Animal Kingdom a gift wrapped start to Royal Ascot

 

Queen Anne Stakes
Royal Ascot
TIME: 2.30pm, C4

CAN YOU FIND ANY REASONS TO OPPOSE HIM?

What reasons can you have for opposing Animal Kingdom in the opening Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot today?

Too short in the betting? Not really a reason – price is only relative to respective chance and you can be certain that bookmakers (including Star Sports) will want to see this one beaten and kick start their meeting in the best possible way. So the ring will push him out as far as it dares.

But the flip side of that, as a punter, is that you are going to get a better price simply by virtue of the timetable of the race, the first of the week.

Travelled from America ? Again not a concern. He’s had a long time to acclimatise and has already proved he can handle the Air Miles with a win at Meydan in Dubai World Cup. Trainers are far more adept these days at the logistics of travelling and recovery times – it’s a well rehearsed process.

Horse not good enough? Absolutely not the case. Just look at his official rating. 126 versus second best in the race Elusive Kate who is on a mark of 116. As they said on the Morning Line this morning the pair are the ONLY ones proven at Group level – let alone Group 1 level.

The only negatives as far as I can see is the draw 13 – not ideal being on the outside and the small possibility of rain before the race. Indeed, rain is the trainers ONLY concern. Graham Motion said: “I couldn’t be happier with the horse, he’s fine.”

I can’t find enough reasons to think that odds against is not a gift wrapped opening to Royal Ascot 2013.

STAR FORECAST
(stake between 0.5 and 10 points)
9 points win ANIMAL KINGDOM (2.30 Royal Ascot)

(-10 points Monday)

THE ASCOT OPENING RACE

It’s the opening day of Royal Ascot so the perfect opportunity to watch the Ascot Gavotte from one of the most famous musicals of all time. My Fair Lady:

Ev’ry duke and earl and peer is here
Ev’ryone who should be here is here.
What a smashing, positively dashing
Spectacle: the Ascot op’ning day.
At the gate are all the horses
Waiting for the cue to fly away.