Royal Ascot 2022 - Day 1




3:05 Coventry Stakes (Group 2)

Blackbeard is a good starting point here given Aidan O’Brien has won this four times since 2010, the son of No Nay Never (whose progeny have a good record at Ascot) comes here off the back of a taking win when making all to win a Group 3 contest at the Curragh. That certainly sets the form standard but many others in here haven’t yet been given the chance to run to that level, so it may be worth searching for one at a bigger price. 

A Pontefract conditions race probably isn’t a piece of form which you’d normally turn to in the Coventry, but I think ROUSING ENCORE could outrun his odds here. He took a big step forward when winning at Beverley on his second start in stylish fashion, where he had multiple subsequent winner in behind. He continued his steep upward curve of progression when making all in the aforementioned Pontefract race last time out. It was a small field he beat but the Quinn team were very surprised to see their runner beaten that day and the time stacks up well too, odds of 20/1 and 5 places on offer make Richard Fahey’s charge a bet here. Of those at the top of the market I think PERSIAN FORCE could be the one to side with, his running style and blistering turn of foot could be perfectly suited to this race so I’ll be sure to have him onside too.


ROUSING ENCORE 20/1

PERSIAN FORCE 3/1


3:40 Kings Stand Stakes (Group 1)

US trainer Wesley Ward has been typically bullish about the chance of Golden Pal here, it would be no shock to see him leading a furlong out but I think the stiff finish and straight track pose enough questions for me to look elsewhere for a bet. Drawn next door to him is MOONEISTA, who on the face of it has been disappointing this season, but I think she’s had her excuses and this race could be run to suit. She was unlucky on her penultimate start when left with a bit too much to do behind Romantic Proposal in a listed contest and then posted a career best RPR in defeat at the Curragh last time out over six furlongs. I think the drop back to 5f at this course could be perfect for her and she should get a nice sit in behind Golden Pal and I can see her travelling into the race well and finishing strongly. Extra places on offer make her an appealing each-way bet.


MOONEISTA 16/1


4:20 St James’s Palace Stakes (Group 1)

There is every chance that Coroebus will prove a class apart from these but his price isn’t particularly appealing. I don’t have a strong fancy in this so will keep it brief but I do think LUSAIL could outrun his odds of 28/1. I was worried about him staying the mile in the guineas last time out but he was finishing best of all in the final furlong after missing the break, there’s a chance he was just passing beaten horses but at least his odds compensate for that here, I’ll play him each-way against the favourite.


LUSAIL 28/1


5:00 Ascot Stakes (Heritage Handicap)

I usually tend to focus my attention on handicaps over shorter distances than this but I did fancy ARCADIAN SUNRISE when he ran in the Chester cup and I think he can repay my faith here. He was an impressive winner at York last August and returned from a 187 day absence to run a blinder at Chester, he was short of room at one point and probably unlucky not to finish closer, he may well step forward for that run. If he runs to that level of form I find it hard to see him finishing out of the places (6 on offer at some bookies) and he may well be good enough to take this.

ARCADIAN SUNRISE 6/1


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