Catching Pigeons: Gossip and tips from the gallops ahead of Royal Ascot 2019
Almania is fancied to capitalise on the drop into handicap company at Royal Ascot this week - get all the latest tips from our gallops guru.
Golden Horde could provide some lucrative each-way interest in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday.
Clive Cox has an excellent record in the juvenile races at the big meeting, but this six furlongs dash has so far eluded him.
However, Golden Horde has always looked well up to what is required to run well in pattern company at home, and he demonstrated it on the racecourse with an emphatic win at Windsor on his latest start.
Although he has a bit to find on Light Angel from his debut fourth at Newbury, things did not go his way in the race and he has improved by leaps and bounds since.
Phoenix Of Spain can prove he is arguably the best three-year-old miler around in the St James’s Palace Stakes. Whilst beaten by both Too Darn Hot (Champagne Stakes) and subsequent 2000 Guineas winner Magna Grecia (Vertem Futurity) as a two-year-old, he saw both of those rivals off in style on his reappearance in the Irish 2,000 24 days ago.
It was a fine performance after two niggling setbacks ruled him out of the first domestic cCassic, and he has come on for the run. Although a pretty big juvenile, he is more powerfully made now, and connections believe he will improve from his trip to the Emerald Isle.
Le Brivido looks to have a bit to find to justify his market position in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes, but he looks worth persevering with in his search for a first pattern success since he won the Jersey Stakes here two years ago.
He was with Andre Fabre for that win, but he is now with Aidan O’Brien, and there were plenty of long faces after his disappointing effort in the Lockinge at Newbury last month.
However, reports coming out of the Coolmore camp suggest he has really come to himself since that defeat and a much better performance is anticipated.
Addeyebb has looked in need of a bit of geeing up on one or two of his most recent starts, and he should go well in his first-time cheekpieces in the Listed Wolferton Stakes.
If he does reproduce his best in the headgear, he has the class to take this, and the William Haggas team could not be in better form.
Liberty Beach should give us a good run in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes on Wednesday.
John Quinn is well versed in producing two-years-olds to do well here, and this unbeaten daughter of Cable Bay produced a smart turn of foot to land a recognised trial for this race at Beverley 11 days ago.
The ability to quicken at the business end is a great asset in this type of race and the experience gleaned from her two outings is another positive.
Agrotera, the impressive winner of the Sandringham here 12 months ago, merits consideration in the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes.
Ed Walker’s four-year-old beat the current favourite for this event, Rawdaa, on her comeback in a Listed race at Kempton and has been trained with this race in mind.
Afaak has already proved he is a solid and consistent performer in heritage handicaps and he looks sure to run another good race in the Royal Hunt Cup.
A good second in the corresponding race 12 months ago, he has been gelded during the winter and connections are more than hopeful this son of 1000 Guineas winner Ghanaati can improve this season.
Although the operation took a bit out of him in more ways than one, he is back in very good form and primed for his seasonal reappearance.
Expressionist produced a fine effort to win over this course and distance on his debut over course and distance and he looks the pick in the Listed Windsor Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot on Thursday.
The form of the win looks solid enough, and he should handle the ground whatever the elements conspire to inflict on the meeting in the first half of the week.
Almania, a winner at Sandown from just two starts as a juvenile, looks worth an each-way interest in the King George V Handicap.
This marks his first appearance at this level, and he will be out to redeem himself after a slightly disappointing performance in the Dante at the York May meeting.
The fact Sir Michael Stoute pitched him in at that level shows the regard in which he is held and the handicapper has given him a chance with a rating of 95.
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