The Golf was a bit disappointing – and especially for Rory McIlroy who lost by one stroke to Wyndham Clark who was also investigated for an alleged infraction of Rule 14.7a. You know the one surely… it forbids a ball from being played from the wrong spot. Sitting in the rough off the back nine, WC got a couple of clubs out and for a moment looked like a Japanese sushi chef from Kill Bill 3, so busy were his clubs whirling around the side and behind the ball. No grass however was apparently realigned or even injured in the making of the shot. Meanwhile back in Blighty…
Wednesday, June 21st
14:30 Queen Mary Stks (G2) (2yo, C1, 5f, 28 run)
Karl Burke has two in the race that I fancy BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND and GOT TO LOVE A GREY. The former looked well above average on her debut at Nottingham and the latter is two from two having won a Nottingham novice event first time up by an impressive 6 lengths before following up in the Listed Marygate Fillies Stakes at York around 4 weeks later. That York race was run in a fairly decent time (just 0.72 seconds outside standard) and horses that finish 1st or 2nd in the race have a good overall record in the Queen Mary since 2005.
GOT TO LOVEA GREY 4 pts e/w 1pt RFC with BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND
15:05 Kensington Palace Fillies’ Hcap (4yo+, C2, 7f 213y, 0 run)
A dozen could win this and I have stripped it down to ZENGA – CRYSTAL CAPRICE – DISCRETION and ADELAISE. The latter has halved in price over the last 48 hours, probably based on her seasonal debut in big-field handicap. I’ll back two of these for small stakes.
ZENGA 1½ pts e/w – DISCRETION 1½ pts e/w – All four in 12 x ¼ pt CFC
15:40 Duke Of Cambridge Stks (G2) (4yo+, C1, 1m, 10 run)
RANDOM HARVEST is the wrong price. PROSPEROUS VOYAGE is 3/1 and beat RH by ¾l LTO at Epsom in receipt of 3lbs. Now at level weights, RH is 7 times the price! POTOPOVA is also the wrong price.
POTOPOVA – RANDOM HARVEST 2 pts e/w each
16:20 Prince Of Wales’s Stks (G1) (British Champions Series) (4yo+, C, 1m 1f 212y, 6 run)
Stoutey has BAY BRIDGE and was runner-up in this last year (pulled too hard when 10/11 favourite) and went on to beat ADAYAR in the Champion Stakes. His Brigadier Gerard Stakes win last May was one of the most visually impressive performances of the entire season, and many think the best is yet to come
BAY BRIDGE 5 pts win
17:00 Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Hcap) (3yo+, C2, 1m, 30 run)
Kennet Valley’s DUAL IDENTITY just scraped in with 14 coming out yesterday and one more overnight. I quite fancy it and he is a sensible working man’s price. The Irish raider DUNUM has improved hugely since switching yards and a glance at his recent form suggests big field handicaps are child’s play to him. Charlie Hills’ WANEES gets first-time blinkers and if they do the trick I’m sure he will outrun his odds here.
8 places with Skbet – 7 with Paddy Power 6 generally
DUAL IDENTITY – DUNUM – WANEES 2 pts e/w each
17:35 Queen’s Vase (G2) (3yo, C1, 1m 6f 34y, 20 run)
CIRCLE OF FIRE 5 pts Win
18:10 Windsor Castle Stks (Listed) (2yo, C1, 5f, 14 run)
5 places generally
BIG EVS 1½ pt e/w – LIEUTENANT RASCAL 1 pt e/w