.jpg)
24 Jun 2023 - NEWS
O'BRIEN AND MOORE TAKE TOP TRAINER AND JOCKEY TITLES
Royal Ascot 2022: Four to back
.jpg)
Posted in: Royal Ascot Tips
Andrew Asquith highlights four of his best bets in the pattern races at Royal Ascot.
Twilight Calls – King's Stand Stakes, Tuesday 14 June
The Wesley Ward-trained Golden Pal is a strong favourite for this year’s King’s Stand following more glowing reports from his trainer, but he has failed to match the hype on both of his starts in Britain so far, and as a result, he is a favourite I want to take on.
King’s Lynn very much caught the eye in this race 12 months ago, and is again of interest this time round, but it is Twilight Calls, who finished a head second to him in the Temple Stakes at Haydock last time, that makes more appeal.
Twilight Calls looked a pattern-class performer when cruising to victory in a handicap at Newmarket on his return in April, and he has done little to dispel that theory in two starts since. He raced away from the main action in the Palace House on his next start, and he arguably should have won at Haydock last time, still travelling powerfully on the bridle when King’s Lynn stole a length on him which ultimately proved the difference.
Twilight Calls responded well to pressure when asked to chase down the winner but found the line coming too soon and he is fancied to reverse that form now. He is an up-and-coming sprinter who will be well suited by Ascot’s straight course , his come-from-behind style often seen to good effect at this track, and he looks over priced at a top price 16/1.
Bay Bridge – Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Wednesday 15 June
Bay Bridge went from strength-to-strength last season, dismantling the usually competitive London Gold Cup at Newbury and defying a 15 lb higher mark in another hot handicap at York on his next start. He wasn’t rushed by his characteristically patient trainer and didn’t need to improve to land a listed event at Newmarket on his final start of the campaign.
Bay Bridge took his form to a new level when routing his opposition on his return in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on his return last month, appearing to have done well physically in the paddock beforehand, and looking a colt right out of the top drawer as he powered away from some smart types inside the final furlong; the third home has since bolted up in listed company.
He was strong in the betting and that money didn’t look misplaced at any point as he displayed an excellent turn of foot in the straight and he looks an archetypal, late-maturing four-year-old for Sir Michael Stoute.
The vibes coming out of his camp are that he will be kept to a mile and a quarter for the time being, and he looks one of the strongest favourites of the week. Bay Bridge seems sure to go on progressing for a while yet and can take the step up into Group 1 company in his stride.
Potapova – Duke of Cambridge Stakes, Wednesday 15 June
Alcohol Free sets a clear standard on the pick of her three-year-old form, which included a victory over 2000 Guineas winner Poetic Flare in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, but she has been well below that level in two starts this season.
Whether she is as good now is questionable, which makes the Duke of Cambridge Stakes look wide open, so playing one at a bigger price looks the percentage call. Bashkirova and Potapova – both owned by Cheveley Park Stud – finished first and second in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom on Saturday and both looking interesting in the context of this race.
Preference is for Potapova, who has a habit of starting slowly, but produced a career best on that occasion, and continues to leave the impression that she has an even bigger performance in the locker. She travelled well in rear and looked a threat when moving into contention on the inside two furlongs out.
Potapova was unable to reel in Bashkirova but there were still plenty of positives to take out of that performance and the return to a straight mile should see her in a better light. She has always been held in high regard and a double-figure price underestimates her chance in this.
Perfect Power – Commonwealth Cup, Friday 17 June
Plenty to consider in this year’s Commonwealth Cup but Perfect Power looks the one to beat now having his attentions switched back to sprinting.
He was one of the best two-year-olds around last season, notably winning the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Prix Morny at Deauville and the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket.
He proved he had trained on when justifying strong support in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury in April, seeing out the step up to seven furlongs well, which clearly enticed connections to roll the dice in the 2000 Guineas.
Perfect Power ran creditably at Newmarket, but he didn’t appear to stay the one-mile trip as strongly as some, and he has been aimed at this race since. A stiff six furlongs should be tailormade for him and he has been the subject of positive reports this week. He can call upon his previous experience at this meeting and get his career back on track.
Royal Ascot Latest News
.jpg)
24 Jun 2023 - NEWS
QUEEN ELIZABETH II JUBILEE STAKES: KHAADEM SPRINGS 80-1 SURPRISE.jpg)
24 Jun 2023 - NEWS
ROYAL ASCOT: REPORTS FOR DAY 5
