RACING has really gathered momentum since the resumption and the Ascot team have done a great job of marketing the Royal Ascot At Home experience. There are 36 races to enjoy over the five days of Royal Ascot and let’s hope as many people get involved as possible to keep the momentum going in terms of positive media coverage. I know lots of existing fans are getting dressed up for the occasion and let’s hope plenty of new racing fanatics enjoy Royal Ascot At Home too.
Enjoy!
The Wine Tipster
1.15 Ascot – Buckingham Palace Handicap (7f)
Kaeso trained by Nigel Tinkler has a tremendous record at Ascot in big field handicaps all over today’s trip of 5322, when on his last start here last July he was only beaten a head in the Moët & Chandon by Raising Sand. This six-year-old needs a run every year as a pipe-opener, which he had at Newcastle two weeks ago, when unplaced behind another of his rival’s today Daarik, However, Kaeso has always shown tremendous improvement on his second start of the season and with Oisin Murphy booked, a good draw in the middle, he looks nailed on to be in the frame. Unibet are paying TWO EXTRA PLACES on this race.
Unibet 7/1 each way
1.50 Ascot – Queen Anne Stakes Group 1 (1m)
This is not a vintage renewal and Dukes Of Hazzard looks great each way value for the Paul and Oliver Cole team, as their charge kept improving and running to a very high standard last year. Dukes Of Hazzard really deserved his Group 2 Celebration Mile win at Goodwood on his final start after successes at Newmarket and the Qatar Goodwood Festival. He ran perfectly well in the Jersey last year and a mile is most definitely his trip. Unibet are paying AN EXTRA PLACE on this race,
Unibet 10/1 each way
2.25 Ascot – Ribblesdale Stakes Group 2 (1m 4f)
Trefoil for the inform Ralph Beckett team can continue her progression here and take the Ribblesdale.
Trefoil, having won her sole start as a juvenile, made a pleasing reappearance when third to Run Wild at Newmarket over two furlongs shorter. Trefoil looked very willing and straightforward, with this looking the perfect trip for her on breeding.
Unibet 9/2 win
3.35 Ascot – Kings Stand Group 1 (5f)
The brilliant Bataash is well ahead of the rest of the field and looks sure to win here so I like the look of Liberty Beach as an each way selection. She won four times over five furlongs last season, particularly impressing in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood when bravely finding a late gap to win in style. She had a seasonal debut at Haydock, winning a Listed contest over six furlongs, with the return to five furlongs putting her right in the picture for a place.
Unibet each way 9/1
4.10 Ascot – Duke Of Cambridge Stakes Group 2 (1m)
Nazeef (nap) won three of her four starts last year and was very much one of my horses to follow in 2020. She certainly didn’t disappoint on seasonal debut at Kempton when swooping late to beat the very likeable Billesdon Brook, from whom she was in receipt of seven pounds. Nazeef certainly won cosily at Kempton and there is every suggestion she can make serious progress this season for the John Gosden yard, seeing off her main rival Jubiloso here.
Unibet 100/30 win
4.40 Ascot – Ascot Stakes Handicap (2m4f)
Dubawi Fifty for the Karen McLintock yard was second in this in 2018 and is off the same mark today so his chance is blindingly obvious from a handicapping point of view. Dubawi Fifty had his last start in December and has gone well fresh in the past as we saw in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle last year when second to Who Dares Wins after over a year off.
I can’t resist a small each way wager on San Benedeto from the Paul Nicholls team, who has had two winners from four runners since racing’s resumption. We know San Benedeto very well as a jumper and he hasn’t run on the flat since 2013, when pretty useful. His flat rating is 85 and over jumps he is 150. Unibet are paying AN EXTRA PLACE on this race.
Unibet Dubawi Fifty 12/1 each way
Unibet San Benedeto 14/1 each way
