Tuesday 20th June 2023
Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)
Welcome aboard to my Royal Ascot Preview for 2023 where I’ll be sharing my opinions on all of the action across the five-day meeting at the Berkshire track where we set to see some of the finest animals on the flat do battle. As ever, if you are punting throughout the week make sure to do it in a responsible manner. Good luck and enjoy!”
2.30 – QUEEN ANNE STAKES
INSPIRAL – 13/8
“John & Thady Gosden’s four-year-old mare returned from a lay-off to win at this meeting last year in emphatic style when taking the Group 1 Coronation Stakes by just under five lengths. She’s been a bit hit-and-miss since, winning another Group 1 in France before being disappointing in the QEII here on Champions Day in October. She goes well fresh though and it’s likely she’ll be raring to go for this, and if she’s anywhere near her best she could be very tough to beat.”
3.05 – COVENTRY STAKES
RIVER TIBER – 7/4
“A two-year-old colt by Wootton Bassett who has looked very impressive on his two outings to date for his powerhouse Ballydoyle connections, winning by over ten lengths on his racecourse debut back in April before following up with a comfortable success at Navan back in May. I think that he sets the standard in this particular affair and he could well be another superstar in the making for Aidan O’Brien.
3.40 – KING’S STAND STAKES
DRAMATISED – 7/1
“Karl Burke three-year-old who won at the Royal Meeting last year when taking the Queen Mary over this distance. Since then, she’s gone on to place at the Breeders Cup when finishing second in the Juvenile Turf Sprint and then returned to action with Group 2 success at Haydock when winning the Temple Stakes last month. This will be her biggest test to date and she’ll need to step, but I think she’s got every chance of doing just that.”
4.20 – ST JAMES’S PALACE STAKES
CHALDEAN – 9/4
“This year’s 2000 Guineas winner who looked better than ever when returning to form following a bizarre mishap at Newbury on his seasonal reappearance, when unseating his rider. Dettori renews whats is becoming a fruitful partnership with him here and if he turns up in the same kind of form as he was in on his most recent outing he’ll be very tough to beat. He’s already a dual Group 1 winner and could well still be improving for a stable that have hit the ground running so far this term.”
5.00 – ASCOT STAKES
LAW OF THE SEA – 12/1
“Ian Williams trained five-year-old who’s the mount of David Egan here and looks to be currently trading at what I think is a very fair price. He was narrowly denied into second at Haydock on his most recent outing behind Solent Getaway, with that rival getting an enterprising ride that day from the front by Hollie Doyle. He’s just a pound higher for this assignment and looks to be well handicapped on previous form, if ridden a bit more prominently he’s got every chance of going well.”
5.35 – WOLFERTON STAKES
BUCKAROO – 7/1
“Dual listed winner whose most recent success came in April within listed company at Leopardstown when getting the better of the very useful by Homeless Songs by a neck. On his most recent outing, he finished fourth in a French Group 1 but was only a neck behind the eventual winner who was the also very useful Anmaat. That’s a strong level of form, and if reproducing that here he’s got to hold a big chance for Joseph O’Brien and Oisin Murphy.”
6.10 – COPPER HORSE HANDICAP
VAUBAN – 15/8 (NAP)
“Irish raider for Willie Mullins who has done well at the Royal Meeting with his dual purpose horses in recent years, Vauban has proved himself as a very smart hurdler for Closutton having tasted Grade 1 success but was also a listed winner on the flat when previously trained in France. He could be a bit better than the mark that’s been given to him for this particular affair, and with Ryan Moore he looks set to make a serious bid in the famous silks of Susannah Ricci.”
