Day 1 - Tuesday - Royal Ascot 2020

[Kevloaf]

What are you on / what do you fancy / any other thoughts on Day 1 of this years Royal Ascot meeting....


13:15 - Buckingham Palace (Handicap)


13:50 - Queen Anne (Group 1)


14:25 - Ribblesdale Stakes (Fillies' Group 2)


15:00 - King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2)


15:35 - King's Stand Stakes (Group 1)


16:10 - Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Fillies' Group 2)


16:40 - Ascot Stakes (Handicap)

[Viking Flagship]

TUESDAY 1.15

Two big-priced ones for me against the field in the first race tomorrow.

Keyser Soze - 18/1 5 places or 16/1 6 places

A run style that makes him a frustrating horse at times and will often appear to be unlucky. However, clearly possesses the talent to pick up one of these big handicaps and there should be plenty of mileage in his turf mark which 8lb below AW mark. The trainer recently had this to say:

"He's down to what I think is a lenient mark on the turf and I think he'll be trying to compete in all the major handicaps through the summer. He still holds potential and a lot of ability and we'll try a few new things with him this year. He's a tricky hold-up performer but hopefully we can bag a nice big handicap at some point."

On the face of it his form in big Ascot handicaps appears to be poor but if you look a bit more closely his last 2 runs there over 7f were very promising after completely fluffing the start both times. The fluffed start is a recurring problem and you might know your fate very early in the race but you'd hope the "try a few things with him this year" includes every attempt to address this issue. A strongly run 7f is exactly what the horse needs and Ryan Moore is an eyecatching booking - he might just be able to get a good tune out of the horse. For me his price more than factors in the quirks and I'm happy to take the chance on a talented and well handicapped horse.

Shelir - 40/1 5 places, 33/1 6 places

David O'Meara has a fair track record with this type of recruit. Won at Listed level in Ireland for Dermot Weld and then thought talented enough to run in the Irish 2000 Guineas. Very few miles on the clock, was gelded over the winter and ran nicely first time out behind Bell Rock when bang there a furlong or so out - the step back to 7f may well suit. Interestingly Danny Tudhope takes the ride and I would assume he had the option of Firmament who so often runs well in this type of race and would have seemed the more obvious stable first string. 40s is a massive price.

[ComplyOrDie]

13:15 - Daarik 5/1, 9/2 & 4/1, Edbury 25/1, possibly Brian Epstein (thanks to the forum)


13:50 - Circus Maximus 10/3 down to 5/2 (hopefully), saver on Terebellum 9/2


14:25 - Frankly Darling 7/4, again hopefully! No single, but in multi's


15:00 - Arthurs Kingdom possibly, no bet yet


15:35 - Battaash 4/6 in the multi's


16:10 - Nazeef 10/3 or Wasmya 8/1


16:40 - Verdana Blue 4/1, Land Of Oz 10/1 or Pianissimo 16/1


As from the selections, I've decided to do a Frankie multiple. Obviously extremely highly unlikely, but I like his book of rides tomorrow. Also had multiples across other days races too.

[charlie]

Buckingham Palace (Handicap)
Blown By Wind @ 16/1 EW (6 places)
Mutamaasik @ 11/1

Queen Anne
Fox Chairman @ 8/1 EW
Roseman @ 24/1

Queen Anne & King Edward Stakes
Circus Maximum & Mogul double @ 7/1

Ribblesdale Stakes
Passion @ 7/1 EW

King's Stand Stakes
Liberty Beach @ 9/1
Sergei Prokofiev @ 40/1 EW

Duke Of Cambridge Stakes
Jubiloso @ 5/1

Ascot Stakes
Coeur de Lion @ 14/1 EW (6 places)

[WADDY]

Few thoughts for the first day,

1.15 - Queso only so far..... (why is this not on ITV!!!)
1.50 - Dont like the fav so taking him on with Fox Chairman and Mohaather (£20 offer on the Exchange worth a go)
2.25, 3.00 - Frankly Darling and Mogul double.
3.35 - Equilateral ew, might be good enough if Battaash throws in one of his stinkers.
4.10 - Lavenders Blue, best form is over a mile and may improve this year.
4.40 - Same as Comply or Die, Verdana win and the weather is looking good for her. Land Of Oz ew.

Best of luck all.

[Kevloaf]

ITV are only permitted to show 6 races a day from Ascot.

[Viking Flagship]

4.40 - Ascot Stakes

Another big price Tuesday selection for me is Ashutor - 33/1 6 places

Talented flat performer in France, just touched off at his first try over 1m 6f by a horse who subsequently won at Listed level. Ashutor's most recent run on the flat (less than 2 years ago) saw him get within 2 1/2 lengths of Call The Wind.

Sent to Paul Nicholls for a hurdling career and finally got off the mark at Catterick in Feb this year after being the beaten favourite on a few occasions. Apparently works like a really good horse but hasn't always put his best foot forward on the track. However, he's in good hands and it wouldn't surprise if the horse started to show some of that potential as he's only a 6yo. It may just be that the horse appreciates a return to the flat and it's very interesting that Megan Nicholls takes the ride. Megan rides all of Paul's on the flat and she must surely have had the option of San Benedeto who is much shorter in the market. Paul/Megan have had 2 winners from 4 runners since the restart.

[ComplyOrDie]

1.50 - Dont like the fav so taking him on with Fox Chairman and Mohaather (£20 offer on the Exchange worth a go)

Best of luck all.

Think Mohaather is one of the more interesting runners too, done the Betfair offer with him and a couple of others also

[Captain Chris]

4.40 Couer de Lion ew. 5th off 93 and 6th off 91 in this the last two years. Doesn't have the Mullins battalion to take on this year so should be a solid each way play. First time visor.

I don't follow the flat closely, but I would have concerns about verdana blue (or any 2 mile hurdler) staying 2m4 on the flat. Not sure how valid that opinion is though?

[Faugheen_Machine]

1:50 Bless Him ew 50/1 (Nap)

3:00 Mogul is a rotten price imo and I'll look to take him on. Probably chance Mohican Heights if he drifts tomorrow morning

4:10 Lavenders Blue 6/1 and Queen Power 7/1, both ew.

4:40 Land of Oz ew 13/1(nb)

Disappointed Brian Epstein didn't make the cut so will have another look at the Buckingham Palace tonight.

[Kevloaf]

If FM is putting up a 50/1 nap, I'll go 80/1 in the same race.... Accidental Agent - won it 2 years ago, refused to race last year 'cos he's a lunatic.



Who wants to know there horse is gonna jump off. Boring.
Accidental Agent (4 places) 80/1. 6 pts e/w.





Alright 0.75pts e/w.

[Faugheen_Machine]

You can get 170.0 on the machine Kev. Might have a little on myself.

[charlie]

You can get 170.0 on the machine Kev. Might have a little on myself.

I just took a bit, can't ignore 170's for a previous race winner

[nortonscoin200]

4.40 - Ascot Stakes

Another big price Tuesday selection for me is Ashutor - 33/1 6 places

Talented flat performer in France, just touched off at his first try over 1m 6f by a horse who subsequently won at Listed level. Ashutor's most recent run on the flat (less than 2 years) ago saw him get within 2 1/2 lengths of Call The Wind.

Sent to Paul Nicholls for a hurdling career and finally got off the mark at Catterick in Feb this year after being the beaten favourite on a few occasions. Apparently works likely a really good horse but hasn't always put his best foot forward on the track. However, he's in good hands and it wouldn't surprise if the horse started to show some of that potential as he's only a 6yo. It may just be that the horse appreciates a return to the flat and it's very interesting that Megan Nicholls takes the ride. Megan rides all of Paul's on the flat and she must surely have had the option of San Benedeto who is much shorter in the market. Paul/Megan have had 2 winners from 4 runners since the restart.

Nice write-ups VK and thanks for selecting one with a working man's price for my favourite race of the meeting the Ascot Stakes.

You'd think he might still have a bit of untapped potential at this trip on the flat and with six places each way it doesn't have to be Ashut-or bust!

Good luck.

[Viking Flagship]

Nice write-ups VK and thanks for selecting one with a working man's price for my favourite race of the meeting the Ascot Stakes.

You'd think he might still have a bit of untapped potential at this trip on the flat and with six places each way it doesn't have to be Ashutor bust!

Good luck.

Thanks Norton. Royal Ascot handicaps are so competitive that you often end up with some very talented horses way down the market - it's just a case of digging out the right ones. It's always nice to try anyway.. you only need one of them to pop up and it can make your week! I haven't actually backed him yet as he's 55 on the exchanges so I was hoping one of the 6 place bookies might dangle a huge price. Hills have just gone 40s (5 places).