Saturday 22nd June 2024
Author: Jordan Yates (@jordan_yates_)
3.05: Hardwicke Stakes: I’m kicking things off on Saturday with the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes on the final day of Royal Ascot and this is contested over a mile and four furlongs. I’m with Continuous here for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. He’s had a delayed start to his campaign due to a slight setback but he’s clear on ratings in this and has gone well fresh in the past. He’s a St Leger winner as well as finishing fifth in the Arc on his final outing of last term. He beat Middle Earth by sixteen lengths in the St Leger and I don’t think he’d need to be at his peak to win this. Continuous – 9/4 (Win) (NB)
3.45: Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes: It’s Group 1 action a 3.45 with the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes over six furlongs. I’m taking a chance on Mitbaahy here for Charlie Hills and Jamie Spencer. He got the better of Regional in Group 2 company last time out and that rival ran well here in the Group 1 sprint on Tuesday. He’ll need some luck in the run as it’s likely that he’ll be held up, but if he turns up in the same kind of form as he did last time out he can have a big say for a yard that excels with their sprinters. Mitbaahy 7/1 (Each-Way)
4.25: Jersey Stakes: Next up it’s the 4.25 which is the Group 3 Jersey Stakes that’s contested over seven furlongs. I’m strong on the chances of River Tiber here who’s another one for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. He was a Group 2 winner last term and placed in two Group 1s following that success, he made his return to the track in the Irish Guineas when a fine third and only a length and a half behind Rosallion. He’s got just over a length to find with Haatem on that run, however, he’ll likely progress from his first run of the season and I think he’s the horse with more potential. River Tiber – 15/8 (Win) (NAP)
5.05: Wokingham Stakes: We head back into handicap company at 5.05 with the Wokingham Stakes which is a Heritage Handicap over six furlongs. I’m taking a chance on Rumstar here for Jonathan Portman and Trevor Whelan. He’s got some very solid form to his name at a higher level and ran a much better race on his last start, finishing second of eleven in a competitive Newbury handicap. He’s got every chance of running well here on the best of his form and if he progresses from that last run I think he could outrun his price. Rumstar – 20/1 (Each-Way)
5.40: Golden Gates Stakes: The sixth race on the card is the Golden Gate Stakes which is a Class 2 handicap that’s ridden over a mile and a furlong. I’m with Hand Of God here for Harry Charlton and William Buick. He looks like a highly progressive sort and comes into the race having won his last two starts, including on seasonal reappearance which came in the Esher Cup which was also his handicap debut. He could prove to be a bit better than this level and I think he should be going very close in this. Hand Of God – 3/1 (Win)
6.15: Queen Alexandra Stakes: The final race of the day and the meeting is the 6.15 which is the Queen Alexandra Stakes over two miles and five and a half furlongs. I’ve sided with last year’s winner of the race here in Dawn Rising for Joseph O’Brien and Ryan Moore. He’s only three pounds higher than his success in the contest twelve months ago and he will have been trained specifically with this race in mind. Ryan Moore is back on board and I think that he has to have a massive chance of retaining his crown. Dawn Rising – 4/1 (Win)
