Rip Van Winkle to see off Delegator in Queen Elizabeth II Stakes duel
GODOLPHIN and Ballydoyle go head-to-head again in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, tomorrow’s Ascot feature, and I fancy Aidan O’Brien’s RIP VAN WINKLE to win his battle with Delegator. The pair of them stand head and shoulders above their opposition in what really is an old fashioned duel. However, at a best priced 10/11 with Hills, we are not going to get rich backing our selection, so I’m not going to waste too many column inches playing up his chances.
There will be plenty of clues for next year’s Classics on display in both the Royal Lodge (2.30pm) and the Fillies Mile (3.05pm), but both races look particularly trappy from a punting point of view. I’m leaning towards Andrew Balding’s Dreamspeed in the former, but wouldn’t be confident in such a wide open contest. However, there may be some value in taking on Aidan O’Brien and Saeed Bin Suroor in the Fillies Mile.
DYNA WALTZ and MUDAARAAH can both be backed at decent prices and can upset their more fancied rivals. The former hails from last year’s winning stable and has been quietly brought along by her masterful trainer John Gosden. The latter looks to be crying out for this one mile trip and would be a really strong fancy if her stable were in slightly better form.
There are a host of fancied runners in the Challenge Cup at 3.40pm and both Redford and Marching Time warrant a mention. However, they will be single figure prices in a massive field and I’d far rather take a chance on Jim Goldie’s DHAULAR DHAR at 25/1 with Boylesports. Jamie Spencer takes the mount on the horse who loves this track and was fourth off a much higher mark 12 months ago.
Sir Michael Stoute’s TRYST could emerge as a leading Cambridgeshire contender if he lands Ascot’s opening contest at 2.00pm this afternoon. The lightly raced four-year-old looked to be crying out for this step up in trip when chasing home the useful Roaring Forte over seven furlongs at Newmarket earlier on in the season. As long as he is over whatever has kept him off the track for the last 126 days, he will take some beating here with his stable in such good form. I certainly wouldn’t put anyone off taking the 16/1 on offer with Hills about him landing next weekend’s Cambridgeshire. If he wins impressively, he’ll almost certainly be promoted to favouritism. I’m also very sweet on the chances of BONNIE CHARLIE 35 minutes later now that connections have dropped him back to six furlongs. He wasn’t beaten far at Doncaster on his latest start and appeared to appreciate the better ground. He’ll have conditions in his favour this afternoon and even though he appears to have a stiff task at the weights, he may just be too good for these and is great each-way value.
SHAMANDAR will be a warm order in the Watership Down Stud Sales Race and Willie Haggas’ filly is impossible to oppose off just 8 stone 5lbs. She was touched off by Monsieur Chevalier in a valuable race at Newbury in July and then got to within a nose of Sand Vixen (won well since) at the same venue last month. Our selection was an impressive winner at Salisbury last time which was a nice confidence booster for this race and she should be too good for this lot.
Pointers…
TRYST 2.00pm Ascot (Today)
BONNIE CHARLIE e/w 2.35pm Ascot (Today)
SHAMANDAR 3.10pm Ascot (Today)
DYNA WALTZ E/W 3.05pm Ascot (Tomorrow)
MUDAARAAH E/W 3.05pm Ascot (Tomorrow)
DHAULAR DHAR E/W 3.40pm Ascot (Tomorrow
RIP VAN WINKLE 4.15pm Ascot (Tomorrow))