Port Of Spain 7/1 (3pl) – Ascot 3.05 (Queen's Vase, Group 2)
I think the horses with the best chances of winning are the top two in the market, so they are priced up correctly, in my opinion. That doesn't mean they are going to win. This is Royal Ascot, and you should always expect the unexpected.
Unfortunately, if my horse wins, it wouldn't be a huge shock. Port Of Spain is third in the market, but at 6/1, that seems a fair price. He is trained by Aidan O'Brien, and comes to this race being unexposed at this longer trip. He was fifth in the London Cold Cup at Newbury, which was a solid effort. When you consider he was carrying a heavy weight and running in a handicap off an official rating of 103, it was solid.
Three of the top four in that race have been bought by Wathnan, which is something which has to be respected. Usually, the London Gold Cup is a race that works out nicely as the season progresses, and often has plenty of Class 1 horses. Wathnan have done well with their purchases since becoming a powerful owner in flat racing, so it looks well on Port Of Spain.
My sole problem with Port Of Spain is that the pedigree doesn't give much hope for the new trip. However, it can be countered by the fact that Aidan O'Brien could have sent many for this race, and this is the one who has been chosen.
Thunder Run 20/1 (6pl) – Ascot 5.00 (Royal Hunt Cup)
This is one of the toughest handicaps I've had to look at so far, and it's been a tough decision to get this down to one selection. I've changed my mind at least four or five times, but finally landed on Thunder Run.
From what I've seen so far in the big field races, it looks like the stands side is the place to be. Thunder Run is drawn in 28, so he should be able to tack across to the rail if needed. I'm hoping that Clifford Lee makes use of his draw and gets across and leads the near-side group. He is a horse who stays further and can front run, so I believe he should be making use of his extra stamina on a stiff track.
We know he can win big handicaps; he has done that at York off a similar handicap mark. Last time out was a good effort to finish second, but he was beaten by a big improver from the Gosden stable.
Oolong Poobong 12/1 (6pl) – Ascot 5.35 (Kensington Palace Stakes)
I tipped up Ooland Poobong in the Britannia Stakes last year, and she finished in fourth place. I did think she was coming through with a winning run last year, so she must be in with a good chance in this race.
She has only raced once since the Ascot run, and that came a month ago in a Class 3 race at Thirsk. That was her first run in 330 days, and she ran as well as you could expect, with it being a prep run for today's race. The handicapper has dropped her 1lb for that run, meaning she is just 1lb higher than her Ascot run. Small margins like that don't matter, but if she manages to win by a nose, that could be the swing factor.
Jamie Spencer has been booked, and he has been renowned as the best jockey on the straight track at Ascot for many years. It's obviously a very positive jockey booking, especially for a trainer who doesn't send many horses to Ascot. The only question mark is the low draw in stall 3; you never know if you're on the right side of the track.
Sale Shark 15/2 (4pl) – Ascot 6.10 (Windsor Castle Stakes, Listed Race)
As far as juvenile races go at Royal Ascot, this does not look like a vintage renewal. For that reason, I can understand why Sergei Diaghilev is the favourite.
The favourite could go on and win on the back of a debut win at the Curragh, but his pedigree points to stamina. He is related to a 1m 4f winner, so I'd like to take him on. Sale Shark was the one who caught my attention, trained by Hugo Palmer and ridden by Oisin Murphy. He was fancied to run well at Hamilton, backed into 13/8F, and he did what he had to do, and looked impressive whilst doing it.
The form of his Hamilton win isn't anything spectacular, but on the eye, he looked a nice prospect. Hugo has popped up at Royal Ascot with some decent juveniles in the past, even the ones who didn't go on to win.
GambleAware