FAMILY FORTUNE
16-1 Gilgamesh to land double for top owner
The colours of the Niarchos family were carried to a remarkable victory in the Coronation Stakes by Alpha Centauri yesterday and GILGAMESH (Ascot, nap, 5.0) could make it a week to remember for the renowned owner-breeder operation today.
Winning the Wokingham Stakes won’t rank anywhere near landing a Group One prize by six blistering lengths, as Alpha Centauri did, but little fish are sweet and today’s cavalry charge will be harder to win, granted the ferocity of competition. In Gilgamesh, connections are represented by a horse with assured stamina at today’s trip of six furlongs, quite often a vital component for this afternoon’s brutal handicap where seven-furlong winners enjoy a good record.
his recent win at York should have put him spot on and he is fancied to run a big race with plenty of pace drawn around him.
Mr Lupton and Tis Marvellous are others to consider in a typically open affair.
CHESHAM STAKES LISTED — 7 FURLONGS
NATALIE’S JOY created a smart impression when she ran away with a Goodwood maiden on her debut in a time narrowly outside a juvenile track record for the trip which has stood since 1999.
She is one of only three twoyearolds since 2006 to win a Goodwood six-furlong maiden, the other two being Guineas winner Night Of Thunder and stablemate Threading, who later won the Lowther.
The performance clearly marks the selection as a high- class juvenile and, as she is closely related to seven furlong winner Annie’s Fortune, the step up in trip shouldn’t be a problem.
Carlisle winner Nate The Great is by stamina influence Nathaniel so could outrun his price.
HARDWICKE STAKES GROUP TWO — 1 MILE 3 FURLONGS
IT hAS been a momentous week for Sir Michael Stoute who surpassed henry Cecil as the trainer with most wins at the Royal meeting with a double on Wednesday.
And Stoute’s CRYSTAL OCEAN could serve further evidence of his burgeoning maturity with success in a disappointing renewal of this Group 2.
A lack of runners won’t concern the connections who saddle horses in this and racegoers and punters alike should be grateful for the presence of Cliffs Of Moher for ensuring there are at least each-way terms.
Crystal Ocean improved from a workmanlike Sandown display to win at Newbury and he’ll have too much class for Barsanti.
WINDSOR CASTLE LISTED — 5 FURLONGS
The presence of Moonlight Romance, second to Norfolk Stakes winner Shang Shang Shang at Keeneland, muddies the water a little given trainer Wesley Ward has now found some form.
She may find stall 28 and a position on the stands’ side rail a godsend given she is a trailblazer, but in the hope QUEEN OF
BERMUDA gains some cover from stall 15, I think she could be the answer to a tough puzzle.
The selection has performed with credit here and wins at Thirsk and Windsor have been achieved in excellent times.
Mutawaffer is another with Ascot experience. he confirmed the view he was a smart juvenile with success at Goodwood.
DIAMOND JUBILEE GROUP ONE — 6 FURLONGS
Pre-race vibes suggested
MERCHANT NAVY was far from race-fit ahead of his curragh debut for aidan O’Brien so the fact he managed to win in a rapid time augurs well here.
australian recruit Merchant Navy’s final run Down Under saw him close powerfully to finish within a neck of redkirk Warrior who made all to land the Group 1 Lexus Handicap.
Merchant Navy’s stablemate Spirit Of Valor, was runner-up at the curragh and should ensure a decent pace.
Harry angel needs to end track stats which read 2224 here and 11111 elsewhere. While D’bai finished as fast as Muthmir at Haydock, but over two furlongs further, and is each-way value.
WOKINGHAM STAKES HANDICAP — 6 FURLONGS
BackiNG horses with seven furlong form on their c.v. can be a profitable strategy in this event given it is normally such a strongly-run six furlongs.
With that in mind, GILGAMESH makes a fair bit of appeal if he can hang on to the coat-tails of the likes of ice age and Foolaad who are drawn in neraby stalls.
The selection caught the eye in the Victoria cup ( 7f) when winning his race on the stands’ side and he has since scored decisively at York.
The drop back to six furlongs should be ideal and he gets on well with ed Greatrex. Tis Marvellous was chasing home caravaggio in a commonwealth cup a year ago so also makes appeal off a mark of just 99.
QUEEN ALEXANDRA CONDITIONS — 2MILES 5 FURLONGS
iriSH maestro Willie Mullins has already served notice of his domination in this type of event when saddling ascot Stakes winner Lagostovegas and three of the next four across the line.
in THOMAS HOBSON he has a stayer with a sharp turn of foot which usually proves a deadly combination in a race like this.
The eight-year-old attempted to complete the ‘ascot double’ last year having won by six lengths on the first day of the meeting, but Oriental Fox was not for passing.
a fresher horse, and with ryan Moore riding again, Thomas Hobson can hold off the likes of count Octave who was an honourable fifth to Stradivarius last time in the Yorkshire cup.