The pick of the prices on Day 2 at Royal Ascot....

Tuesday, 20th June 2023

The pick of the prices on Day 2 at Royal Ascot….

Today is Day 1 of Royal Ascot….

…. which for handicap punters like us means two distance handicaps….

…. the Ascot Stakes over the 2m4f trip….

…. and the Copper Horse Handicap over 1m6f….

I sent out my betting advice for this afternoon’s races yesterday. If you missed it, you’ll find it here….

I go out early doors with my advice in the hope of bagging the best of the prices about my race selections….

Sometimes it comes off. Other times it doesn’t….

… but because I go out early with my selections, we’re always a little ahead of the game here at ATC….

The flag hasn’t been raised on Day 1 – and I’m already thinking about Day 2….

…. which means the Royal Hunt Cup – a massive field up the straight mile….

…. and the Kensington Palace Handicap – one for the fillies on the turning mile….

They had 10mm of rain at the track overnight – but it’s not altered the going. At least, not yet. The straight course is still described as good to firm this morning – and the round course is good, good to firm in places….

There’s more rain expected this morning – so the ground is likely to ease more. But quite how much is anybody’s best guess….

They don’t make it easy, do they? Let’s crack on….

• In the Royal Hunt Cup (5.00)….

Just (!) 30 go to post for the Royal Hunt Cup at 5.00….

In a cavalry charge, I want two darts – and I’m happy to forego the opportunity to play for place money….

Just last month at the Curragh DUNUM advertised his ability to win a valuable big-field handicap like this….

Having been sent off favourite for the 22-runner Emerald Mile Handicap – run over the straight mile on good ground – he found just the one too good (beaten a short head)….

That was off a mark of 93. Tomorrow he runs off a British mark of 97. For me, if he runs his race then he’s bang there at the death, Of course, if is a big word that covers a lot of ground in racing….

Will he run his race? Who knows? Only a clairvoyant can tell you that with any sense of certainty….

What I can tell you is that he handles sound and softer surfaces, he gets the trip, and he certainly likes a straight mile like the one he’ll encounter tomorrow afternoon….

The Curragh race was just his second go on a straight and on his first go – back in September – he again found just one of his 21 opponents too good on the day….

The bottom line: he’s an in-form potential improver and he’s up at 16s – and his yard’s going very nicely right now…. 

My other pick for the race – CHASING APHRODITE up at 14s – is a similar type. He too is an in-form horse with the potential to rate higher still….

On his one go to date this term – his first run back after a wind-op – Harry Eustace’s 4yo went on what looks like a reconnaissance mission for tomorrow’s assignment….

…. beating 14 home in a C3 handicap over track and trip off a mark of 92….

The wind procedure produced a much improved performance – for which he’s gone up 4lb to 96 – but I’d wager there’s more to come yet…

Hayley Turner rides – and that’s not bad thing. She might not be the first name you think of when you look at a race card….

…. but she’s got a better impact value in the good races up the straight at Ascot than most of her compatriots in the weighing-room over the last 3-years….

…. hitting the frame 41% more than chance would dictate. Only Dettori has better figures….

Turner wasn’t on at Ascot for the dress rehearsal. But she’s back in the plate tomorrow for the main event. That’s a plus and horse and rider can go well….  

• In the Kensington Palace (3.05)….

TARRABB at 10s is my pick for the Kensington Palace at 3.00….

She didn’t race as a juvenile, she was largely progressive in her races last year, and she started off this season’s campaign in reasonable-enough style at Chelmsford last month….

…. where she finished 2/4 and beaten a length over the turning 7f trip….

She probably wouldn’t have been fully fit….

…. she was certainly fizzy and took a strong hold – that wouldn’t have helped her cause….

… and she also met with bits of trouble in running….

In short, it wasn’t too bad an effort and it was certainly better than first impression….

She’s been put away since and I imagine this has been a proper target for her – on a track where she’s already produced a couple of bits of form….

She’s got a nice draw tomorrow in stall 4 in first-time tongue tie and – in William Buick – she’s got a good man to have on your back on Ascot’s round course….

• The last word….

That’s all for today….

I’ll be back tomorrow with my selections for Day 3 of the Royal Ascot meeting….

Look out for me in your email box….

Meantime – contact me direct at nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk  

And remember – win, lose, or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned.

Against the Crowd