Welcome to day two of Royal Ascot after a first day to remember, Animal Kingdom bombed in spectacular style, Dawn Approach reconfirmed his dominance and Johnny Murtagh rode a double from his only rides of the day. The day started just as the Cheltenham Festival did, with the hot favourite overturned when Animal Kingdom trailing in third last. The writing was on the wall early on as from his wide draw of 13 he pulled very hard leaving himself no chance. The race was left to Joseph O'Brien and Declaration Of War to come and pick up late on, from Aljamaaheer and our selection Gregorian who was third at 16/1.
Next we were treated to our first real close finish of the meeting when Sole Power got past South African raider Shea Shea to win the King's Stand. Entering the final furlong it looked almost all over with Shea Shea hitting the front and Reckless Abandon like last year hanging towards the stand side rail. However Johnny Murtagh has other plans and lifted Sole Power home to reverse Meydan form with the runner up and at a huge price of 8/1. Our selection Kingsgate Native never looked likely to get involved and ended up coming home 16th and tailed off.
The St. James' Palace Stakes threw up a fantastic finish when Dawn Approach and Toronado locked horns past the furlong marker and battled all the way to the line. It went to a photograph but once again Jim Bolger's Colt got the better of the representative of the home side in Toronado. There was a lot of barging and trouble turning for home which seemed to be caused by Magician having a coming together with Dawn Approach. Despite Richard Hughes and Toronado sweeping by while that was happening, the 2000 Guineas winner managed to pick up again and set the record straight after Epsom. The horse that probably suffered most from the coming together was our selection Mars who had his run checked twice yet still managed to grab third at an each way price. I have no doubt that he will be winning a big race very soon and looks one for the future for sure, maybe even the eclipse?
The juvenile's took to the track next and we may have already seen the most impressive winner of the week with Ballydoyle's War Command who won by 6 lengths easily. Seamie Heffernan took him to the front around the furlong pole and just as the others were getting into it he went further clear and it was over. Back in second was Parbold for Richard Fahey and Tony Hamilton, he had a bit of a horror run but stayed on well late in the day. Filling up the placing's was stablemate of War Command, Sir John Hawkins under Ryan Moore despite running around a bit. The favourite, Stubbs, was a bit disappointing and suffered the same fate as Animal Kingdom after being way too keen. Even if he was on his game he would have been some horse to beat War Command who looks top class. Our selection, Riverboat Springs was never in the race and may benefit from 7 furlongs.
So with Ireland claiming the first four races it was time for an English winner, in theory anyway as Jonjo O'Neill teamed up with Fran Berry to win the Ascot Stakes with Well Sharp. Off a slow pace he picked up nicely towards the outside and was in front from a furlong out and went further clear in good style. Tiger Cliff closed late on but not fast enough and the fairytale search of a Royal Ascot winner for Lady Cecil goes on. Nicky Henderson saddled the third horse with Lieutenant Miller ridden by Graham Lee with Mubaraza a length behind. Our selection Suraj had every chance turning for home but eventually found the trip a bit too far fading into 11th but not too far beaten.
Extortionist took the Windsor Castle Stakes to round up Day One providing Johnny Murtagh with a double from two rides. He charged late and very hard to land it almost cosily under a perfectly timed run with Richard Fahey saddling another runner up with Supplicant. The favourite for the race Anticipated came home close up in third with a further neck back to Fountain Of Youth under Ryan Moore who is winnerless so far. Our longshot selection Peterkin led the far side group for a lot of the way but tired at the furlong marker eventually coming an eased down 2nd last.
Today Martin is running a free Pigeon Swoop to all twitter users for four Uttoxeter races as well as a Ascot version down to invite only. You can find the four Uttoxeter races included on his twitter page @Pigeon_Island or on his website where you will also find my selections as well. The site is www.pigeonswoop4.wordpress.com Enjoy!
Before we go on with today's action we have mine and George's tipping challenge to clean up for Day One. It was a bit of a sorry sight for both of us really with George bagging the only winner with Dawn Approach at 5/4. Hopefully today brings some improved results.
Luke - 6.00 George - 4.75
2:30 - Garswood Gale Force Ten
3:05 - Duntle Chigun
3:45 - Al Kazeem Al Kazeem
4:25 - Burke's Rock Spa's Dancer
5:00 - Oriel Oriel
5:35 - Annie's Fortune Zurigha
Again best of luck to Mr. Gorman and once more I hope that he gets absolutely no winners and I get a few, I threw sportsmanship out the window by the way.
Now we are genuinely going to start the racing!
Royal Ascot - Jersey Stakes - Garswood
Montiridge is a horse I very much like but today could be a bit tough for him on this faster surface than last time when impressive. Preference instead is for 2000 Guineas seventh Garswood for Richard Fahey who was in irresistible form yesterday in these races along with a winner at Thirsk. Last season Garswood was a very smart 2 year old earning a rating of 115 after winning a listed race at Newmarket nicely on his step up to seven furlongs. Last time he was a bit outclassed in the 2000 Guineas and probably didn't stay a mile too well just yet but he will now for sure be race fit. Pat Smullen is a very eye catching jockey booking as Richard Fahey only employs Mr. Smullen for horses he is confident with. With Guineas form yesterday being franked with the first three home in the St James' Palace Garswood can take race one on day two. (5/1)
1st - Garswood
2nd - Gale Force Ten
3rd - Montiridge
Royal Ascot - Duke Of Cambridge Stakes - Duntle
Duntle was one of the Irish bankers last year when winning the Sandringham under Wayne Lordan and David Wachman brings her back again this year. Since Royal Ascot last year she has been first past the post in all 3 starts, I say first past the post as she lost a race to Chachamaidee in the stewards room when possibly unlucky. That form is very strong though as Chachamaidee herself was second in this race last year to Joviality when breaking very slowly. On her reappearance Duntle won a Group 3 at Leopardstown, although it was a race that she really shouldn't be beaten in. There is no doubt she will come on leaps and bounds for that run and if turning up should be very hard to beat once again. Duntle to land back to back Royal Ascot victories. (11/4)
1st - Duntle
2nd - Thistle Bird
3rd - Dank
Royal Ascot - Prince Of Wales' Stakes - Al Kazeem
Roger Charlton's representative has been coming on leaps and bounds in the last year and last time he claimed his biggest win to date. That was in the Tattersalls Gold Cup when he beat Camelot in impressive style and I see no reason why the placing's should reverse today. That win was on the back of a victory in the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown after almost a year off, but he was much the best that day. This will arguably be the son of Dubawi's biggest test to date with the reappearance of The Fugue and French raider Maxios to repel, but if continuing his huge improvement they should be no problem for him under James Doyle. His trainer Roger Charlton has always been very keen on him and nursed him through his early years but he is now repaying that faith big time. Al Kazeem to land back to back Group 1's. (5/2)
1st - Al Kazeem
2nd - Maxios
3rd - The Fugue
Royal Ascot - Royal Hunt Cup - Burke's Rock
If you are a regular reader of my blog then it is no secret that I am a huge fan of Burke's Rock and the Jeremy Noseda yard. This is a very interesting entry for the daughter of Cape Cross after winning a listed race at Goodwood last time when touching off Sentaril. She gets in off a mark of 97 which for her I think is a stone under what she can achieve with her improvement this year. The jockey booking also catches the eye with Frankie Dettori on board, how Ascot would erupt if he were to grab a winner! 16/1 is usually a bit slim for me in these handicaps, but Burke's Rock has bags of potential and put the record straight after being unlucky at Kempton on reappearance. That run puts her around level with Stirring Ballad at the head of the market although had her behind in fourth last time at Goodwood. The only worry I would have is that she may need further but will stay every yard of this trip today and is sure to give a good account of herself. Burke's Rock to get Frankie back at Royal Ascot in the Hunt Cup. (16/1)
1st - Burke's Rock
2nd - David Livingston
3rd - Fury
4th - Excellent Guest
Royal Ascot - Queen Mary Stakes - Oriel and Fig Roll
First up the Richard Hannon first string with Oriel. She is yet to get her head in front from her two visits to the racecourse but it is clear they think an awful lot of her. First time up she was second to Rizeena who was more experienced and Richard Hughes looked after her that day when not picking up the whip. Still she managed to get within a length at one point before being lightly eased when beaten, it was between those two for my first selection today and a tough choice at that. It was Oriel's second run that gives you a bit of confidence even though she was two lengths behind the reopposing Alutiq. You can pretty much write off that run as Oriel got no passage whatsoever and was never closer than on top of the line and just touched off for third. Once again Richard Hughes looked after her but with a clear run it appears it would have been a matter of how far. Oriel can land this but Rizeena is once again a big danger. (8/1)
Fig Roll is a horse I fell in love with on her debut at Kempton when she was runner up after getting a horrible passage, much like her stablemate. She was cut off at a crucial time but still ran on very strongly to just be denied victory and showing a fantastic attitude. Next time out was at Salisbury and she dipped her toe in higher company when tackling a conditions race under Pat Dobbs. Again she showed a tremendous attitude when really knuckling down late on despite being outpaced early in the race. It is a possibility that she was also pretty green that day but showed a really good attitude to win going away eventually from Alutiq who beat Oriel. On her Salisbury run you would be forgiven for thinking she wants further right away, but in good company at Naas next time she showed plenty of speed and didn't appear to stay the 6 furlongs. The mini but brave Fig Roll can run a big race and has good each way claims. (33/1)
1st - Oriel
2nd - Rizeena
3rd - Fig Roll
One last note is that Phil McEntee looks to complete a fairytale story of his own with Baytown Kestrel under Adam Kirby and owned by his wife. He bought the horse for £400 before entering it in a Lingfield Maiden where she absolutely bolted up at 50/1. Mr. McEntee had a bet on her that day which meant for the first time in his training career he woke up debt free. I hope you will all help me, and in particular Racheal Kneller out in cheering home Baytown Kestrel and wish the McEntee's the best of luck.
Royal Ascot - Sandringham Handicap - Annie's Fortune
I didn't have a clue about this race, before I read what Kieren Fallon thought about Annie's Fortune, and he didn't make her sound like a 40/1 shot. He mentions that her trainer Alan Jarvis holds her in very high regard and that after her latest run at York they found a problem with her. That has been corrected now and if she is back to near her best she could ruffle a few feathers and defy her big odds in the finale. Her two year old form would hold her in good shape for this race, after a close up fourth and then a third in Group 3's, before having a race too much in the Rockfel. She will have to show she is back to her best to even think about landing this prize today for connections. She returns to her favoured faster ground today and could well go close for each way purposes and maybe even spring a surprise. (40/1)
1st - Annie's Fortune
2nd - Zurigha
3rd - Woodland Aria
NAP - Garswood
Nb - Al Kazeem
Be lucky if you are having a bet today and good luck!
Happy Punting!
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