DOUBLE HANDFUL
WELCOME to Ladies Day without any ladies. The traditional end to a typical Ladies Day at Royal Ascot would witness approximately 35,000 blokes of varying intoxication roaming around the wilds of Berkshire trying to find their way either to a kebab shop or home. Approximately 35,000 women would be trying to escape the attentions of those blokes.
Some of the crowd would be a good few quid up, most would be happy to cover the cost of their kebab and all would have an identifiable stain of some description on their outfit.
If there’s to be any sort of normality restored to proceedings today, Stradivarius will win the Gold Cup for the third year running, and for the first time without anybody cheering wildly.
With main rival Kew Gardens withdrawing earlier in the week Stradivarius does look a shoo-in.
He’s had the warm-up run in the
EACH WAY FIVE ways to make Ascot 2021 more entertaining.
Coronation Cup, he stays, he has the turn of foot, the fight for the battle — and he’s done it all before.
There’s absolutely no rhyme or reason why I think Stradivarius might get turned over today other than a nagging hunch and a lifetime of watching hotpots getting turned over.
Mark Johnston’s
enjoyed a decent campaign as a three-year-old with victories at Goodwood and Newmarket, followed by a third in the St Leger. The typical Johnston effect was there for all to see when Nayef Road produced a career-best effort to win the Sagaro Stakes on his reappearance at Newcastle over two miles last week.
The Sagaro Stakes used to be a trial for the Gold Cup with the likes of
Sadeem, Double Trigger and Estimate all dual winners.
Admittedly Nayef Road would have take a big step up to win but I think he’ll relish the longer trip and at a tasty double digit price he offers cracking each-way value.
PINATUBO won last year’s Chesham Stakes, confirming his status then as the best two-year-old in town.
This year’s renewal looks a cracking race with three of the eight runners (Bright Devil, First Prophet and Modern News) unbeaten going to post.
Every horse has run once, so there’s very little form to go on and that’s why I think the market doesn’t really reflect the true chances of one I fancy at a big each-way price.
I like the look of the Richard Hannon-trained
who caught the eye with a fast- finishing third over six furlongs at Haydock on his first run.
He’ll appreciate the step up in distance and should be there or thereabouts at the finish.
CLARENDON