The Bookies Enemy

A tough start to Royal Ascot with only one horse placed, and very frustrating to see the 'best horse in the race' finishing like a train in 4th with Maljoom in the 'St James' Palace Stakes, and then ante-post bet 'Pied Piper' having no luck whatsoever in the run. They're definitely two horses to watch out for in the future!

2:30 Ascot, Carmela - 1pt e/w @41 generally (5 places)

Has had just the three runs, winning two of them and looking a little unlucky not to finish closer in the other which was a hot York listed race. She got quite badly banged into just after the start of that race which meant that she would always struggle to catch the tear-away leaders over Yorks sharp 5f (Yahsat being one of them who's less than half the price for tomorrow's race). But she was staying on better than anything inside the final furlong suggesting a stiffer track might suit. That proved the case, as she then won at Carlisle, fending off the persistent challenge of the short-priced fav 'Cold Case' who's subsequently won a nice race at York. David Loughnane her trainer is having by far his best year as a trainer, and it's his 2yo's which have really thrived this year, but despite that being greatly assisted by the 'Amo Racing' group purchasing many quality 2yo's whom Loughnane trains for, although this filly isn't one of them, I still thinks she looks way over-priced for what she's achieved so far.

2:30 Ascot, Love Reigns - 1pt win @SP (Might now drift as she's a US raider plus Hugh Taylor has done 2pts tip on market rival 'Dramatise)

There are two fillies' whose speed figures stand out a mile in this race and they are Love Reigns and the Karl Burke trained filly 'Dramatise'. But I thought that the Wesley Ward trained filly looked far more the finished article when blitzing her rivals on debut at Keeneland, producing a very good time-figure in the process, a time which although difficult to evaluate re conditions etc, compared well to the yards other winners at the track who went on to win at Royal Ascot with the likes of 'Lady Aurila' and 'Campanelle', plus her jockey was easing down inside the final 100 yards so it could have been even better. Dramatise her main market rival was heavily backed before winning on debut and looks a filly that could potentially be top class, but I'm just a bit concerned about the greenness that she showed when coming under pressure at Newmarket, and although she looked like she might have bags of improvement to come, I just wonder if she'll be up to the to rigorous challenges of Royal Ascot and how she'll react to the noise for the huge crowds. Tomorrow's trip is 110 yards shorter than her race at Keeneland, so she this shorter trip should suit her better, and if taking to the Ascot track as most Ward's 2yo's do, then she could be the filly to beat.

5:00 Ascot, Astro King - 0.5pts e/w @7.5 generally (6 places)

Ran well on his return to action at Thirsk last time giving weight away to the whole field and despite only finishing 9th, he was much better than that as not only was he hampered inside the final furlong, I'm not sure how much connections wanted to actually win the race which was more likely being used as a prep race for Royal Ascot. Ryan Moore takes over tomorrow and potentially drawn on the right side where most the pace is, with conditions looking ideal, he looks set to run a big race and hopefully go one better than his 2nd in this race last year when finishing 2nd to the smart 'Real World and winning the race on the near-side by a clear 2L.

5:00 Ascot, Bless Him - 0.5pt e/w @26 generally (6 places)

Has held his form well this year running a couple of big races in Meydan before winning at Newcastle. He ran well at York last time and looked unlucky not to finish closer to the winner in a race which again might have been a stepping stone to Royal Ascot. He won the Brittania handicap in grand style here in 2017 and although he's 8 years old now and in his twilight years, if he's trained on from that York run and run to something like the level of his Meydan races, then I think he might have one big Royal Ascot run left in him off this mark.

5:00 Ascot, Legend Of Dubai - 0.5pt e/w @10 generally (6 places)

A rare 'three-pronged attack' but with 6 places on offer it makes sense, and we can't leave the race without backing LOD who's by Dubawi and who could have the potential to be a 'group horse in a handicap'. He's clearly had training issues as he's still only run 5-times, but he ran well in all of his 2-year-old races with arguably his best on debut in a hot race at Newbury. Fast-forward to his return run at Newmarket in April where he absolutely annihilated a small field, and although that small field wasn't the strongest you'll ever see, it was a decent time and the third/fourth have franked the form, plus it was his first run for 246 days and suggested that he might have much more to offer. Whether or not he can handle a big field Ascot handicap is another matter, but Dubawi progeny have an excellent record here with a 16% s/r, which rises to 17% on his off-spring racing at Ascot for the first time, and if he relishes these conditions then he must go well also.

6:10 Ascot, Rosemary And Thyme - 0.5pt e/w @41 generally (5 places)

Has only won once but she's been competing listed/group 3 races and running well without winning, and being unlucky not to finish closer a few times. She's got some good form against several of tomorrow's fillies, and she ran well here in September last year on soft ground finishing a never nearer 6th after meeting trouble in the run. She's well-drawn tomorrow in stall 7, and if she gets this extra furlong then I think she can run into a place.

6:10 Ascot, White Moonlight - 1.5pt e/w @8 generally (5 places)

Has had just the three starts, won his first two as a two-year-old including when romping home in a fairly hot Newmarket novice. She was then off for almost three years due to injury, but she came back with a big run at Chelmsford to finish third despite racing keenly. She's back over a mile tomorrow, and off a mark off 92 for her handicap debut against fillies' only, this nice-looking daughter of 'Medaglia d'Oro' must be backed also.