Royal Ascot Eye-Catchers.

 @Mattysutcliffe

Coventry Stakes - Camille Pissarro (11/22)

Seemingly no fluke about Rashabar’s success, and we can upgrade it massively given the fact he pulled four and a half lengths clear of the next to finish on the far-side, with the 2nd-10th all coming up the near-side. 

he second home on the far-side was the favourite Camille Pissarro, who was going well for a while and marginally struck the front between four and three furlongs. I’d imagine that the eventual beaten distance and finishing position will dissuade punters from him next time out, but we can certainly upgrade his effort on the far-side and I don’t think he was all that in love with the firmer going.

He’s a half brother to Golden Horde who was beaten in this race in 2019 so I wouldn’t write him off just yet, and given he’s by Wootton Bassett out of a Pivotal dam, he could be one for the Prix Morny in August on an easier surface. Connections did it with another Wootton Bassett in River Tiber after he won the Coventry last season, who won the same Navan Maiden as Camille Pissarro did en-route, and he’s clearly a smart colt given Arizona Blaze was only beaten a length in the Norfolk.

St James’s Palace Stakes - Almaqam (6/8)

Stiff task going into the race, but the fact connections swerved the easier option of the Hampton Court tells you how highly regarded he is. Broke slowly from the widest stall and was poorly positioned throughout. Had to come widest of all on the straight and was first off the bridle, looked to be tailing off but was impressive with how he stuck on. Not Marquand’s finest ride as had he switched to the inner rather than angling out to go wide past Noteable Speech, he might’ve grabbed an extra place or two.

He clocked a nice finishing speed, and when granted a softer surface upped to ten furlongs we’ll see the bets of him. He convincingly beat Kikkuli who was only just touched off in the Jersey so the form’s there. I’d imagine they might chance him in the Eclipse next week, but wouldn’t want any firm in the going before chancing him each-way.

Queen Mary Stakes - Mighty Eriu (2/24)

Drifted markedly prior to the off despite Cromwell’s excellent record at Ascot. She broke well from a high draw but was reigned back. In hindsight, Gary Carroll will be wishing he went forward early on with her as she settled well, but lost early momentum by being held up. She had to suffer for a gap on the rail and once it opened, she had to come from rear but Leovanni had already flown from a favourable track position. The race generally favoured those on the far-side/middle, so we can upgrade Mighty Eriu’s effort strongly.

A stiff five furlongs will suit her for now, but she could easily go back up to six furlongs on an easier track particularly given her full brother has won both of his races over seven furlongs. She holds no entries, but there’s a six furlong fillies & mares listed race at the Curragh in October worth a good few quid, so she may end up there unless connections aim for bigger glory.

Royal Hunt Cup - Holloway Boy (4/29)

Amazing to think he’s only won one race, the Chesham, yet posted seven RPR’s in the 100s from ten starts. Went off a relatively un-fancied 22/1 for handicap debut, suggesting not many thought he was well in off 105. He bellied his odds however, catching the eye after travelling strongly in midfield before having the door shut on him multiple times and having to swerve right once in the clear for better ground.

By Ulysess out of a Pivotal dam, he’ll be fine back on a softer surface. He’s a tricky one to place, as I don’t think he quite stays a mile in top graded company, but then again there isn’t a an abundance of races over seven furlongs. Very surprised he doesn’t hold an entry in the Moet & Chandon International Stakes Handicap. If they drop him back to seven, the Park Stakes at Doncaster later in the year could be an option. Alternatively, given the fact he stayed on strongly over a mile last week, I wonder whether connections will ponder going over ten furlongs in weaker, perhaps the G3 Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock? Either way, he bounced back to form at Ascot and is certainly worth keeping onside.

King George V Stakes - Gasper De Lemos (5/19)

This race can often favour those held up, and that was the case this time around. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th had all come from rear/midfield after the prominent racers went quick early on. We can upgrade the prominent racer in Gasper De Lemos, who kicked clear off the bend and was only reeled in after a furlong, but still stayed on. The other to have raced up with the van throughout finished 14th, 15th, 17th, 18th and 19th, all beaten between 9L-46L. 

Gasper De Lemos gave weight to all those in front of him, posting the second highest RPR (103) in the contest. Top five will unfortunately all likely end up in Australia/Hong Kong due to our sad state of affairs, but hopefully we see Gasper De Lemos stay on these shores as he’s a beautifully bred sort, by Justify out of a Galileo Dam from the family of Alice Springs. Interesting he’s entered in multiple races over 1m6f despite weakening over 1m4f, but shaped like needing further when beaten a length by Birdman over 1m5f at Navan in May, could easily make up into an St Leger horse, or possibly a Gold Cup horse in time. Alternatively, drop him in trip on soft ground for something like the Grand Prix De Paris over 1m4f? A lovely young stayer to keep onside for the future.

@JMHorseRacing

Coronation Stakes - Elmalka (4/9) 

Roger Varian’s inmate had to prove the guineas was no fluke and she was as good as we all thought. She did that for me anyway. 

Slow away after the break she probably had plenty to do, Varian wasn’t particularly happy with the positioning. She plugged on fairly nicely and Varian seemed fairly impressed with her work considering how the race panned out therefore I’m more than happy to upgrade her performance. I’d say back on a straight track she’s certainly up to Group One standard although Varian didn’t rule out the chance of her going up to 10F within time! 

Sandringham Stakes - Indelible (4/30) 

‘How’d he pick that one’. 

Coming into it off 91 she clearly had a huge chance considering likely progression. I believe her run was excellent, although there wasn’t too much ‘draw bias’ this year - I don’t think the race panned out in a fair manner between both sides of the track. Indelible travelled like a dream throughout and found plenty to win her group (1/12), if the race just consisted of the far side group she’d have been a very smart winner. She ended up a 5/1 4th and therefore may be underestimated NTO where ever she ends up even after a stellar performance. I think she’s likely to stay at a mile for now but I wouldn’t be put off were she to go up to 10F in the future as she seems to see it out well. 

QEII Stakes - Vadream (5/13) 

A horse with it all to do coming into it - 13lbs below top rated and seemingly on less than optimum ground (100/1 SP too!). I think he run will slide under the radar with most due to it being a fairly poor race with a pace collapse. But this was an excellent run from him all things considered. 

Fellowes had said he was fairly confident of a decent run prior which I thought was a surprise in itself considering what we know about Vadream and the fact he looked to want it as soft as possible. I’d be of the opinion that this run will open up plenty of opportunities for him and he’ll likely be underestimated in the future too considering the stigma surrounding him - although as previous, he’ll likely head to the Prix De L’Abbaye! 

Golden Gate Stakes - Whiskey Pete (5/12) 

A really intriguing race to look back on in my opinion due to a few factors; an incredibly impressive winner, an obviously unlucky Palace Green and a less obviously unlucky Whiskey Pete. 

Whiskey Pete was an expensive purchase and has always been expected plenty of. He was a little outpaced early on and therefore Hector Crouch had to sit and suffer at the back of the field. As they turned in, Crouch decided to burrow up the inside in an effort to get a run although he and Oisin Murphy went for the same gap and nearly took eachother out. I’d say Whiskey Pete would’ve finished plenty closer without that interference and I’ll be backing him NTO.