Friday, 17th June 2022
Rossa Ryan has been knocking on the door all week at Royal Ascot – his 11 rides producing three 2nd place finishes and a couple of frame finishes in big-field events….
He has a chance to go out with a bang tomorrow in the Wokingham at 5.00 with DUBAI STATION – who can be backed at 33s this morning….
This horse clearly had problems after joining top sprint-horse rejuvenator Robert Cowell from Karl Burke in 2021. In his first three for Cowell he produced three stone-last finishes – which led to him being gelded in the May of that season….
He certainly improved for that procedure. He produced four 2nd place finishes on the bounce in small field conditions races later the same summer – with cheekpieces added to the mix on the last of those assignments….
This term Dubai Station was beaten over 5f at Newbury before Cowell stepped him back up to 6f on the sand at Chelmsford – just his second go in a handicap and just his second go at the longer sprint trip for Cowell – where the horse ran a cracker in a very good time and banked the £26k pot….
That was off a mark of 95. He’s only been put up 3lb for it but runs under a 5lb penalty tomorrow….
You could view that as a negative – but when you consider this horse was rated 109 as a 3yo, there is still (potentially) plenty of margin to work with off that mark if Cowell has this horse back bouncing again….
One swallow doesn’t make a summer, of course. But that last run – with Rossa Ryan up for the first time in a year – was full of promise. He’ll enjoy the quick surface; he’s drawn up the middle; and there could be more to come at a big price….
I want to be two-against-the field and my other pick is an unexposed horse in the same ownership as Dubai Station – TIGER CRUSADE who can also be backed at 33s….
He’s had just one go this term – his first since being gelded – in that same race at Chelmsford won by Dubai Station. He didn’t exactly set the track on fire….
But this 5yo is totally unexposed on the turf and I’m mindful that trainer David Simcock has a track record of targeting this race sparingly – but with horses that run big….
He’s only had four runners in the last two decades – and they ran 6/25, 5/26, 4/25 and 4/27 @ 14s, 20s, 50s and 33s….
Past performance is no guarantee of future success. But with Ascot-straight specialist Jamie Spencer booked for the ride I’m minded to forgive the last run, buy into the omens, and swing the bat at a big price….
Each-way backers take note: Sky Bet are 1/5 the first 8. bet365, Betfair Sportsbook, Paddy Power & Betway are 1/5 the first 7. It’s 1/5 the first 6 generally….
SUN KING at 12s is my bet in the race that closes the Royal meeting….
Aidan O’Brien’s colt was well fancied last time on his first go in a handicap and his first go at the 10f trip – but got beat….
He raced a bit too keen early doors under Ryan Moore and faded in the straight. But it’s interesting that they add a first-time tongue tie to the set-up tomorrow – a suggestion that Moore felt something else was amiss that day at Navan….
He’s down 3lb for that performance to a mark of 89 and that looks a nice mark given what he’s managed at a mile – with the expectation that this son of Galileo will improve for the extra quarter mile….
Each-way backers take note: Sky Bet are 1/5 the first 6. It’s 1/5 the first 5 generally….
Nick’s Dark Horses….To recap on my idea of the dark horses capable of running big races at tasty prices in the big handicaps tomorrow afternoon…. In the Wokingham (5.00 @ Ascot)….
In the Golden Gates (5.35 @ Ascot)….
Advised prices are correct at the time my column is submitted for publication. But prices are subject to fluctuation. There’s nothing I can do about that. Be sure to consult Oddschecker – you may find a quote better than advised…. |
That’s all for this week. I’ll be back next week….
Until then. Stay tuned – and enjoy the racing….
Operated by Spa Publishing Group Ltd (Company No. 15830286) 
