Mike Cattermole thinks the Aidan O'Brien treble will come in on Friday with the bookies on the back foot following Frankie Dettori's Thursday four-timer.
Punting wise, my chin is on the floor but day three at Royal Ascot was still scintillating with Frankie in dominant form. And Stradivarius did what he does best, i.e. do his best. He is just an incredible little horse who has deservedly become one of the most popular horses around.
So, Frankie’s day on Thursday but now maybe a chance for Ryan Moore to get back with a few blows on day four as, on paper, he does have some outstanding prospects.
For starters, he appears to hold the aces in the top races of the day – Japan in the King Edward VII Stakes, Ten Sovereigns in the Commonwealth Cup and Hermosa in the Coronation Stakes.
Hermosa has made big steps forward this term to take both the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas (stablemate Just Wonderful held both times) and for some she has always been the week’s banker in the Coronation. Given that she seems to handle any ground, it would be a big surprise is if she is turned over.
Even so, this is a decent field with the unbeaten French Guineas winner Castle Lady in the line-up too as well as the German 1,000 Guineas heroine Main Edition who was a Royal Ascot winner herself 12 months ago in the Albany Stakes and makes some appeal to get into the prize money at generous odds of 33-1.
Then there’s Watch Me, just under three lengths behind Castle Lady at Longchamp in sixth place, who enjoys cut in the ground and could finish closer this time for her in-form and recent Classic-winning trainer, Francis Graffard.
By this time, Ryan could be on a roll. Japan, a close third in the Derby, boasts much the strongest form in the King Edward VII Stakes and won’t mind the underfoot conditions.
It is hard to see Derby seventh Humanitarian getting his revenge but Bangkok, who was a bitter disappointment at Epsom, may get a bit closer. The track was blamed then but, even so, he should have done better. He was improving until that race.
Private Secretary looks a nice type but took an age to get rolling at Goodwood while Pondus is a fast improver.
The Commonwealth Cup has cut up a bit but Ten Sovereigns, who beat Jash narrowly in the Middle Park last year, is going to appreciate dropping back in trip after a non-staying fifth in the 2,000 Guineas.
He also raced up the middle of the course that day which was not the place to be. He has won on good to yielding but is yet to race on a soft surface.
Likewise, the ground is an unknown for Jash, who was workmanlike on his reappearance over seven furlongs, as it is for Advertise whose two-year-old form entitles him to respect but he is fitted with blinkers now after a poor show in the Guineas when his stable was out of form anyway.
Hello Youmzain won well enough at Haydock but Calyx finished lame that day which is why he is missing now.
The Albany Stakes is a race better watched than betted in. Will Nayibeth do it for Wesley Ward? Daahyeh, who beat the Queen Mary winner Raffle Prize on her debut at Newmarket, will also be near the top of a lot of lists. But she is priced up accordingly.
Her trainer, Roger Varian, has had just two Royal Ascot winners so far but may have good chances too with the lightly raced and progressive Fujaira Prince in the closing Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes.
Having won impressively at Doncaster, he almost followed up at York, only finding the classy First Eleven just too good. He has been raised another 4lb for that, having been a clear second, and there is every chance that he can come on again over this trip as he is a half brother to Nichols Canyon with plenty of stamina on his dam’s side.
Baghdad is another to consider as he won the King George V Handicap here last year but didn’t race again that season. He came back to his best when winning at Newmarket last time and bids to defy a 4lb rise for three-time winning trainer Mark Johnston.
Finally, a high draw seemed to be the order of the day in the Britannia so is that a solid guide to the Sandringham Stakes for the fillies at 5.00?
Last year’s winning trainer Ed Walker has a live contender in Hotsy Totsy (drawn 18) who enjoys cut in the ground and is improving after wins at Salisbury and Kempton.
But maybe Ralph Beckett and Harry Bentley, the Britannia-winning trainer and jockey, could double up with Desirous here? She won well at Goodwood and is up 5lb. She is drawn in 25 but easy ground is an unknown.
SELECTIONS
2.30 DAAHYEH
3.05 JAPAN
3.40 TEN SOVEREIGNS
4.20 HERMOSA
5.00 DESIROUS
5.35 FUJAIRA PRINCE
