We’re giving cold shoulder to Antarctic
THE sun finally shone on Aidan O’Brien’s Royal Ascot runners yesterday when Little Big Bear won, but he’ll be hoping The Antarctic’s bid doesn’t go cold on him.
He’s on the drift in the Norfolk Stakes (2.30), and we’ll continue to lay him as he’s one we feel has been backed on reputation – as opposed to proven form.
It’s not a good renewal of the Ribblesdale Stakes (3.40) and Sea Silk
Road is a poor favourite in our eyes, so she’s another we feel we can get beat at a likely short price.
We much prefer Magical Lagoon, who is bred to be better at this longer trip and you always have to respect Jessica Harrington’s runners on these shores.
Hearts will be rooting for Stradivarius and heads for Kyprios in the Gold Cup (4.20), but we are very keen to lay both of them and we can see a shock result.
Burning Victory and Alignak are the two at bigger prices we like.
In all honesty, Reach For The Moon looks a penalty kick in the Hampton Court Stakes (5.35) and we’d be surprised if he doesn’t deliver the Queen with a winner, while Montassib looks a serious prospect and we could easily see him being well backed in the Buckingham Palace Handicap (6.10).
On the face of it, the results on Wednesday looked pretty bad with four winning favourites and the relatively well-backed Dark Shift taking the Royal Hunt Cup at 13-2, but in fact we ended the day in front again.
The key result was getting Bay Bridge beaten in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes as he had been popular both antepost and on the day. His defeat to State Of Rest let down most multiples, with the winner one we saw relatively little for.
Throw in Rising Star winning the Kensington Palace at 40-1 and it’s fair to say we’re still ahead as we move into the middle day of the Royal meeting.