Wednesday, 21st June 2023
Today is Day 2 of Royal Ascot….
…. which for handicap punters like us means two handicaps….
…. the Royal Hunt Cup – a massive field up the straight mile….
…. and the Kensington Palace Handicap – one for the fillies on the turning mile….
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 2 – and I’m already thinking about Day 3….
…. which means the Britannia – a big mile handicap for the 3yos….
…. the Buckingham Palace Handicap – a big handicap up the straight 7f strip….
…. and the King George V Stakes – another 3yo handicap but this time over 12f….
The ground is described pretty much how it was yesterday – good on the straight course and good (good to soft in places) on the round course….
There might be a couple of scattered showers about….
Let’s get on with it….
I’m backing Harry Eustace’s DOCKLANDS at the general 12s in the Britannia at 5.00….
His 1.5 length defeat at the hands of Cicero’s Gift at Wolverhampton in March – with the rest well back in arrears – gets better with age….
The winner landed a decent race next time at Goodwood and (rated 109) ran in yesterday’s G1 St James’s Palace Stakes – catching the eye in defeat having been repeatedly denied in his run….
Docklands is rated 94 after a 6.5 length win last time out over tomorrow’s course and distance – track knowledge and experience that will be to his advantage...
That win was produced on soft – but there’s no evidence he can’t handle a sound surface….
…. and he won at a canter with any amount in hand – giving the impression that a stone-rise in the rankings won’t put the stopper on him….
Hayley Turner partners and – as I said yesterday – she’s no bad rider to have on your side up the Ascot straight….
I’m backing Roger Varian’s LIR SPECIALE at the general 16s in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at 6.10….
He went downhill in the first half of his 3yo season – but a wind-operation and a break clearly helped, and he was progressive in the second part of the campaign….
…. winning a handicap over 6f at Windsor and another on his first go at the 7f trip at Kempton in October….
He won on his single appearance this term – back over the 7f trip at Kempton again – having been gelded in the close season….
It was a clear career best – a performance for which he’s gone up 7lb to 97 – but there’s loads more to come from this 4yo yet. He’s very much on lift-off….
He’s totally unexposed at the 7f trip heading into tomorrow’s race and I see him running a big one under Ray Dawson from stall 7….
I’m backing Ralph Beckett’s DAVIDEO at 12s in the King George V Stakes at 3.05….
He’s a half-brother to a couple of international G1 winners and cost connections 230,000 guineas as a yearling….
He didn’t live up to that price tag on debut at Newbury in October last year. But he certainly came on leaps and bounds for that initial run….
…. producing a performance 2+ stone superior next time out in November at Kempton – finding just Mostabshir too good on the day. That one appeared in the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes yesterday….
…. he ran down the field – perhaps the softening ground didn’t suit – but his mark of 108 reveals that Davideo might well be handily weighted off an opening handicap mark of 92….
He didn’t disappoint on his first go this term – stepped up to 10f to win his maiden in ready fashion at Newmarket….
It’s difficult to quantify the performances of these young horses on the eye, but (like I say) an opening mark of 92 might prove generous – and I’d say he’s very likely to improve again for a step up to the 12f trip tomorrow. He certainly looks bred for it….
He’s wide on the track in stall 19. But take a look back at results across the last 20 years and you’ll find the winners have come from all over the track – including Ralph Beckett’s Surefire in 2021 (from stall 17)….
The pick of the prices….To recap on my bets for tomorrow…. In the 5.00 @ Ascot….
e/w terms = BetUK are 1/5 the first 6. Boylesports are 1/5 the first 4. The rest are ¼ the first 4. In the 6.10 @ Ascot….
e/w terms = Sky Bet are 1/5 the first 7. It’s 1/5 the first 6 and 1/5 the first 5 generally…. In the 3.05 @ Ascot….
e/w terms = bet365, Sky Bet, Paddy Power & Betway are 1/5 the first 6. It’s 1/5 the first 5 generally…. Advised prices are correct at the point of publication – but prices are subject to fluctuation. Consult Oddschecker – you may find better quotes and terms than advised…. |
That’s all for today….
I’ll be back tomorrow with my selections for Day 4 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.
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