group 3. 20/1 may be big, although you’d like 3 places to aim at which you don’t get here. I’m hoping this is a trappy little affair where we can get the short favourite beaten.
Selections: Arthur’s Kingdom, Mohican Heights, Mogul
15:35 – King’s Stands Stakes
Battash needs little introduction. On his day he can win this with ease but which animal will turn up? He’s 4/6 for a reason but that produces a fascinating EW betting race and, if he’s not at the races as we’ve seen before, we could see a huge number of units crashing out here.
I like one at a bigger price. Liberty Beach has smart form at both 5f and 6f including Group 3 success at Sandown. She’s versatile ground wise and will get a significant weight allowance being both a filly and a 3-year-old. With the added benefit of a run over many of her rivals, a useful listed victory at Haydock, she can be competitive.
L’Abbaye winner Glass Slippers should be involved with a 3lb allowance to boot.
Selections: Battash, Glass Slippers, Liberty Beach
16:10 – Duke of Cambridge Stakes
The final leg of the Royal Ascot 2020 day 1 preview. Five of the last seven winners in this have returned SPs of 9/2 or shorter so it may pay not to look too far from the head of the market.
There must be more to come from Nazeef who took her time to get going in winning the Snowdrop from Billesdon Brook.
Jubiloso might well bounce back from a very disappointing run at Sandown at the end of last season but there are enough question marks to leave her out. The winner that day was Lavender’s Blue who was enormously impressive back in trip after a last placed effort in the Oaks. She backed that up with a solid fourth in the Group 1 Sun Chariot and to me looks overpriced here, perhaps as a result of the three above her in the market being trained by Messrs Gosden, Stoute and Haggas.
Haggas’ charge has a French Group 3 win to her name but all of her form is on ground that was soft or heavy. Just two here to hopefully get us over the line.
Selections: Nazeef, Lavender’s Blue
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