With hindsight, the last Magnum of AIX yesterday was possibly a step too far. Suffice it to say, that I was so drunk, I only backed Pyledriver on the grounds that he was being ridden by Sylvestre de Souza. I remember nothing after 9:00 pm, and this morning the idea of solids is too much to bear. I am not strong enough to try and maintain the entire Track and Trace regime single-handedly. Sadly my hangover also means I am not strong enough to type too much.
1:15 pm – Silver Royal Hunt Cup (Handicap)
One of my chums has a share in SIR BUSKER, and when I spoke to him yesterday I suggested that just having a Royal Ascot runner is enough for most people. Having one placed is a bonus and a winner in any race is like a gift from the Gods. As he is extremely competitive, this sanctimonious hogwash left him cold and he has more than his fingers crossed today. 12s seems a fair price and Sir B is at his most effective when coming off a strong pace. William thinks his running style will be suited by a stiff run mile and he has grown into himself this year. My only concern is that he’s 0 from 8 above an OR of 77 on turf, but has won off higher on the A/W. Madame will back him for friendship’s sake, I shall cheer him if he beats my two or three selections, which are…
MAYDANNY, a half-brother to the stable’s Group 2 winner Elarqam and only cost 1.4m – the hope value is slightly diminished by the cruellest cut of all. A year off, and then he hosed in at Yarmouth a couple of weeks ago – and he didn’t look as if the 10lb penalty the Handicapper has given him, will stop him repeating the performance. BRIAN EPSTEIN makes the list as I heard Hannon was very sweet on him and ALTERNATIVE FACT who came 6th in a 10f Haydock event LTO and who benefitted by a bit of juice in the ground, which I’m hoping there will still be in a couple of hours. He didn’t get much of a run up the inside, but stayed on steadily and went into the notebook for a decent finish. Oh, and he has Frankie on board.
MAYDANNY win BRIAN EPSTEIN e/w ALTERNATIVE FACT e/w
1:50 pm – Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3)
I’m hoping FIRST RECEIVER will give Sir Michael Stoute his fourth Hampton Court with this New Approach colt. His breeding suggests he will get the distance, which is 2f further than he has gone before, and you only had to see him at Kempton earlier this month when he won by 7l despite a poor draw he made all. This will be a late birthday present for HM The Queen his owner. Oh and he has Frankie on board
FIRST RECEIVER win
2:25 pm – King George V Stakes (Handicap)
KIPPS should perhaps have won at Haydock LTO when being caught on the line by Walkonby, giving the victor 12lbs, but still, 3l clear of the third. BRIGHT MELODY finished like a train in Kempton’s Classic Trial and might have won but for a slow start and traffic problems away.
3:00 pm – Prince of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1)
Will it, won’t it rain for ADDEYBB who needs the ground to have a bit of cut. If the rain arrives then Addeybb becomes e/w value. JAPAN sets the standard as a great 12f Group 1 horse….. but then this is 10f and he is odds on. HEADMAN ran well behind Magical in the Irish Champion Stakes last Season. His trainer has form in this race and he could go close. I might suggest the following…
HEADMAN e/w – RFC with JAPAN
3:35 pm – Royal Hunt Cup (Handicap)
Tick Tock – gotta get going.
BELL ROCK – FOX PREMIER – LORD TENNYSON – WILLIE JOHN all e/w
4:10 pm – Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed)
YAZAMAN went into the book for the way he won his first race at Yarmouth. He only won by a length and strangely wore blinkers – so he is obviously an idle bugger at home, and he took a while to get the idea. However when then the penny dropped he quickened smartly and was powering away at the finish.
YAZAMAN e/w Any price down to 12s is fair – currently 18s
4:40 pm – Copper Horse Handicap (Handicap)
FLOATING ARTIST – ALRIGHT SUNSHINE both e/w