Tuesday 16th June

 

The group 1 Queen Mary Stakes is normally the race which gets the festival underway, obviously this year with more races, things have been moved around. It is a race I have had great success with in the past.

 

The favourite here is Circus Maximus and he is a horse who deserves to be favourite on what he has achieved. I would not say I am massively keen to take him on but I am not massively keen about hsi skinny price either. I would want 10/3 at least before getting involved so at the odds of 9/4, I will happily take him on.

 

I have gone through this race in fine detail and the conclusion I have come up with is, it is a race with lots of horses who probably want a bit further and are not what you call proper milers. 

 

Circus Maximus is one of them who probably wants an extra 2f, Terebellum although impressive last time out, is down in trip from 1m 2f. Fox Chairman was campaigned last season over 1m 2f. Those are the first 3 in the market and although I am under no illusion that they can win the race, the fact that they want further is enough for me to want to take them on.

 

 

MUSTASHRY was the winner of last years Lockinge Stakes at Newbury when defeating Laurens by 2 lengths. It was a classy performance from a horse who is a miler through and through. He then came to Royal Ascot for this very race, coming home 7th of 16. I don’t think he was at his best that day but he did go for a gap which closed on him, meaning Jim Crowley had to switch routes. They were already racing and had gone for home so it was game over from this point. Once he got going again he stayed on but little things like this can be the difference. He probably wouldn’t have won the race, but he could quite easily be placed if he found the gap. They tried to step him up in trip for the Coral Eclipse on his next start but let’s be honest he was never going to beat the likes of Enable and Magical, besides it was over 1m 2f and I feel he is a much better horse over today’s trip. On his final start last season he was back to winning ways when beating Limato in a Group 2 over 7f. This is his first run of the season but in the past he has won when fresh and with Sir Michael Stoutes horses in very good form, he will be fit and ready. The price is 14/1 is simply too big to ignore. E/W.

 

BLESS HIM is a huge price at 40/1 (50/1 on the exchanges). He is not the best horse in the race if they all were on their A game, but in 12 years of being in the professional game never have I seen a race where they are all on their game. Take this race for example for the last two years running, the 2019 winner was Lord Glitters with Barney Roy, Laurens, Le Brivido all beaten. In 2018 Accidental Agent won this race with lots of top class horses in behind. My point being both horses were not the best horses in the race but on the day they were on their A game when others failed to turn up. If BLESS HIM is on his A game, a chance I am willing to take I think he is a monster price. He is a horse who loves it around Ascot and has won twice at the course from 4 starts, including at the 2017 Royal Ascot. Last year he beat Solid Stone and the classy Lord North at this course last September. Lord North went and beat Elaquam last week. BLESS HIM didn’t just beat LORD NORTH either he beat him virtually on the bridle. He travels strong through his races and has a decent turn of foot. A race like this with plenty of pace and it could be set up nicely for him. He has had one run this season which was two weeks ago but looking back he was clearly being trained to be spot on for this race. He has the potential to surprise a few but it all depends if he is at his absolute best. A cracking E/W bet with 4 places up for grabs. E/W.