Royal Ascot Day 2
2:30 Jersey Stakes
GALE FORCE TEN is a solid bet for this at 5/1. One thing for sure is, you know you will get a solid run from him as if anything he is ultra consistent. His form as a 3 year old is top draw, firstly started with an easy win in a class 1 at Dundalk. He was then stepped up in class to the Group 1 French Guineas, he ran a career best that day finishing a very respectable 4th, only getting beat by a ¼ of a length. He then went on to finish a gallant 2nd to stablemate Magician at the Curragh. Although he was beaten by 3 ½ lengths that day, I know one thing for sure is that was Magician lining up in this race today, I would go as far to say he would have been evens favourite without his run today. Today is a massive drop in class for GALE FORCE TEN and the 5/1 on offer is generous in my eyes.
3:05 Cambridge Stakes
Gambling is all about value and there is no better on offer than THISTLE BIRD today. We can get 8/1 but I have him at 9/2 in my book. Another horse who is very consistent and also 1 from 1 at Ascot. He has finished behind 2 of his rivals this season, those being Favourite Chigun and Dank. His run when 2nd to Chigun is underestimated. He got beat by a ¼ of a length giving him weight, Yet he is 3/1 and Thistle Bird is 8/1. Work that out. He finished 3rd against Dank who you could argue beat him fair and square. I beg to differ and actually think the race wasn’t run to suit and he ended up hanging badly right. You could say inmature. He done everything right in his last run when winning at Epsom. He showed a game attitude that day a horse who looked to have grown up. I am all over the 8/1. This is an E/w selection.
3:45 Prince of Wales Stake’s
CAMELOT is my Nap of the day and also my biggest bet of the day. For me this race is a 2 horse race, our selection and Al Kazeem. Although CAMELOT got beat by Al Kazeem last time out I still feel our selection is the better horse. I can’t get away from the fact of Aidan O’brien saying he was the best horse he has ever trained last year. In his defeat to Al Kazeem I believe Aidan O’Brien had left work in him for this race, where Al Kazeem was fully wound up. If I am wrong I will hold my hands up but I the confidence I have in this bet is one of the biggest of the flat season. Rumours are there will also be some big money going down on CAMELOT. 11/4 is fair.
4:25 Royal Hunt Cup
DON’T CALL ME is huge value at 33/1. Any horses form that reads 1433126 at Ascot in big field handicaps deserves to be a lot shorter. DON’T CALL ME finished 3rd in this race last year off a mark of 91 and although he now runs off 105 he must go here with an excellent each way being a course specialist. 33/1 is a right touch.
5:00 Queen Mary Stakes
BELDALE MEMORY is a horse I absolutely love. I actually think she could possibly be next years 1000 guineas. The maturity, the speed and turn of foot she has shown in her 2 starts is phenomenal. After her last run at York I pencilled her straight in for this. Both her starts have been on ground with a bit of cut in but her breeding suggests faster like today should suit. 4/1 is fair.
5:35 Sandringham Handicap
WOODLAND ARIA is the best handicapped horse in the race and with John Gosden entering 3 here, he is out to win this. I think she is the far better than her mark of 93 and with William Buick on board I have no doubt he will give us a great ride for our money at 5/1.
Good Luck
JPW Racing Tipster