The Copper Horse awaits.., 

Valiancy 

There are a few candidates housed in Somerville Lodge that could contest the 14f Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot – it is a race annually targeted by Wathnan Racing . 

Last season the Gosden’s delivered the goods for Wathnan with French Master and this year William Haggas has a couple of darts to throw at the race for the same ownership group in the shape of Opportunity and Valiancy. 

Willie Mullins and the Gosden’s have Won 4 of the last 5 runnings of the race and Haggas has only sent out 2 horses with outside chances, both failed to trouble the judge. As I keep saying there is a new broom sweeping through Somerville Lodge this season and it is exactly the type of race the yard will be targeting.

Opportunity ran with great credit on his reappearance at Ascot last weekend staying on well to finish third off a mark of 91 . He was put up 1lb by the handicapper but that in all probability is not quite good enough to get him high enough in the ratings to earn a place in the Copper Horse line up. He will need to run again and next weekends 14f handicap at Goodwood will likely be in mind if he has come out of his seasonal debut run well . That race was won by French Master last year before his Ascot triumph of a mark of 100.

Valiancy starts his season off a 1lb lower mark of 90 and with stablemate Klassleader (different ownership) heading straight for the Ebor the ways looks clear for Valiancy to give Wathnan two bites at the ‘Copper Horse cherry’ this year. He will need to win well to get a 5-7lb ratings increase which will ensure he gets into the race. However he has been well entered up over the past 14 days and I expect him to be spot on for Sunday.

He was a slow learner last season and after winning his maiden at 1/7 on here at Hamilton he should have won a couple of races before he impressed winning a competitive Haydock handicap over 14f beating Ride the Thunder who renews rivalry on Sunday on 3lb better terms . Valiancy has looked likely to be a better 4yo and I expect the form to be confirmed with James Doyle on on board for the first time, it is his only booked ride on the card.

Recommended Bet 2pt win Valiancy 3.10 Hamilton Sunday 

Siren Star heads to the 9f handicap at 5.45 and carries the welter burden of 10’1 with Tom Marquand booked for the ride. She will probably be favorite but the yards older horses tackling trips of 8f – 10f or less have generally run well on seasonal debut but have just needed the run.

Siren Star’s main focus this season will be on gaining black type and although there is a chance she may outclass this field in the same way I expect Valiancy to do , she looks to have less scope for improvement than Valiancy and like some of the handicappers on Friday may be better for this run.

No Bet Recommended.