ELARQAM NO HARDWICKE SOFT TOUCH
THE ground is going to play a key role at Royal Ascot this afternoon, with plenty of rain falling during the past 48 hours.
Horses proven on soft ground stole a march yesterday and, with that in mind,
(3.00) is hard to oppose in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes.
Mark Johnston’s fiveyear-old only went down by a short head to Wednesday’s Prince Of Wales’s Stakes victor Lord North in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Haydock earlier this month.
Last term he was unlucky in the Juddmonte International in August, when squeezed for room, only going down by a length and a quarter behind Japan. Prior to that, he had beaten Addeyeb twice, the most recent on soft ground at York by three and a quarter lengths — the same margin Lord North beat the same horse here earlier this week.
(3.35) was last seen chasing home stablemate King’s Command in the Group 3 Prix Thomas
Bryon at Saint-cloud in October. over seven furlongs. The ground was too soft for him that day but the furlong shorter Group 1 Commonweath Cup should suit him.
The 1m 6f Queen’s Vase looks ideal for
(4.10), who beat Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Peaceful a neck on heavy ground in a Listed event at Salisbury on her only run late last term.
She was then run off her feet when finishing behind Berlin Tango and Pyledriver over 1m2f on the Kempton all-weather.
ELARQAM
ROYAL CRUSADE
BORN WITH PRIDE
TODAY’S SELECTIONS
Elarqam
3.00 Royal Ascot Royal Crusade 3.35 Royal Ascot Born With Pride 4.10 Royal Ascot