Royal Ascot 2023 - Day 5




14:30 Chesham Stakes 7f (Listed) & 16:20 Hardwicke Stakes 1m4f (Group 2)

PEARLS AND RUBIES looks to have very solid claims in the opening race at 14:30. Aidan O’Brien has an excellent record in this race, winning 4 of the last 7 runnings and this filly looks to have outstanding claims. She is very well bred out of Diamondsandrubies a group 1 winner over 1m2f, so it was even more impressive that she was able to win over the minimum trip on debut. Step up to 7f should be exactly what she wants and I’ll take 2/1.

The withdrawal of Hukum looks to have made FREE WIND’s task much easier in the Hardwicke at 16:20 and I’m actually surprised she’s not odds on at the time of writing. Her win in the Lancashire oaks last year was remarkable, she was severely hampered a furlong out losing all momentum but managed to get back up to beat Sea La Rosa. That rival went on to complete a hat-trick culminating in group 1 success at Longchamp. Free Wind’s winning return this season was franked when the 2nd won the Duke Of Cambridge this week.

PEARLS AND RUBIES 2/1 - 2 Points Win

FREE WIND 6/5 - 2 Points Win

Win Double 5.6/1 - 1 Point Win


15:05 Jersey Stakes 7f (Group 3) (3yo)

HOLLOWAY BOY won over course and distance on debut last year when landing the Chesham at 40/1 and proved with subsequent efforts that it was no fluke. He placed in multiple Group races later in the season, including when giving recent Derby Winner Auguste Rodin a momentary fright in the Vertem Futurity Group 1 at Doncaster. He was a bit of a no show in the guineas but this drop back down to 7f at the scene of his sole career victory is enough to tempt me in to a bet at 10/1 and bigger

HOLLOWAY BOY 12/1 - 1 Point Each-Way


17:00 Wokingham Stakes 6f (Handicap) (3yo+)

ORAZIO is not the most imaginative selection but even in a field of this size I think he could take some beating. On his penultimate run he overcame traffic issues to win a Newmarket handicap which worked out very well subsequently. He then won a course and distance handicap comfortably and the 2nd from that has gone close in a decent handicap at Newbury since. Charlie Hills’ has had this as the target for a while and I suspect this is a Group 2/3 level performer in a handicap.

Andrew Mount put me onto MR WAGYU’s excellent record at this time of year and off a mark of 96 I can’t resist backing him in this. He ran a blinder at Epsom on his penultimate start when faring best of this up with the pace, finishing 3rd only passed late by a couple of hold up horses. Another pace horse that day, The Defiant, came out and won at Chelmsford recently. The draw was a valid excuse last time and I’m happy to back him each-way 6 places off a 5lb lower mark than when 4th last year.

ORAZIO 6/1 - 1.5 Points Each-Way

MR WAGYU 18/1 - 1 Point Each-Way





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