2.30 Plenty of eyes will be on Frankie Dettori has he takes his final rides at Royal Ascot & in this opener Inspiral looks to give him the ideal start. There is no doubt she is high class and getting a bit of weight is also a positive , on the negative side no run this season since a very poor effort on Champions Day last October. She did win on seasonal debut last season in the Coronation but that looks an under par Group 1 to me. Godolphin has two runners and both should be considered. Modern Games brings some ultra strong form at Group 1 level and he looks the play to me. Stable mate Native Trail as a high class 2/3 year old , the win in the Irish Guineas last year looks good on paper but it was an ordinary event in my view. Of the rest I cannot make much of chance for them
3.05 River Tiber heads the market for the A P O’Brien yard after 2 easy wins in Ireland , the form looks decent enough and six furlongs will be ideal , the trainer also has a good record in this race. Its not very often you are left a bit gobsmacked after seeing a horse run on debut , but that was the impression I got after watching power away from what looked a fair enough field ( 4th placed runner up in the Brocklesby beaten miles ) on debut at Ripon. Both Bucanero Fuerte & Army Ethos were easy enough winners on debut and both come from connections who are shrewd enough with their 2 year olds. Givemethebeatboys does not do anything too quickly and has something to find with the more flashy types in my view
3.40 Highfield Princess is undoubtedly the best form chance for the home team , but she was well under par here last year & I just have a fear she is just not top notcher you will need to win this. The Australians are the daddy’s when it comes to sprinters in world racing. Coolangatta brings the best form over & being a filly gets weight too , plenty to like for me. Twilight Gleaming is drawn next to the Australian filly and for the every positive Wesley Ward could be a danger as both like to blast out from the gates. The other Australian contender is Cannonball who is drawn on the other side and he does like a nice tow into a race and I am not sure the pace is that side for him. Of the outsiders Bradsell has been squashed by Little Big Bear at 6f and a drop to 5f could see him staying on from off the pace his side
4.20 I do think Galeron has been given poor rides on both starts in the English & Irish 2000 Guineas and could be a nice play for those that like a big price one with an eye catching jockey booking. Chaldean is the favourite at the time of writing but I am not keen , he looks a grinder and does nothing that flashy although you cannot crib the races to wins record. Paddington should be favourite. He is a strong traveler who is a powerhouse of a specimen and is never more strong than at the winning post. The rest have little to recommend them in my view
5.00 Bring On The Night hails from the all powerful Mullins yard who knows how to get the job done in these staying races , with Moore booked for a top owner its not hard to see why he is favourite; but he looked not to stay that well in last years renewal and there is going to be challenge for Moore to save the energy. Ahorsewithnoname is another that comes from a powerhouse stable from the jumps game. She should stay but at 8 is she getting any better ? It’s not a race I want to get that involved with , but at a price Irish Lullaby from another Irish yard that does very well under both codes and she was staying on with some purpose at Haydock last September over 14f , she is unexposed
5.35 This looks a race that could be decided by the draw , with low being the place I am looking at. The two at the head of the market are both 4 year olds and are strong candidates. Saga for the royal connections can take a bit of a tug and Frankie will be keen to get him settled. Francesco Clemente looked to be coming with a winning run until greeness ( only 4th run ) saw him just edge of a true line , cheekpieces are added and that should help as he is undoubtedly a Group horse down the line. Buckaroo comes into this off some very good runs in graded races and should figure
6.10 Probably the most tricky race to solve on Day 1 . Two 4 years olds make my shortlist Chillingham & Ruling Dynasty. both have positive profiles and are still improving with racing. It’s hard to separate them and both are decent prices
Advised Bets
2.30 Modern Games 1pt win @ 2’1
3.05 Asadna 1pt win @ 100’30 / 3’1
1/2 pt ew double 3.40 Coolangatta 4’1 / 9’2 firms offering 4 places & 4.20 Paddington 5’2 both terms with William Hill
4.20 Galeron 1/4 pt ew @ 40’1
5.00 Irish Lullaby 1/2 pt ew @ 20’1 /16’1 firms offering 6 places ( Betfair , Bet365 )
1/4 pt ew Double 5.35 Buckaroo 7’1 / 6’1 firms offering 4 places & 6.10 Ruling Dynasty 8’1 firms offering 5 places ( both terms with bet 365)
6.10 Chillingham 1/4 pt ew @ 16’1 / 14’1 firms offering 5 places