Royal Ascot Day 5 Preview

The final day of the Royal meeting looks a really good one with the Wokingham handicap, Diamond Jubilee Stakes and the finale, the Queen Alexandra over the gruelling two and three quarter miles. In this preview, I will try and find the horses which can hopefully end the meeting with wallets full!!

2.30 Chesham Stakes (7f - 20 run)

Will Richard Hughes be smiling with Bunker?

I find this race very tricky to solve virtually every year and this is no different. Bunker is the pick of Richard Hughes, who suggested in his excellent Racing Post article last Saturday that this was his best hope of the week. To be honest, this looks the weakest two year old race of the week and I fully expect a huge run from Bunker in this. If there is an each way angle, it'd be Tinga, who I saw run with lots of promise at Doncaster on debut over six furlongs staying on well at the death, and is now upped to seven which should really help.

3.05 Hardwicke Stakes (1m4f - 9 run)

Ektihaam - Another win at Ascot?

This is a very good race indeed, with Mount Athos the favourite for Jamie Spencer and Dr Marwan Koukash. He is a horse with a good turn of foot, but would ideally need a strong pace. That is my worry here with Universal and Ektihaam the likely pace angles, but I don't think they will go very fast, so one of those two may be able to quicken off the front and steadily blunt Mount Athos's finishing kick. Ektihaam really impressed a lot of people with the way he extended away here last time and must go close again. Dandino is the one I like at a bigger price for Frankie Dettori. He is 1-1 at Ascot and 1-1 on the All Weather too, which is key on a sand based track like this one, and the race could unfold to suit him should he track the pace.

3.45 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (6f - 18 run)

Mince just beating Soul here last October

A very competitive renewal of this race, which just lacks Black Caviar who scrambled over the line to win this last year for Australia. The Aussies are represented again with Havelock and Sea Siren, the latter being the best hope under Ryan Moore. I find it difficult to weigh up the Australian form so I tend to stick to form I am familiar with. The Irish have chances with Dandy Boy, who won the Wokingham on this day last year for David Marnane, and Gordon Lord Byron, a huge improver last term.
Society Rock is very solid but he isn't a betting proposition at 10/3 considering he can miss the break (as he did in this race last year), and needs plenty of cover. I think the value lies in the picture above, Mince and Soul. Mince was something of a flop when being beaten at odds on at Windsor last time out, but this race and track will suit much better this time, so much so that she is the current six furlong record holder on this track. She will have improved since then and I think she must go close. Soul has a good record fresh and a good record at this course as well. The Godolphin horses in big fields have ran pretty well all week and I think he is overpriced.

4.25 The Wokingham (6f - 28 run)

Palace Moon has a lot of things in his favour

This is a very tricky race to weigh up and I've narrowed it down to four against the rest of the field. Palace Moon is the first one I want to touch on for Jimmy Quinn. He has ran in this corresponding race twice before, a close 3rd in 2010 and 8th last year, hitting the front a bit too soon before fading. However, he is 4lbs below the mark he ran off last year and ran a lovely comeback race last time out. He is drawn 1. Elusivity is the second one I like for David O'Meara and Tom Queally. He could do with rain but should enjoy having a big field to sit in and could easily figure from Stall 30. Glass Office is the one I am sweetest on for Jim Crowley. He is only a three year old so therefore receives an allowance of 7lbs. His last run though was the huge eye catcher, attempting to give Professor 5lbs in a Listed race at Haydock and was only beaten a length and a half. He is a very good all weather horse and with the sand based soil here at Ascot proving another big plus. He is drawn 19 so can choose which way he wants to go. Finally Bapak Chinta is a huge price if he can return to the form of his Royal Ascot win last year in the Norfolk Stakes. He shaped a little better last time out and a tiny each way bet would be advised from stall 16.

5.00 Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap (1m4f - 19 run)

Caravan Rolls On wins at Ascot winning very smartly

I'm going to keep this short as you could go round and round in circles. If Caravan Rolls On gets some luck from Stall 17, he will run a huge race as he is obviously well handicapped off a mark of 95. Highland Castle is a safer option and should figure as well.

5.35 Queen Alexandra Stakes (2m6f - 20 run)

Stopped Out over hurdles - but could run a huge race here

Another tricky end to the card, and the meeting. Shahwardi has a big chance to give Frankie Dettori a winner after finishing second in this race last year behind Simenon, and there is no Simenon in the race this time around. There are a couple of horses I think could go well at prices, but they are both better known for their exploits on the jumps. Stopped Out won in good style from the front at Sandown on the final day of the 2012/13 season in April, and ran well on ground that didn't suit on Flat debut at Thirsk behind Bold Sniper, placed here earlier on this week, and the fourth Mister Pagan has won since. He needs to lead though and Stall 20 makes that tricky, but could run well each way. I'd give a very small chance to American Spin as well who has ran well in this before and is a very big price at 66/1.

Fingers crossed I can find a few winners to end with.
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Enjoy the racing,
Will