Buoyed by the first win of the meeting on Wednesday, Thursday will be the quietest day at Ascot this week for the Haggas team with only two runners declared.
In the Ribblesdale Stakes at 4.20 Earth Shot faces 11 rivals including the Oaks runner up Legacy Link who is priced at 6/4 to go one better than at Epsom.
It’s not always easy for Group 1 Epsom form to be backed up less than two weeks later at Ascot and the one point that all the trainers made was how much the conditions at Epsom had taken out of their horses and I see no reason why this doesn’t include Legacy Link despite positive reports concerning her well being.
Earth Shot has been purchased by Wathnan Racing specifically for this race and is a high class filly. She was impressive at Newmarket on her seasonable debut and was touched off at Goodwood when beaten a neck by Inis Mor who was then a close third in the Prix De Diane behind Diamond Necklace.
Tom Marquand felt she should have won at Goodwood had he made more use of her stamina and that form through Inis Mor, represents Group 1 form. It was sufficient for Wathnan Racing to pay top money to purchase from Childwickbury Stud. She has any amount of stamina in her pedigree through Nathaniel on the dams side and the step up to 12f looks certain to bring about plenty of improvement.
If it is the case, although Gilded Prize also has to be respected I think Earth Shot is an each way bet to nothing and can bring about a much needed change of luck at the meeting for riderJames Doyle.
Recommended Bet 0.5pt EW Earth Shot 15.40 Ascot
The Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes at 5.35 provides the perfect race setup for Morshdi in every aspect of the race including trip, ground and the draw in stall 4.
The problem is that his performance at York in the Dante left everyone dumbstruck at the extent that he went backwards from his win at Newmarket; there is a theory that the aborted trip to Chester was a factor.
However at York he went from being mentally strong and relaxed at Newmarket to being on edge and pulled away any chance he had in the first 3f of the race.
Such was the extreme change in character and with the hullabaloo of Ascot to deal with I don’t see him as a viable betting opportunity. He could easily prove me wrong.
No Recommended bet Advised.
At Lonchamp in the 1m4f Prix de Thiberville a Listed Race for Fillies & Mares at 7.47 Pierian and Sea the Storm go in search of Black Type which they may well secure. It is hard though seeing them beating the Francois Henri Grafford trained Calasita who looks to have a fair amount in hand of her rivals and Michael Barcelona takes a day off from Ascot to take the ride.
No Bet Recommended
Three others run at the regional meetings 2 at Lingfield and 1 at Ripon.
Eilkleem looks to break his maiden tag in the 1m Class 3 novice stakes the 4.00pm Ripon following his 4th at Newcastle when sent off as an odds on favourite.
This is an average contest for a Class 3 and he needs to show more improvement and race craft before being considered a betting opportunity..
No Bet Recommended
Lingfield on the turf track comes with a wealth warning. Al Maslool returns to the track less than a week after again disappointing at Sandown. He is up in trip to 12f which must help but he is shown very little and has already had 5 runs without really justifying his mark of 71.
He may well do so – but again he hasn’t shown enough and there is too much risk involved to back him.
No Bet Recommended
In the 10f 3yo only handicap (Lingfield 4.41) Windbreaker has shown more ability than Al Maslool and Eikleem and is put in a handicap for the first time off a mark of 72. He is poorly drawn in stall 9 and there are at least 4 others that come into the race with equal chances to improve now handicapping.
There are better chances on Friday and Saturday and I will sit this one out from a betting point of view.
No Bet Recommended
Summary just one bet from Somerville Lodge on the day, although I can pass on a very strong message for George Boughey’s Moonfall in the Brittania Stakes, ridden by Zac Lloyd who gave Thunder Call such a great ride when winning for us on Saturday.
Royal Ascot Thursday Earth Shot 0.5pt ew 15.40 Ascot
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