Rory Delargy and David Massey are back with a look ahead to day one of Royal Ascot.
Racing betting tips: Tuesday June 16
1pt e.w. American Affair in 15:40 Ascot at 9/1 (Unibet 1/5 1,2,3,4,5) – min 15/2
0.5pts e.w. Tim Toe in 17:00 Ascot at 12/1 (bet365, William Hill 1/5 1,2,3,4,5) – min 10/1
0.5pts e.w. Glenroyal in 17:00 Asccot at 18/1 (bet365, Unibet 1/5 1,2,3,4,5) – min 16/1
1pt e.w. Sing Us A Song in 18:10 Ascot at 5/1 (General 1/4 1,2,3,4) – min 9/2
15:40 Ascot
Of the 15 horses (including winners) to make the frame in this race in the last five years, 11 of them were drawn in double-figure stalls, with stalls 14-17 accounting for the first four home last year.
It’s important not to conflate all spring form when looking at this race, which may be on a stiff track, but is one for 5f specialists. With form figures over 5f in the summer months which read 3212231, including a win in this last year, AMERICAN AFFAIR is a solid option, and he appears to have done well again with the draw, with the speedy favourite in the stall next door, and Big Mojo on the other side. He’s really consistent as a rule, and it’s easy to forgive a rare lapse at York over 6f on easy ground last month, with that race sure to have put an edge on him.
Of the outsiders, David is keen on Jakajaro, while I thought Behike might be a fly in the ointment. Both are young and progressive, and Jakajaro was overcoming an apparent draw bias when making all at York before a close fourth in the Temple Stakes, and a better draw today gives him half a chance of finding the extra improvement required. Jamie Spencer was on for his latest win and rides again.
Behike has been running in novice and maiden company at 6f/7f but has absolutely bolted up twice and looks like he wants a real speed test. We’ll include the pair in exotics.
17:00 Ascot
It’s rare to race at this sort of trip on the flat and this race can throw up shocks as a result with two 20/1 winners and a 66/1 shot successful in recent years.
Irish stables, and Irish jumps trainers specifically, have a fine record in this so Henry De Bromhead’s TIM TOE is one for the shortlist. This trip will be a total step into the unknown, but he stayed 1¾m when third to Kizlyar at Killarney before winning at an inadequate mile. In terms of his pedigree, he’s by a stayer out of an unraced sister to Grade 2 3m hurdle winner Askanna, and his breeding screams stamina and improvement looks guaranteed now upped in trip.
GLENROYAL is a half-brother to Ascot Stakes winner Lagostovegas, and a full-brother to Irish Cesarewitch winner Magellan Strait, so he should stay this trip well; winner of three Flat last summer at up to 1m5f, he warmed up for it by finishing midfield in a Killarney maiden hurdle and is totally unexposed as a stayer.
We think both of these will go well at fair prices, with the market being made by last year’s luckless favourite. I’d also put in a good word for Siempre Arturo, who was an eye-catcher over 1½m here last month and is best right handed. He's another with stamina doubts, but is handicapped to win a good Ascot handicap now, for all I’d rather have seen him in the Copper Horse.
18:10 Ascot
Both myself and David thought the race in which Klassleader beat SING US A SONG at York last month was a very strong piece of handicap form, and the winner has the look of an Ebor winner for William Haggas, who loves to farm big handicaps in his native Yorkshire.
Sing Us A Song found the 1½m at York barely enough of a test, and it's worth noting that he had beaten the same rival at Haydock over this trip last season. He seems to be at his best when right on the speed and a slow start here last year ruined his chances of a big handicap win in the King George V Stakes.
I was convinced last year that he just needed a decent test of stamina to win a valuable handicap, so he looks a terrific bet here with just a 2lb rise for that York run and the prospect of more progress at a stiff 1¾m. James McDonald takes the ride today, and there are few, if any, better in the saddle for big Flat races than the Kiwi.
Valiancy also represents Wathnan and James Doyle prefers him, so look tom include him in any exotic bets, with Daiquiri Bay an outsider to consider for such bets having been in David’s notebook for a race like this for the best part of a year.
Gelded last autumn, he came back to run a career best by beating Gamrai at Newmarket over a mile and a half in May, stamina once again looking his long suit, and a step up to this trip can only be a plus point. A real trier, which is always half the battle, he’ll have his conditions and can go well.
Preview posted at 10:20 BST on 16/06/26
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