Sorry GO, only just seen this. Just one winner and three seconds today so far. For what it's worth, in the last two I'm with: 4.10 Chief Little Hawk and Tactical [But I took Tactical at 13/2 - it's only 7/2 now, so maybe they've lined this one up for Her Maj!] 4.40 Themaxwecan/Ranch Hand/Hochfield. At 4's, 16's, 33's you can combine these for about 5/2 all told.
Not strong fancies tomorrow, but I'll be with: 1.15 Global Storm 1.50 Sir Dragonet 2.25 Molatham 3.00 Battleground 4.10 Khaloosy/Finest Sound 4.40 Soffika. I can't see past Stradivarius (3.35) but he's not a backable price.
Tomorrow's guesses! 1.15 Art Power 1.50 Mother Earth 2.25 Eye Of Heaven 3.00 Anthony Van Dyck 3.35 Pierre Lapin 4.10 Born With Pride 4.40 West End Charmer
How many times does that happen, Gordon? We bang the first one in and think waheyyy! And then it's the sum of SFA to follow! Still, per ardua ad astra and all that! (See below!)
First tip is: proceed with care. I gave a mention to 4 out of 7 winners on Thursday but only 1 from 7 yesterday! Still, for what it's worth: 12.40 I like SWINDLER, who is available at 6/1. Mr Neilsen likes to have one laid out and this horse has the most potential of this field. His two career wins (from seven starts) have both come over this course and distance and he was tenderly handled on his seasonal debut at Newmarket recently. Incidentally, have you ever seen a competitive 24-runner handicap where there is a weight range of only three pounds? 01.15 I've been ignoring the Wesley Ward trained runners all week because there is a big difference inform shown in sunny California to what is required in rain-sodden Berkshire. Consequently, I think the best horse in the race is MORE BEAUTIFUL, who won by 3.5 lengths on debut at Naas. Aidan's normally improve for a run. While the sire (War Front) might not normally be associated with soft ground performers he had a winner in the Chesham Stakes on Thursday, so I'm hopeful. 6/4 is available in a couple of places. 01.50 I like ADMIRAL NELSON in this (9/4). Noted by Timeform as capable of significant improvement when he won on debut at The Curragh. 02.25 I'm taking a chance on SHARING in this, given that she is 7/1 (Bet365), is a Breeder's Cup winner and has apparently been targetted at this race. A mile looks too short for Quadrilateral, from what I can see. 03.00 This is a great race...... to watch! Wichita has the winning on form but it's difficult to rule out improvement from last year's juvenile superstar Pinatubo, even though he finished a place behind Wichita at Newmarket. My affair with Arizona has cost me dear so it will be painful if he goes in at 20/1, but this is not a game for sentiment. It would also be a brave man who would rule out Palace Pier making the necessary improvement to score here for John Gosden (surely soon to be "Sir") after Lord North's victory earlier in the week. No bet. 03.35 Very, very open. I'm taking KHAADEM to improve for Charlie Hills, who produced Battaash to score in such brilliant fashion first time up on Tuesday. No cert, but 8/1 looks big. The ground is a slight concern, and Hello Youmzain is a very plausible alternative. 04.10 Too difficult! This is very competitive, and luck in running may well play a big part. The double on Bielsa (5/1) and Leeds (8/13) to win at Cardiff pays nearly 9/1 for those inclined! Highland Dress is the likely improver. But for me it's no bet. 04.40 I was on WHO DARES WINS at 3/1 but my Rule 4 (Mekong doesn't run) will reduce that to 9/4. But on the boards now he's only 6/4. He improved as a chaser last winter, and Alan King has had two similar winners at this meeting already. Hollie Doyle became only the third female rider to win a Royal Ascot race in these colours yesterday, and her partner Tom Marquand takes the mount on this one, seeking his RA first. Will there be a proposal in the unsaddling enclosure if Tom goes in on this one? You heard it here first! Good Luck folks, it's a tricky auld day, and we'll have to juggle telly and laptop for the Super Reds at Loftus Road (as they used to call it.)
