Churchill to rule in battle of the milers
Five days of high-class sport, pageantry, socialising and undiluted glamour begin today at Royal Ascot where the action on the course, particularly the heavyweight rematch between Churchill and Barney Roy in the St James’s Palace Stakes, is expected to be as hot as conditions off it.
Every two years, Royal Ascot has a football tournament to contend with, but this year it has the stage to itself. That fact alone will mean a bigger betting turnover, with £250million being forecast.
After a string of good results at Cheltenham, in the National (14-1) and Derby (40-1), the bookmakers will be bold, but if Ribchester and Churchill oblige, along with Lady Aurelia, they will be inspecting for damage below the waterline.
It is always dangerous to narrow down an eight-runner Group One race into a match, but that is the overriding impression given by the St James’s Palace; a rerun of Newmarket’s 2,000 Guineas but on a very different course.
Richard Hannon believes Barney Roy has a genuine chance of turning round his length defeat by Churchill, who has subsequently won the Irish Guineas – where he beat another of today’s rivals, Thunder Snow, by 2½ lengths. He is not flashy, he is thoroughly professional and only does what he needs to.
While there did not seem any excuses for Thunder Snow, who travelled better than Aidan O’brien’s Churchill for much of the way at The Curragh, Hannon is clutching at the straw that Churchill had the run of the race at Newmarket, and that his lessexperienced colt, who stumbled in the Dip and then had to avoid a retreating pacemaker,did not.
Rivet looks the only other colt capable of spoiling the party. Partowned by Lester Piggott, the colt was far too free over a mile and a quarter in the French Derby, and one day it will come together for him, though that may not be today. Stall one should not be a disadvantage for Ribchester in the Queen Anne Stakes, particularly as a lot of the pace appears to be up his side, but the big field may complicate things. With a couple of pacemakers, it will be fast and furious and, given the conditions, no surprise if the winner lowers Integral’s record for the straight mile. The King’s Stand should be between the two speedy fillies, Lady Aurelia and Marsha. Lady Aurelia’s blistering performance in last year’s Queen Mary – perhaps the most impressive turn of speed seen at Ascot since the new stand was built – is still fresh enough in my mind for her to get the vote. Blood, sweat and tears will be shed during the course of 30 races – predominantly by gentlemen in top hats and tails. But, while misters and endless buckets of cold water will be provided, post-race, for the horses, the longest shot of the week is any relaxation in the Royal Enclosure dress code for men. That being the case, the only advice to them is to heed Churchill’s words; KBO.