STAR PREVIEW: Royal Ascot 2021 | Day One

Get your top hats and tails out – it’s Royal Ascot time! This year’s meeting promises an extravaganza of racing action for onlookers watching from home and the lucky few who will get to be on course – something which we’ll all hopefully be able to do this summer even with a delay.

The ground looks set to be good, perhaps on the fast side, although rain is set to come later in the week – and without further ado, let’s get stuck into the racing!

Royal Ascot 2021, Day 1
Ascot, Berkshire

Live on ITV1 HD from 13:30-16:00 & ITV 4 HD from 15:55-18:30, also ITV Hub
Live on Sky Sports Racing HD from 1.30pm
First Race: 2.30pm
Last Race: 6.10pm

2.30 – Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Class 1) (4yo+) 1m (Straight Mile)

The opener of the week has a red-hot favourite in Palace Pier, who should be good enough to take this in his stride. At 4/11 however, he is no value to start the meeting and this is surely an each/way race for those who are so inclined. The Aidan O’Brien pair of Order Of Australia and Lope Y Fernandez have massive each/way claims if at their best – however, Order Of Australia is making his seasonal comeback and Lope Y Fernandez was disappointing in the Lockinge, even accounting for slow ground at Newbury.

Top Rank was a sound third in the Lockinge Stakes and has place possibilities, whilst Sir Busker – a winner of the Silver Hunt Cup at last year’s meeting – has since made it into a group class horse who was on the heels of Palace Pier in the QEII whilst also running well twice this season.

Lord Glitters took this in 2019 – and the Jebel Hatta earlier this year – and has to be respected after a fair run in the Lockinge, although he was 12 lengths behind Palace Pier there and overturning the form looks a tough order. He and Bless Him would be of interest off strong early sectionals, whilst the same can be said of Accidental Agent – the shock winner of this in 2018 who refused the year Lord Glitters won.

Pogo, third in the Prix d’Ispahan last year, bombed out in the Lockinge but is capable of giving a much better effort here for those seeking big each/way value.

Regal Reality has Group 1 form – he was third in the 2019 Eclipse and found only Kameko too good in the Joel Stakes – and a strong pace would make him a contender, although that can’t be guaranteed and this looks a race to watch at face value.

3.05 – Coventry Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (2yo) 6f

Always a great spectacle and this year’s renewal is enhanced by the presence of Wesley Ward’s Kaufymaker, a deeply impressive winner of her debut at Keeneland. It’s fascinating at the filly is the choice for Ward in this race and she’s respected of course, but Ward’s eight Royal Ascot winners have all come over 5 furlongs and the form of her Keenland win hasn’t worked out as one would hope for a Coventry winner.

In a very open race, the two suggestions against the field are Gisburn and Masseto, both of whom have differing levels of form but clear ability. Gisburn was a fast finishing fourth behind Berkshire Shadow (who also runs here and was very hard to leave out of the selections) on debut at Newbury over five furlongs before then taking apart his field at the same course when upped to six. That form would need improving on to take a Coventry Stakes, but Gisburn’s time matched up very well with other contests on that card and it’s unlikely many will finish stronger here.

Masseto was sent off a 15/8 favourite for the Castle Hill Stakes at the Curragh after a smooth debut win at Navan when he experienced an unpromising track position. Things didn’t go perfectly for him at The Curragh when he was blocked for a run on what was a testing surface (winner Castle Star had uninterrupted passage on the outside) and he shaped as if the test of six furlongs here with a sounder surface – and hopefully a better passage – will suit him greatly. The form of both those runs looks reasonably sound and he should have as good a chance as any.

Dhabab and Tolstoy hold obvious chances for The Gosdens whilst it was very hard to leave National Stakes winner Ebro River and Berkshire Shadow out of proceedings. Vintage Claret could be best of the bigger priced horses, whilst The Acropolis, a smart winner at Listowel, could thrive for better ground here and is the chosen representative of Ballydoyle, nine-time winners of this contest.

3.40 – King’s Stand Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Class 1) (3yo+) 5f

Battaash is a sensational winner of this last year who followed up with the Nunthorpe last year, is a worthy favourite but not an appealing betting opposition after an interrupted preparation. He also faces a large amount of pace pressure, not least from the tremendously exciting 3yo Winter Power, who was so impressive at York on her seasonal debut.

A pace burn up could help Extravagant Kid, who was forced to sit back in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint from a bad draw before coming home for fourth, and particularly Oxted, the July Cup winner of last year. He hasn’t quite matched those levels this season but perhaps 5 furlongs, especially with a strong pace, will suit him on this course and as a previous winner of the Portland over 5 and a half furlongs, there must be a chance that he has the pace for this test. If so, he’s unlikely to be far away.

Liberty Beach was third last year and comes here after a game win in the Temple Stakes has to be a big player for a place here. A strong pace would help King’s Lynn, a winner over 5 furlongs at Haydock last time who has plenty of handy form, and also Arecibo, enjoying fine form for Robert Cowell. A big run from him or Stone Of Destiny, who was unlucky in the Epsom Dash, would be no surprise.

Maven took the Prix du Bois last year but has been in and out since; He was impressive at Keenland on his return, but may be forced into a pace battle with the likes of Ornate, Que Amora, and Glamorus Anna which takes away appeal from his chances.

4.20 – (Rnd) St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Colts) (Class 1) (3yo) (1m)

A fascinating renewal with plenty of contenders. Poetic Flare’s 2,000 Guineas win was followed up creditable efforts in France (slow pace and no run ended his chances) and Ireland (just outstayed by stablemate Mac Swiney in deep ground) and if he’s at his best then he’s the horse to beat. He’s had a hard enough season however with four races since April and that could leave him vulnerable in a division which doesn’t see much between the top contenders on paper.

Lucky Vega needs to improve to get past Poetic Flare on paper, but he didn’t have the benefit of a run when third in the 2,000 Guineas (only half a length behind Poetic Flare) and was then stuck in the mud when a creditable third in the Irish 2,000 at the Curragh. He’ll get faster ground here today, and hopefully with a clear run he won’t be far away at all.

Mostdahaf impressed with his win in the Heron Stakes (beat Highland Avenue, who gave 3lbs there) and is seriously respected after that effort (along with the runner up). He’s following the same route as Without Parole (2018 winner) and King Of Comedy (close up behind Circus Maximus) and that is also to be noted.

Battleground, Wembley, and Thunder Moon all have a lot to prove after poor runs this season and Chindit (a closing fifth in the Guineas) is an interesting each/way contender for those who want a bit more value.

5.00 – Ascot Stakes (Handicap) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-100) 2m4f (2m3f210y)

Tons and tons of contenders here and there’d be no surprise if any of 10 or so won at least. M C Muldoon is respected hugely – and lord knows that Willie Mullins and Ryan Moore have a fine record in this race – but he’s now very short and plenty of horses with similar profiles and very attractive marks have bigger prices.

Coeur De Lion doesn’t have many secrets from the handicapper, but he won this last year off just a 3lbs lower mark and stayed on powerfully in the Chester Cup when last seen. Ascot suits him better and there’s no reason for him not to go well again under Thore Hammer Hansen, who takes off 3lbs.

The Irish contingent is a strong and attractive one, with Rayapour chosen as the second choice here. He was a classy prospect in France who was a fine listed second (winner from that race beat Bangkok later on the flat) before shaping fairly enough when making his hurdling debut at Kilbeggan last month. He appeared to get 2m3&1/2f just fine there and if he strips fitter for that, than a mark of 97 is fair indeed and the booking of Adam Kirby catches the eyes.

5.35 – Wolferton Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) (1m2f)

A really interesting renewal with plenty of likely contenders but Patrick Sarsfield will take the beating if he copes with the ground, which ought not to be a problem based on his Group 3 win and Group 1 third on a sound surface. He should be fitter for his comeback and is joint top rated here although his best efforts are preferred to those of Solid Stone, who ought to go close here. Felix, Forest Of Dean and Euchen Glen are respected in a deep listed race which looks to be a trappy betting heat.

6.10 – Copper Horse Stakes (Handicap) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-105)

Saldier and Global Storm both have major chances here and are respected for Wille Mullins and Charlie Appleby but Arthurian Fable is a big eyecatcher. He didn’t get the gaps at the right time when behind Global Storm on his reappearance, but he shaped well at the end of that race and back on fast ground (has won his only appearance on good to firm ground) he could go close to turning that form around.

RECOMMENDED BETS
BACK Gisburn 1 pt win in Coventry Stakes (3.05 Ascot) at 11/2 (Latest Star Price ? Click to BET NOW)

BACK Masseto 1 pt win in Coventry Stakes (3.05 Ascot) at 8/1 (Latest Star Price ? Click to BET NOW)

BACK Lucky Vega 1 pt win in St James’s Palace Stakes (4.20 Ascot) 1 pt at 6/1 (Latest Star Price ? Click to BET NOW)

BACK Coeur De Lion 1 pt win in Ascot Stakes (5.00 Ascot) at 11/1 (Latest Star Price  ? Click to BET NOW)

BACK Rayapour 1 pt win in Ascot Stakes (5.00 Ascot) at 11/1 (Latest Star Price ? Click to BET NOW)

BACK Arthurian Fable 1 pt win in Copper Horse Handicap (6.10 Ascot) at 9/1 (Latest Star Price ? Click to BET NOW)

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PROFIT/LOSS SINCE JAN 1 2017: LOSS: – 11.88 points
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