It's day four of Royal Ascot and Punting Pointers duo Rory Delargy and David Massey highlight their selections.
Racing betting tips: Friday June 19
0.5pts e.w. Midnight Tango in 15:05 Ascot at 33/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3,4) – min 28/1
1pt e.w. Plage De Havre in 15:40 Ascot at 10/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3,4,5) – min 17/2
1pt e.w. Bintaziza in 17:00 Ascot at 17/2 (Coral, BetVictor 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6) – min 15/2
15:05 Royal Ascot
High is undeniably the place to be on the straight course unless the Clerk decides on some selective watering.
MIDMIGHT TANGO didn’t get as smooth a run as winner Coppull when second in the Commonwealth Cup Trial over C&D and Ed Walker’s filly has been largely ignored in the betting while horses she beat are being backed ahead of her.
She seemed to have her limitations exposed as a juvenile, but is a strongly built filly with the scope to develop into a smart sprinter and she looked an improved performer on her return. She should do better again, and can make the frame at rewarding odds.
15:40 Royal Ascot
The race that Klassleader won from Sing Us A Song at York in May was effectively franked when the latter was an unlucky fifth in the Copper Horse on Tuesday, so third-placed PLAGE DE HAVRE has to be on the shortlist here.
He was a bit keen from a wide draw early at York, where he couldn’t get cover, so it rates a very good effort (traded 1-2 in the run, he looked the winner at one stage) and in this big field and from stall 15, getting cover shouldn’t be a problem, while wide draws, as always, are advantageous even on the round course here.
Dangers in our eyes are Hopewell Rock and Nightime Dancer. The former has been progressive in the last year or so, forgiven his only flop on heavy ground and he looked like the run would do him no end of good when a close third on his return at Newmarket.
The run that really encourages me, though is when he was beaten in a photo at Leicester in October, a race in which he had Warrant Holder 5½ lengths behind when conceding that rival 7lb. They now meet on terms which favour Hopewell Rock to the tune of 11lb and yet Warrant Officer is disputing favouritism. I don’t disparage his chances at all, but Hopewell Rock is fancied to confirm the form on much better terms.
Nightime Dancer ran in the Derby last year and wasn’t at all disgraced despite lacking the experience for the big race and his fourth to Daiquiri Bay at Newmarket last time looks all the better now; he ought to strip fitter for that, his first run of the season and he has a solid profile all things considered, with tactical speed an asset in assuring a clear run, which is often more important here than having a few pounds in hand of the handicapper.
17:00 Royal Ascot
We both had BINTAZIZA on the shortlist for this at the entry stage and I am delighted that she has drawn stall 32 in the ballot, which makes her look the bet of the day.
Winner of her first two starts she was an enormous eyecatcher on her handicap bow at Thirsk (replay below) when finishing strongly to be beaten less than two lengths after getting a very poor run through the race.
That will have taught her plenty and she is fancied to improve enough to make a mockery of her opening mark.
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