john burke’s royalascot... · 2018-07-06 · betting insiders special report july 2018 ... given...

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July 2018

BETTING INSIDERS SPECIAL REPORT

The inside track from the professionals in the know

John Burke’s Royal

Ascot De-brief

And

Horses To Follow

------------------------------------------------------ 2 ---------------------------------------------------- Betting Insiders Special Report July 2018

All content is © copyright 2018 Blue Delta Marketing Ltd and may not be reproduced in any way without prior written consent.

That’s another Royal Ascot done for another year. The racing was as ever

of the highest class and all the races were as competitive as they always are.

But for me, we had to wait until Friday before we saw truly world class

performance as the one given by the Jessica Harrington trained Alpha

Centuari in winning the Group 1 Coronation Stakes.

Now that the dust has settled on last week’s action I have had a good chance

to look back at look at the races and to pinpoint some horses that should be

put into your trackers for races in the coming weeks.

Each year Royal Ascot provides plenty of horses that can win races later in

the season. Here are I will share with you the horses that have gone into my

trackers from Royal Ascot.

Royal Ascot – Day 1

Tuesday 19th June

This year’s Royal Ascot began with the going officially described as good to

firm. The action all began on Tuesday with the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes

over Ascot’s straight mile.

2:30 - Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) – 1m

This year’s renewal of the Queen Anne was won by Accidental Agent at

odds of 33/1 beating Lord Glitters at 20/1 into second. A bit of a shock

result for punters but reinforced the feeling that the older generation of

milers are not a strong bunch. With the first two home running to the form of

their 1st & 2nd in Class 2 handicap here over 7f, back in October.

Not wanting to take anything away from the Eve Johnson Houghton trained

4-year -old who ran out a deserved winner and gave his trainer a first Royal

Ascot winner but Accidental Agent was rated 109 coming into the race and

the runner up 107, which shows this year’s race wasn’t the best.



Lightning Spear always seems to go well in these Group 1 races but once

again the 7-year-old fell short of what was required and had to settle for

third. Maybe he just doesn’t quite get home over a mile on a stiff track like

Ascot’s but he will probably never have a better chance of winning a Group

1 than he did here.

Of the rest it may pay to note the running of the Andrew Balding trained

Beat The Bank who was beaten less than 2 lengths into 5th at the finish. A

notable improver last year over a mile winning a Group 3 at Goodwood and

a Group 2 at Newmarket. The 4-year-old was really unlucky in the run when

making his effort between the final two furlongs.

With a clear run I think he could have won. The ground would have been

plenty quick enough for the gelding whose best form last season came with

some ease in the ground.

3:05 - Coventry Stakes (Group 2) – 6f

It was over to the juveniles for race two. The pre-race betting suggested the

race was going to be a match between Calyx and Sergei Prokofiev. The

former was sent off the 2/1 favourite at the off and the son of Kingman put

up an impressive performance to win a by a length with his market rival

finishing 3rd.

The winner’s performance is worth upgrading as he raced on the stands side

whilst the next five home all raced on the far side. Not surprisingly he was

made the ante-post favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas on the back of

this performance.

Both the runner-up Advertise and Sergei Prokofiev look useful colts who

can win more races but it’s hard to see them reversing form with the winner

who clearly likes a sound surface.

Of the rest there should be races in Gee Rex who didn’t get a run when he

needed it but was staying on well at the finish to take 8th, beaten seven

lengths by the winner. He’s still a maiden after the three runs but he can put

that right surely over an extra furlong sooner rather than later.



3:40 - King's Stand Stakes (Group 1) – 5f

Blue Point who hasn’t been finishing his races off at 6f as well as seemed

likely. He was well suited by strongly run 5f and showed a good battling

attitude to hold off Battaash inside the final furlong. The runner-up seems to

lose his races before the start but this was still a good run by the 4-year-old

who will continue to be run well in these Group 1 5f races for the rest of the

season.

Mabs Cross made the improvement required to be competitive here and was

finishing her race off as strongly as anything to take 3rd. An extra furlong

maybe worth a go as she tends to get going to late over the minimum trip.

The real disappointment of the race was Lady Aurelia who won the battle

for favouritism but never really looked she would repeat last year’s success

in the race.

4:20 - St James's Palace Stakes (Group 1) – 1m

Without Parole hadn’t really impressed when winning at odds on at

Sandown on his previous start by the return to a quick ground clearly suited

the son of Frankel who made it four from four in taking this year’s renewal

in decisive fashion. He had two much pace inside the final furlong for Irish

2000 Guineas third Gustav Klimt.

He is clearly the best 3-year-old colt in Britain & Ireland with probably

more improvement to come. He will be tough to beat, if he goes for the

Sussex Stakes and gets his favoured underfoot conditions.

Tip Two Win who was runner -up in the English 2000 Guineas stayed on

late to get 4th and did a lot better than Irish 2000 Guineas winner

Romanised who couldn’t really get into the race after a poor start.

US Navy Flag who had finished second to Romanised at the Curragh set

some very strong early fractions that he was never going to be able to

sustain. He could go well if dropped back to 6f for the July Cup.



5:00 - Ascot Stakes – 2m 4f.

The only handicap on Day 1. It looked a good renewal on paper and so it

turned out to be and the form of the race looks worth following as a few

winners will come from it in the coming weeks.

Willie Mullins who had a strong hand in the race had three of the first four

home, including the winner Lagostovegas. It’s the race that provides

today’s two eyecatchers.

Day 1 – Notebook Horses

Chelkar, like the winner also trained by Willie Mullins was having his first

start for 603 days but was still sent off the 5/1 joint favourite. The 5-year-old

was too keen through the race and did well to finish as close as he did in 4th.

The lightly raced gelding should improve for the run and given he’s only

had the six career starts there looks to be plenty of progress in the horse if he

stays sound. He looks capable of holding his own in Group company as the

season progresses. Given his Australian owners a tilt at the Melbourne Cup

seems likely for this high-class stayer.

Coeur De Lion who finished 6th could be the other runner to take out of the

race. The 5-year-old was well backed before the race on the back of his

close-up effort in the Chester Cup consolation race on his previous start.

He’s now put up his best flat RPR’s on his last three starts and this was a

good run on ground that was probably a bit lively for this consistent stayer.

The gelding has a nice staying handicap in him when he gets more ease in

the ground.

5:35 - Wolferton Stakes (Listed Race) – 1m 2f.

Had previously been a listed handicap. The move to a non-handicap didn’t

make the race any easier a puzzle to solve, as this was probably the most

competitive listed race we will see all season. The race was won by the 4-



year-old Monarch’s Glen who was well suited by the use of the first-time

hood and was value for more than the 1 length margin of victory.

The Roger Varian trained Sharja Bridge was stepping up from 1m 1f and

from handicap company but he was well found in the betting. The colt

travelled well for a long way and was still in contention at the furlong mark

before his stamina seemed to run out and he faded to finish 8th. A drop

back to a strongly run mile looks the way forward for him on the evidence of

this run.

Wednesday 20th June.

Day 3 was once again run on almost perfect summer flat racing ground after

some watering.

2:30 - Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) – 5f

The card opened with a juvenile race for the fillies over the minimum trip.

Signora Cabello was clearly well suited to the stiff 5f here and followed up

her recent York listed success with a battling performance to land the

valuable prize. Less than two lengths separated the first seven home which

suggests the form may not be that strong. Still it was a likeable win by the

John Quinn trained filly.

Servalan, trained by Jessica Harrington, had won a Listed race at Naas over

6f on her previous start but she found the drop back in trip was not in her

favour, as she got going too late and had to settle for 6th. She will stay

further than 6f, her dam won over a mile and given this was only her third

career start there should be more to come from the filly. I wouldn’t be

surprised if she turned out to be the highest rated of these fillies come the

end of the season.

3:05 - Queen's Vase (Group 2) – 1m 6f



A race that used to be run over 2m turned into an Aiden O’Brien benefit as

he had the first three home. It’s also a race that provided me with the first of

the days eyecatchers.

Kew Gardens who seemed to be on pace making duties in the Derby.

Showed he was a much better horse than he showed at Epsom with a fairly

comfortable win and become one of the ante post favourites for the St Leger

in the process.

Southern France finished runner-up. The son of Galileo never saw the

racecourse as a juvenile but has made up for lost time by running three times

in less than a month, in April/May, winning at Leopardstown and latterly

over 1m 5f at Navan.

He lacked the experience of his stable mate when it mattered but still ran a

nice race when staying on well into second. There should be more to come

from this colt with more racing and a step up in distance. The Goodwood

Cup would seem a good target for him. As a 3-year-old he would get plenty

of weight from the older generation and could give Stradivarius a race.


Jeremiah, trained by Charlie Fellowes, came into the race with an official

rating of just 81. He had plenty to find with the principals on ratings. The 3-

year-old never got involved after an awkward start and will remain on a

winning handicap mark off 81.

3:40 - Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Group 2) -1m

The Marco Botti trained mare Aljazzi, who seems at her best when coming

into a race after a decent lay off, went one better than last year when proving

too strong for her ten rivals.

Hydrangea who came in to the race with a Group 1 penalty. ran well below

her best but she won over 1m 4f on soft ground last season so a mile on this

ground wasn’t in her favour. When she steps up in trip and gets a slightly



easier surface is when we should see the best of the Aidan O’Brien trained

4-year-old.

4:20 - Prince Of Wales's Stakes (Group 1) – 1m 2f

Cracksman doesn’t seem to be enjoying his racing and like when just

getting up to win the Coronation Cup he was never travelling here. Whether

we will see the real Cracksmen again this season is a moot point. Take

nothing away from the progressive winner Poet’s Word, as he won the race

on merit and now heads to the King George for another Group 1 win.

Of the rest there’s not much to say. Cliffs Of Moher has never matched his

second placed effort in last year’s Epsom Derby and isn’t a Group 1 horse.

Meanwhile Eminent who was 4th in that same Derby is another who

doesn’t seem to be going forward and looks below Group1 class.

5:00 - Royal Hunt Cup – 1m

The first of two handicaps to end Day 2. I backed and tipped up the winner

Settle For Bay so I was happy with his performance as he ran like the well

handicapped horse he clearly was. Given the lack of high quality milers

among the older generation he surely isn’t far below Group 2 level on this

run. The race provided me with a couple to keep on side for later in the

season.


Flaming Spear, trained by Dean Ivory, was having his first start since

switching from the Kevin Ryan stable. He didn’t disappoint his backers and

ran a great race to finish 5th on going that would have been plenty lively

enough for the 6-year-old. He also did best of those who raced in the far side

group. He’s only had 15 career starts winning 4 of them but there looks to be

a valuable pot or two in the gelding when he gets a slightly easier surface to

race on.



Raising Sand, trained by Jamie Osborne, was nibbled at big prices before

the race and was another to run a good race with the future in mind.

Like Flaming Spear, the 6-year-old raced far side. All his best performances

on Racing Post Rating’s (RPR’s) have come at Ascot over 7f or 1m. He

handles other tracks and is effective on good to firm going, although he’s 5

wins from 10 runs on good or good to soft. He’s the type who needs all the

cards to fall right in a big field races but when they do he is capable of

winning a nice pot.

5:30 - Jersey Stakes (Group 3) - 7f

Expert Eye, was one of the best juveniles in the early part of 2017, He had

seemed to be going the wrong way since and was only 10th of 14 in the

2000 Guineas. He bounced back to something like his best and was too

powerful in the finish for his 20 rivals. The strong early pace suited the colt

as it helped him settle better in the early part of the race

Maybe 7f is his optimum trip, although the way he was finishing off his race

a mile shouldn’t be a problem. He could now head for the Sussex Stakes at

Goodwood, would need to be supplemented for the race. He put up a

tremendous performance at Goodwood last year so no issues with the course

for the colt.

Is he a Group 1 horse? On this performance I would say yes. Does he stay a

mile? The jury is still out on this. Will he back up this excellent

performance? Again, his profile suggests he may not. Hopefully Goodwood

will tell us more.

Thursday 21st June

Gold Cup Day got underway on officially good to firm going but if the times

are any guide the watering had produced almost perfect good ground.

2:30 - Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) – 5f



Only two lengths separated the first five home in this juvenile race which

does cast a certain doubt on how good a renewal this was.

The filly Shang Shang Shang battled on well to win and provided trainer

Wesley Ward with yet another Royal Ascot juvenile winner. Of the rest

Konchek was a fair 5th and looks in need of an extra furlong.

All in all, though, a race that hasn’t grabbed my attention.

3:05 - Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3) – 1m 2f

Hunting Horn trained by Aiden O’Brien, hadn’t been beaten far into 6th in

the Prix Du Jockey Club (French Derby) on his previous start and in all truth

looked a class above his 15 rivals when winning by 4 ½ lengths. Ryan

Moore always had the son of Camelot in a good position and this was

important in a race where few got into the race from behind.

Zaaki, had ran well on all four of his starts as a juvenile without winning.

Had switched to Sir Michael Stoute over the winter and won a Thirsk novice

race on his first start back in April before finishing 3rd on his handicap

debut at Chelmsford. His 3rd placed effort here showed He’s a slow burning

improver, that his trainer often does well with and who can win races. A

step up to 1m 4f could bring out more improvement in the colt.

Further down the field I doubt we have seen the best of the Roger Varian

trained Masaarr who wasn’t disgraced in 7th. He travelled as well as

anything coming into the straight before not getting the best of runs. The 3-

year-old has only had the six career starts so remains open to a bit more

improvement and has the option of dropping into handicaps.

3:40 - Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2) – 1m 4f

A race for the three-year-old fillies which was won by good one in Magic

Wand. The filly had caught the eye when winning the Cheshire Oaks on

good ground. The soft ground she faced at Epsom didn’t suit her at all and

she only finished 4th to her stable mate Forever Together.



The return to quick ground really suited her, as she beat 1,000 Guineas 4th

and Epsom Oaks runner-up Wild Illusion and the highly regarded but

inexperienced Sun Maiden in decisive fashion. As in the previous race her

jockey Ryan Moore was seen at his best as he had the filly in the right

position from the start. The daughter of Galileo showed a nice change of

gear when going clear between the final two furlongs.

The Irish Oaks is now on the agenda for the winner and probably the third,

who could get closer to her at the Curragh. But as long as the ground

remains on the quick side Magic Wand will be a tough nut to crack against

her own sex over 1m 4f.

4:20 - Gold Cup (Group 1) – 2m 4f

Only nine went to post for this year’s race but still produced one of the races

of the meeting. As expected on ratings the first four home pulled clear of

their field.

The early fractions were not strong so it probably wasn’t the strongest tests

of stamina but Stradivarius showed a battling attitude to win by ¾ length.

Given he finished his race slightly lame and lost a hind shoe this was

probably an even better performance by the colt than the final margin of

victory suggests.

Vazirabad couldn’t have asked for the race to pan out better than it did. A

furlong out he looked the most likely winner but he was just outbattled in the

final 110yds by a horse who just wanted it more.

Any doubts about the 2m 4f trip for Torcedor were answered as he battled

on well once headed inside the final furlong and almost grabbed second off

Vazirabad. He will no doubt be back for this race next year having proved

he gets the distance and can be ridden a bit more aggressively.

Order Of St George, the 2016 winner and runner up last year, was sent off

the 7/4 favourite. Not for the first time he ran below his best on really quick

ground in finishing four lengths behind the winner in 4th. The six-year-old



entire looks like he may have his mind on other matters these days although

the ground would have been plenty quick enough for him.

5:00 - Britannia Stakes – 1m

The first of two big field handicaps that concluded day three of the meeting.

This one for 3-year-old colts and geldings over the straight mile. Thirty went

to post for the race but few got into it.

The improving Ostilio was given a great ride by Silvestre De Sousa.

Leading down the middle he was soon in the clear and his jockey allowed

him to drift over to the stands side. He was not for catching and won with a

bit more in hand than the final margin of 1 ¼ lengths suggests. Granted he

got the run of the race out in front and it was never going to be easy for the

hold up horses to come from behind in the circumstances.

The Hugo Palmer trained Curiosity did best of those coming from the rear

but never looked like he would catch Ostilio and would have preferred a

stronger overall gallop. Corrosive also trained by Hugo Palmer was another

not seen to best advantage by the pace of the race and it should pay to ignore

this run.


George Of Hearts looks to be the one to take out of the race for the future.

Dropped into the rear, he settled nicely enough but was never really able to

land a blow on the principals and finished 9th of 30, beaten about 4 ½

lengths by the winner.

In the circumstance it was a decent performance, given he didn’t get the

clearest of run between the final two furlongs. But even with the smoothest

of passages the colt wouldn’t have won although he might well have

sneaked into the first five.

That’s two good performances at Ascot from him now and the market

support he received before the race indicates a mark of 92. He’s only had the



five career starts so there should be other days for the over a mile or strongly

run 7f.

5:35 - King George V Stakes (Handicap) – 1m 4f

Eighteen 3-year-olds went to post for this Class 2 handicap. Unlike the

previous race this was run at strong pace from the off. The well-bred

Baghdad, one of six Mark Johnston runners in the race showed a good

battling attitude inside the final furlong to hold off the challenge of Hughie

Morrison trained Corgi. Both the winner and runner-up look good horses

who can win more races this season.

The unlucky horse of the race was First Eleven. The colt, like the winner, a

son of Frankel got no sort of run between the final two furlongs. Once in the

clear he was finishing his race off best of all and was beaten less than half a

length at the line. With a clear run the Gosden horse would surely have gone

onto win.


My horse to take out of the race isn’t First Eleven but the Ralph Beckett

trained Occupy. The colt won on his sole start as a juvenile at Kempton last

November. He left his moderate seasonal reappearance behind when

finishing 3rd at Nottingham back in May. Making his handicap debut off 88

and stepping up to 1m 4f for the first time, he was another not to get the

clearest of runs when making his effort between the final two furlongs. With

a better run he would have finished closer tan he did in 5th. There should be

other days and races for this lightly raced horse who proved his stamina for

1m 4f in this strong run race.

Friday 22nd June

Day four continued on good to firm ground but times indicated that the

round track was faster than the straight course.

2:30 - Albany Stakes (Group 3) – 6f



We didn’t see a stand out juvenile filly at the meeting but the one that I liked

most was the Mark Johnston trained Main Edition.

A big strong filly in the paddock she made it 3 from 3 with a battling success

here. She looked like she might go on to win by more than she did coming to

the final furlong but didn’t pull clear of her rivals. Once challenged by the

eventual runner-up she pulled out more to win.

The daughter of Zoffany should get a mile as three-year-old and maybe

needs a step up to 7f now. She’s now won on Good to firm(twice) and soft

so she seems ground versatile and given her attitude behind the bridle she

can win more races this season. It will take a good filly to lower her colours.

3:05 - King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) – 1m 4f

This year’s 3-year-old colts don’t look a great bunch in all truth and this race

didn’t look the highest class on paper. Old Persian won the race nicely for

Charlie Appleby. The colt was always well placed in race where it paid to

race handily and was always holding the late challenge of Rostropovich

inside the final 110yds. I felt that the runner-up could reverse form with the

winner if they met again and that proved to be the case in the Irish Derby.

Of the rest Wells Farhh Go ran a decent enough race. He was unbeaten as a

juvenile with both wins coming with ease in the ground at York. The good

to firm going isn’t seeing him to best advantage at the moment. He shouldn’t

be underestimated in this Class when the ground eases more and his stamina

can be brought into play.

3:40 - Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) – 6fcp

The recent introduction of this race for the 3-year-olds has been a

tremendous success and this year’s renewal attracted a field of twenty-two

sprinters.

The Sir Michael Stoute trained Eqtidaar was a game winner by ½ length

and continued his trainer’s good run of form at the meeting. The colt had

shaped with promise when runner-up over C&D on his seasonal



reappearance on soft ground. The good even gallop helped the colt to settle

much better than he had done on his previous two starts. Any doubts about

quick ground for the colt were dispelled although the suspicion remains he

could be even better horse with a bit more ease in the ground. He will now

head for the July Cup to take on the older sprinters, a race that promises to

be a real cracker.

The runner-up Sands of Mali got the run of the race when winning a Group

2 at Haydock on his previous start and probably didn’t quite get it here. He

did best of those who raced in the group on the stand side. He might well

have won the race if he had been racing closer to the Stoute horse. He could

well also head to the July Cup but the slightly extra distance of the Prix

Maurice de Gheest at Deauville was mentioned as a target for this likable

colt.

Hey Jonesy ran a cracker for Kevin Ryan in 4th. Both his career wins had

come in lesser company on the all-weather but he showed he’s just as good

on the grass.

Off the rest Sioux Nation the 11/4 favourite was never in the race and this

surely wasn’t his true running.

The well touted Equilateral who had created a good impression when

winning a Doncaster novice race, by a long looking 8 lengths, on his

seasonal reappearance. He showed up well until the final furlong before

fading out of contention. Given his trainers horses were racing below par

during the week he showed enough to suggest he’s worth another go in this

company.

The one to take out of the race could be Heartache, trained by Clive Cox A

high class juvenile filly who won the Queen Mary here before ending the

season with a good win against the boys in the Group 2 Flying Childers at

Doncaster. She’s been slow to come hand this season but got a lot closer to

Sands Of Mali here than she did on her return to action at Haydock. Only

beaten 2 ½ lengths into 7th this was a step back in the right direction and

hopefully she can continue to progress through the rest of the season.



4:20 - Coronation Stakes (Group 1) – 1m

My performance of the week, like probably most punters, has to be Alpha

Centauri’s six length, demolition of what looked a good field of 3-year-old

fillies Coronation Stakes on Friday. The Irish 1000 Guineas winner just

bounces off quick ground and she must have a great chance of beating the

colts and the older generation in the big Group 1-mile races as the season

progresses. Given her owners, a tilt at the Breeders’ Cup Mile looks a likely

end of season target for her. She was just awesome but she does probably

need quick ground to be at her best.

Of those behind there was plenty of encouragement in the performance of

Veracious in finishing 3rd. Very weak in the market she was clearly

expected to need the run on her first start since winning a Newmarket

maiden back in October. She had no answer to the winner as she swept past

her at the furlong mark but she kept on well to hold 3rd. The daughter of

Frankel will come on for this run and she will be suited by slightly easier

ground.

5:00 - Sandringham Stakes (Handicap) – 1m

The Britannia handicap for the 3-year-old fillies. A field of 23 fillies went to

post for the mile race over the straight mile.

It looked a competitive on paper but there was a handicap blot in the field as

the well backed Agrotera showed she was the well handicapped filly her

connections thought she was by winning comfortably off a mark off 88. She

will now be heading into Group company after this win.


Besides the winner the one to take out of the race looks to be the Joseph

O’Brien trained Ship of Dreams. The daughter of Lope De Vega had

finished runner-up in a Leopardstown Group 3 on her previous start and was

making her handicap debut here. She put in a career best here despite only

finishing 6th. However, he performance can be marked up as she didn’t get

the best of runs when making headway between the final two furlongs. The



filly got within 3 ¾ of the second and with a better run would have finished

much closer than she did.

5:35 - Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap) – 1m 4f

A traditionally competitive end to day four with 18 runners going to post for

this middle-distance handicap. One again it paid to be drawn high in the race

with the winner Dash Of Spice coming out of stall 14. The 4-year-old came

into the race on the back of a win in a valuable handicap at Epsom on Derby

Day. An 11lb rise in the weights was no problem for the colt who won by 2

¼ lengths from the strong finishing Sir Chauvelin, who has since gone onto

finish 3rd in the Northumberland Plate.


Appeared, trained by Roger Varian, had finished runner-up in this race last

year and ran to a same level of form here when finishing 4th this time

around. The 6-year-old was having his first start for 301 days but given he’s

won first time up in previous seasons. I doubt he was lacking for fitness

here. Still this was a solid effort in defeat from the lightly raced gelding

whose had just the 12 career starts. His top four RPR’s have come over

C&D, so Ascot is a track he really likes.

He will no doubt be heading back here for a valuable C&D handicap at the

end of the month like he did last year before heading to the Ebor meeting at

York.

Given his powerful connections have kept the gelding in training they must

think there is a decent prize to be won with him.

Saturday 23rd June

For me this is the weakest of the five days. Like the previous four days the

meeting was run on going officially described as good to firm.

2:30 - Chesham Stakes (Listed Race) – 7f



The Tom Dascombe trained Arthur Kitt provided the heart-warming story

of the meeting. But there was also plenty to like about his win too. The son

of Camelot who had won over 6f on his racecourse debut needed the extra

furlong to win. He and the runner up Nate The Great pulled nicely clear of

the rest of the field.

Nate The Great advertised the training skills of Archie Watson. The son of

Nathanial an easy winner at Carlisle on his racecourse debut was doing all

his best work at the finish but found the line coming just to soon. There will

be more improvement to come from the colt who will get a mile this season

no problem. The first two home are smart colts who can win more races.

Although I wouldn’t be surprised if the Archie Watson horse got the better

of Arthur Kitt should they meet again.

3:05 - Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2) – 1m 4f

A disappointing field of just four went to post for the race. Crystal Ocean

was long odds on to make it 3 from 3 in 2018 and he didn’t really give his

backers too much to worry about as he won with plenty in hand at the finish.

He was made favourite for the King George on the back of this win and he

will bid for his Group 1 success in the race.

3:40 - Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed Race) – 5f

A big field of 28 runners went to post for this Listed juvenile race.

Following on from the great performance of Nate The Great, trainer Archie

Watson went one better to land his first Royal Ascot winner with Soldier’s

Call. The son of Showcasing led the group racing on the stands side

showing plenty of pace but he still had enough left in the tank to hold off the

fast finishing Richard Fahey trained Sabre.

The form of the race looks solid with the 4th Van Beethoven having since

gone to win a Group 2 at the Curragh.



Day 5– Notebook Horses

Plenty of winners should come out of this race in the coming weeks. The

one that took my eye most was the Joseph O’Brien trained Dom Carlos.

The colt had broken his maiden tag at the third attempt with a decisive win

at the Curragh 15 days earlier. The son of first year sire Gale Force Ten

raced in the far side group he came form further back than the first two but

was arguably finishing his race off best of all. He remains a juvenile

sprinter with plenty of potential. He should get an extra furlong like his half-

brother Red Pike whose five career wins have come over 6f. As the season

progresses he could rate the best of this field.

4:20 - Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) – 6f

The race of the day without any shadow of a doubt. It was a case of job

done by the ex-Australian trained sprinter Merchant Navy, albeit by only a

short head at the finish. It was close shave for the Aidan O’Brien trained

horse who just held the fast finishing French trained City Light by a short

head. Indeed, the runner up would probably have won in a few more strides.

Bound For Nowhere ran an extraordinary race for Wesley Ward, the colt

who had finished 4th in the previous years Commonwealth Cup showed

blistering speed when racing all alone down the centre of the track. He hung

badly left inside the final furlong losing plenty of lengths in the process. In

the circumstances he did really well to finish ¾ length behind the front two

at the line. If he had he had kept straight he would surely have won this.

The Tin Man who had won the previous years race got going too late but

managed to get within 2 lengths of the principals at the finish.

The front two in the betting both failed to give their running. Favourite

Harry Angel’s Ascot hoodoo struck again. The 4-year-old lost his chance in

the stalls, he missed the start badly after getting one of his hind legs trapped

and had no chance after that. Australian sprinter Redkirk Warrior was well

backed into joint second favourite but he never gave his backers much hope



they would be collecting and he eventually finished a well beaten 10th of 12.

He didn’t give his true running.

Last season’s Champions Day Sprint winner Librisa Breeze was well

backed before the off but he didn’t ever look like playing a hand in the finish

and was well beaten in 9th. He needs soft ground to win at Group 1 sprint

and will be seen to better advantage when he gets his favoured underfoot

conditions in the autumn.

There’s a slight chance that the winner could stay for the July Cup but he’s

due to return down under to take up stallion duties.

5:00 - Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap) – 6f.

The annual cavalry charge is one of the big betting races of the week.

Despite the competitive nature there was only one horse that punters wanted

to back and that was the John Gosden trained Dreamfield who ended up

going off 2/1 for one of the most competitive handicaps of the flat season.

The 4-year-old just failed to land the gamble being beaten a neck by another

lightly raced 4-year-old in the shape of the Brian Meehan trained Bacchus,

who was making his seasonal reappearance. It was a great training

achievement which seemed to fail to get the recognition it deserved with all

the attention focused on the runner-up.

Make no mistake Bacchus was a worthy winner who could easily hold his

own in Group company but as I wrote in my Monday Daily Punt column:

“James Doyle a jockey I rate highly, wasn’t seen at his best on the favourite.

I thought he used his whip far too early, which led to the horse drifting left

at the furlong mark. But for that he might well have won”. Still it was a

great performance by a horse whose only had the four career starts.

Dreamfield, will now take his chance in the July Cup and at the time of

writing he can be backed at a tempting 14/1 with William Hill for that race.

Day 5– Notebook Horses

https://dailypunt.com/



As ever plenty of future winners will come out of the race.

My four for the tracker are Tis Marvellous. The 4-year-old was a high class

juvenile sprinter, who missed his 3-year-old season due to injury. The

gelding didn’t really fire on his two starts back at Meydan but shaped a lot

better when a close up 5th of 15 at Newmarket in May. His 4th placed effort

was another step back to form and there should be a decent sprint handicap

in before the season is out if he stays sound.

Gilgamesh a fast finishing 7th in the Victoria Cup before winning a 7f

handicap at York was surprisingly dropped down to 6f. He found things

happening too fast but was doing his best work at the finish to take 7th. A

return to further will suit the gelding who has another valuable handicap in

him before the season is out. The Bunbury Cup at Newmarket on fast ground

could be the ideal race for him.

Spring Loaded, trained by Paul D’Arcy, had bolted up in the valuable

Portland Handicap at last year’s St Leger Festival off 11lb lower. The 6-

year-old had looked in the grip of the handicapper after that win but he

showed here that he can still be competitive off this sort of mark. Returning

from a 217 day break he couldn’t get a run when he needed it and in the

circumstances he did well to get within 3 ¼ lengths of the winner in 9th.

Al Qahwa, trained by David O’Meara, was noted staying on into 12th at the

finish. He was never in with a chance on quick ground. The 5-year-old best

performances on RPR’s have come with soft in the going description. He’s

2lb above his last winning mark but when gets soft ground again he could

pop up in one of these big field sprint handicaps when all the cards fall right.

The gelding has twice run well off long layoffs.

5:35 - Queen Alexandra Stakes – 2m 5 ½ f

One of the longest flat races of the season and I have to say I am no fan of

this race which brings down the curtain on Royal Ascot each year.

This year’s race was won by the quirky 9-year-old Pallasator, now with

Gordon Elliott who saw off the challenge of another 9-year-old in Renneti,



trained by Willie Mullins. It was a race worthier of Punchestown than Royal

Ascot.

Well I hope you have enjoyed my Royal Ascot reflections and hopefully the

highlighted eyecatchers will provide you with some nice priced winners over

the coming weeks of the season.

John Burke

John Burke is a regular contributor to the Betting School Insiders Club

where he posts daily selections for club members.

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john burke’s royalascot... · 2018-07-06 · betting insiders special report july 2018 ... given...

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