Bewitched and Dalghar to fight out the big one
TOMORROW’S Golden Jubilee Stakes (3.45pm) is the final Group One contest of Royal Ascot week and the rain is causing havoc to a number of the key contenders. Delegator has been the ante-post favourite since his hugely impressive seasonal reappearance at York, but the softening conditions are firmly against him. There is a chance he may not run, but if he does I’ll be looking to lay him on Betdaq. He is a very decent animal on his day, but I just get the impression that he is best fresh and the York run could have taken the edge off him.
I was very keen on Elzaam until the rain arrived, as he ran a stormer in last year’s Coventry Stakes and that form was boosted when Strong Suit won Wednesday’s Jersey Stakes. He produced a lightning turn of foot to win at Newbury last time and you have to wonder whether he’d be able to do that again on rain-softened ground. If it does dry out, he definitely has a major chance, but on good to soft, he can be opposed.
Star Witness ran a stormer in the King’s Stand on Tuesday and this is his ideal trip. He could even be sent off favourite as he’s as short as 4/1 with William Hill, but again I’m not sure if he will really like the softer ground. Bated Breath is very promising and Roger Charlton certainly thinks he is a Group One horse. That said, the draw and the ground could have gone against him slightly.
My main selection for the race is Charles O’Brien’s BEWITCHED who has won her last three starts, including a Group Three over course and distance in October. Her draw in 12 could be very good and she loves to get her toe in. Johnny Murtagh takes the ride and he has won two of the last four runnings of this race, so all looks set for a huge run. She is available at 7/1 with William Hill which is a fair price.
The other one I’m interested in is Andrew Balding’s DALGHAR who was formerly trained in France by Alain de Royer-Dupre. The five-year-old finished a decent fifth to Goldikova in last year’s Queen Anne Stakes and was then runner-up to the top class Lady Of The Desert here in September. He was switched to Balding’s yard this winter and his debut at York last month was very promising. At 12/1 with Star Sports, he is definitely worth an each-way interest.
Richard Hannon has once again proved to be the king of the two-year-olds at this meeting and he can continue that trend by taking the opening Chesham Stakes (2.30pm) for the third time in the last four years with FORT BASTION. The son of Lawman ran an excellent race on debut behind Mezmaar, who was slightly unlucky with the draw in Tuesday’s Coventry Stakes. He is reportedly very well regarded at home and he has been handed what looks like a decent draw in stall 12. Aidan O’Brien’s Maybe is likely to go off favourite, so that should mean we get a decent price about our fellow.
O’Brien may not have to wait too long to get in the winner’s enclosure, though, as his AWAIT THE DAWN looks a good thing at evens with William Hill in the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes (3.05pm). He absolutely bolted up on his seasonal debut at Chester and can take this on his way to bigger and better things.
The Wokingham (4.25pm) is one of the fiercest handicaps of the season over the same trip as the Golden Jubilee and I normally like to back one on each side of the track. Mick Easterby’s HOOF IT, part-owned by top golfer Lee Westwood, has looked like a genuine Group-class sprinter this season and I expect him to show that tomorrow afternoon. Kieren Fallon takes the ride and although his draw in stall 13 could be better, he is still worth a decent bet at 7/1 with Star Sports.
I’m also going to throw a few quid each-way on Robert Cowell’s LUI REI at 25/1 with William Hill. He has been running well this season and the stable landed the King’s Stand with Prohibit on Tuesday.
Pointers…
FORT BASTION Ascot 2.30pm
AWAIT THE DAWN Ascot 3.05pm
BEWITCHED e/w Ascot 3.45pm
DALGHAR e/w Ascot 3.45pm
HOOF IT e/w Ascot 4.25pm
LUI REI e/w Ascot 4.25pm
TODAY’S IN-RUNNING TRADING HINTS
The constant threat of rain and the inevitable softening of the ground will potentially throw up a number of interesting in-running trades this afternoon.
I’d be seriously worried about Judy The Beauty’s ability to stay the six furlongs of the Albany (2.30pm) and there may be an opportunity to lay her at an artificially short price if she opens up a lead around two furlongs from home.
My selection Nathaniel could easily trade far bigger in-running in the second if settled off the pace. He is being touted as a St Leger hopeful, will love the cut in the ground and there won’t be many finishing stronger.
However, the best in-running opportunity of the day may well come in the Queen’s Vase (5.00pm) over two miles. Plenty of horses have travelled ominously well turning in before their stamina gives way. It may well pay to lay the likes of favourite Regent Street and Solar Sky if they are cruising late on as they are by no means guaranteed to get home.
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