Royal Ascot Day 5 Preview
A fantastic week of racing comes to an end on Day 5 of the Royal Ascot meet where the feature race is the Group 1 six-furlong Diamond Jubilee Stakes. It has been another exceptional week of racing where the highlight for the preview must be selecting the 22/1 winner of the Britannia Stakes, Perotto. From a personal point of view, it was great to see Princess Zoe run a massive race in the Ascot Gold Cup and she is certainly one to watch over those marathon trips.
Lonsdale can Point punters in the right direction
Listed action kicks off the final day of Royal Ascot 2021 with the Chesham Stakes over seven furlongs. Won by the likes of Pinatubo and Churchill in recent times, it is a race that can often go to a smart prospect. Lonsdale Point 6/5 could be just that after an ultra-impressive debut success for a yard who notoriously don’t have their two-year-olds fully firing first time out. The form of that race is yet to really be tested but the horse five lengths back in second has come out and just been denied in a maiden, so the early signs are good. New Science is another horse who represents extremely powerfully connections, but the form of his debut win is yet to be tested either. He gave me the visual impression there was plenty more to come but I was far more taken by Point Londsdale who will be the selection. In these types of races market support can often be telling so my advice would be to pay close attention to the betting.
Royal winner on the cards in the Jersey Stakes
An extremely competitive field of 19 are set to go to post for this years Group 3 Jersey Stakes over seven furlongs. Creative Force is in fine form this season and looks the one to beat for Doyle and Appleby. Interestingly, William Buick has opted to ride 2000 Guineas fourth Naval Crown who could be really suited by this drop to seven furlongs. Her Majesty the Queen has two live chances and Tactical 16/1 caught my eye in behind Creative Force last time out. He was beaten by five lengths that day but shaped as though this step back up to seven furlongs was badly needed. It is worth noting he beat Naval Crown over seven furlongs on his first start this season! Tactical has form on ground with ease in the description and won the Windsor Castle Stakes at the meeting last season. I think there is lots to like about his chances at 16/1.
Progressive Ilaraab can strike in the Hardwicke Stakes
Next up on the card is the Group 2 Hardwicke stakes over a mile and a half. Broome currently heads the betting for Aiden O’Brien, and he has been in fine form this season, recording form figures of 1112. The step up to a mile and a half looks a good move but Broome has made hard work of a few of his wins, and I am keen to take him on. Hukum has excellent claims on the back of his Goodwood win, whilst 2019 St Ledger winner Logician is a very interesting runner. In a field full of relatively exposed horses, I am going to side with the extremely progressive Ilaraab 8/1 for the inform Haggas team. After a seventh on debut last season, he notched up five wins and reappeared with a sixth straight success. Having notched up wins on varying ground, rainfall isn’t a problem and I’m confident he can take this step up in Grade in his stride. On Official Ratings he only has a few pounds to find with the main market principles and as the form horse in the race he looks a nice bet at around 8/1.
Group 1 glory for King Power
The feature race of the day and the last Group 1 at Royal Ascot 2021 is the Diamond Jubilee Stakes over six furlongs. Starman heads the betting for Oisin Murphy and Ed Walker but despite being impressive on his seasonal return, his current odds of 9/4 look a little slim. He did beat Kings Stand winner Oxted and the reopposing Nahaarr at York, but I am not entirely convinced that’s a true form line. With plenty of rain forecast I would also question his form on soft ground. Dream Of Dreams looks a rock-solid contender for the Moore and Stoute combo, but I have decided to look for one at a bigger price. Art Power 9/1 was the horse I landed on for Tim Easterby and Silvestre De Sousa. His seasonal reappearance was a bit of a car crash to say the least. He was extremely awkward coming out the gates and then ran very keenly through the early parts. Once shaken up, he was short of room and his effort petered out. Hopefully that run has knocked the freshness out of him, and Silvestre adopts front running tactics. Not many of these, especially at the top of the market, like to lead and Art Power has dominated from the front in the past. The easing ground conditions should really suit, and I think he may just get loose on the front end. He is a winner at track and conditions have come right for him so I am hopeful of a big run.
Course and distance winner can continue his fine form
The Wokingham Stakes over six furlongs is next up on the card and like most handicaps this week, looks a tricky one to assess. King’s Lynn will bid to give the Queen a royal winner and should be much more at home now back on ground with ease in it. His price has contracted significantly though and in a race of this nature I always prefer a little more value. Rohaan 9/1 put up a career best performance when landing Group 2 honours at Haydock on his last start. That win came on bottomless ground, but he is also a winner on good to firm, so whether the rain comes or not, it isn’t a problem for him. He will have to concede weight to plenty of these, but he is a horse in the form of his life and has won over course and distance. Chil Chil is a horse I have followed this season and was my initial selection for this, but I am worried about the softening ground conditions for him.
Alfaadhel can prove his class in Golden Gates Stakes
A good-looking field of 16 have assembled for this year’s Golden Gate Stakes handicap over a mile and two furlongs. Plenty of these are unexposed types and none more so that current favourite Alfaadhel 9/2 who seriously impressed me on his last start. Racing wide throughout, Alfaadhel came there swinging into the straight and once niggled along cruised clear to win cosily by two lengths. The runner up and the fifth placed horses have come out and won since, so the form would look strong, but it was the visual impression he gave me that has got me so excited. He has received an opening mark of 98 which may not appear a great mark, but I believe he has group class potential and can put up a bold showing. As a son of Night Of Thunder, easing ground conditions shouldn’t be a worry and I think 9/2 is lovely price, even in a competitive handicap.
Frankie can finish the week with a winner
The final race of Royal Ascot 2021 is the Queen Alexandra Stakes over a gruelling two miles and five furlongs. Stratum heads the current betting for Willie Mullins and has the services of Ryan Moore in the saddle. With Cesarewitch winning form to his name, he has strong claims, but I prefer the chances of fellow market rival Falcon Eight 11/2. Frankie Dettori takes the ride once again after the pair combined for a cosy success in the Chester Cup. He stayed on strongly that day and shaped as though he may relish this time of marathon trip. The form of that win has also been boosted with 66/1 Ascot Stakes winner Reshoun way back in eleventh that day. My only concern would be if the ground got very soft but if good remains in the going description, I think he has a very big chance!
Thank you for reading the previews this week, I hope you have all enjoyed the action!
By Sam Rideout
Follow me on Twitter – @TheTr17pleP
