DAY FIVE
Welcome to this our final day of this season's Royal Ascot 2021 festival meeting.
SATURDAY WEATHER UPDATE -- Mixed weather throughout this period with a minimal risk of rain but will be very cloudy throughout the day and a high of 21C. Following plenty of rain yesterday the going has changed to soft and we might see a flurry of non runners having been declared on good earlier in the week.
Official Going Report - Soft (Heavy in places).
The fifth and final day comes around on Saturday, been a hectic week, I still remember this as the "family day" known as Ascot Heath meeting where everyone could come along and not have to dress up. That's all long gone now and it's just day five for everyone and features the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes off at 4:20. Next year we'd expect this to be changed to the Platinum Jubilee but for now let's focus on the fashion, the weather (very British) and all the big races for Saturday;
2:30 Royal Ascot - Chesham Stakes (2yo)
7f 10 runners
A listed race for 2yo and just the ten runners declared to take the stage for Saturdays' opener. Could be a battle between the Godolphin runner New Science (Charlie Appleby) a winner at Yarmouth and Point Lonsdale (Aiden O'Brien) who scored at the Curragh. However with other debut winners on show we will take the pair of GREAT MAX [M Bell] and MASEKELA [A Balding] against the field. Significant support for HM The Queen's Reach for the Moon who was runner up to New Science at Yarmouth on debut would be interesting and hopefully we see a big run in the famous colours to end the week on a high (2nd 11/1).
RESULT
1st - (4) Point Lonsdale @10/11f [Ryan Moore].
3:05 Royal Ascot - Jersey Stakes (3yo) [Group 3]
7f 19 runners
A Group 3 flat race for three-year-old horses run over seven furlongs used to be run on Wednesday now returned to it's regular place on the Saturday. Most of the field here are stepping up from either handicap or listed class to try a group three. The French challenger FAST RAAJ has won a group three at Deauville last time out and should be high on the agenda for this, both MUTASAABEQ and NAVAL CROWN tried their luck in the 2000 Guineas but finished 7th and 4th respectively. CREATIVE FORCE [Won 5/1] runs for Godolphin here and is three from three this season and won't mind any rain looks fairly versatile (also have Naval Crown and Storm Damage). There are two runners for HM The Queen in this, TACTICAL looks the preference of the pair rated slightly higher to LIGHT REFRAIN and we can try and back both of these in the place markets.
RESULT
1st - (4) Creative Force @5/1 [James Doyle].
3.40 Royal Ascot - Hardwicke Stakes [Group 2]
1m 4f 10 runners
This is a Group Two contest which used to be farmed by Sir Michael Stoute and he relies on HIGHEST GROUND today, ought to go well but is facing some high class competition. Aiden O'Brien saddles four here, including the highest rated horse in the field with JAPAN, though Ryan Moore has chosen BROOME which is interesting so we'll see who comes out on top in that battle. Winner of his last six races and improving all the time ILARAAB will have to find more to be successful at this level but anything is possible for his yard. At the bottom of the race card we see the filly WONDERFUL TONIGHT [WON @5/1] and I do fancy this one having been successful in France last year in the Group One Qatar Prix de Royallieu at Longchamp and followed that up here with a victory on champions day.
RESULT
1st - (15) Wonderful Tonight @5/1 [W Buick].
4:20 Royal Ascot - DIAMOND JUBILEE STAKES [Group 1]
6f 12 runners
Today's Group 1 and 18 declared for the sprint, the race worth just under £400,000 to the winner fourteen in the line up though although looks a quality field with an international flavour. A field headed by Art Power. The main one in the field would appear to be Ed Walker's STARMAN [N/r], a winner at York where he had the Kings Stand winner Oxted in third, although his only defeat so far came here on soft going so the rain is a worry and his participation must be in question. Dream Of Dreams has run in this before and usually finishes fast and late should be doing so again. NAHAAR is another to place high on the shortlist having finished very close up to Starman at York last time having also won the Ayr Gold Cup too, and this six furlong trip ought to suit. Glen Shiel was progressive last year winning five times, including a win here on Champions Day.
RESULT
1st - (2) Dream Of Dreams @3/1f [Ryan Moore].
5:00 Royal Ascot - Wokingham Stakes Heritage Handicap
6f 21 runners
It's just not Royal Ascot without a massive field handicap and today we've the Wokingham and 28 initially declared (several non runners now) worth over £64,000 to the winner due to the reduced prize funds during the covid period but still a big prize. With the market about 7/1+ the field this will be impossible to predict and the size of the field means plenty of hard luck stories for sure ... good luck if you still in the placepot too. Field is led by Snazzy Jazzy for who Laura Pearson claims a useful 5lb, even so the combination of seasonal reappearance with a big weight and on the forecast soft/heavy ground I fancy others to be more effective. Chil Chil [N/r] is a respected course and distance winner, put up 9lb for convincing win at Newmarket last time, began handicapping off a mark of 63 now has to race off 106. Another who has managed to make a mockery of their opening mark is ROHAAN [WON 8/1] trained by David Evans, Made successful handicap debut off 55 and now finds himself rated a remarkable 57lb higher after wins in a course and distance listed contest and the Sandy Lane (Group 2) at Haydock. Last years winner HEY JONESY is also fancied to go well again, seems to run better in big fields competing in the likes of the Ayr Gold Cup and Stewards Cup at Goodwood today could be his turn again.
Lively Outsider - David O'Meara runs GULLIVER who was successful up at York last autumn on soft. Didn't show much over the winter on the all weather however shaped as if back in better form when returning to York latest. Previously ran fourth in this off 3lb higher last year and soft ground would suit so the current rain speaks in his favour.
RESULT
1st - (4) Rohaan @8/1 [Shane Kelly].
5:35 Royal Ascot - The Golden Gates Stakes (Handicap)
1m 2f 14 runners
The new contest for Saturday but not the finale as we stick with the traditional closing event later, this is a 10f race for 3yo horses, a field of 16 with 3 in reserve, which we might need given the change of going conditions. The handicap is led by Joseph O'Brien's ISLE OF SARK who only raced three times but was thrown into a Group 3 on only the second outing, time will tell if this handicap mark is a fair one or not. Joseph also has VISUALISATION here in the colours of his mother, a winner of three out of his six races and the most recent was a Curragh handicap on heavy ground so won't appear to be too inconvenienced by the recent rain. Mark Johnston had a day to remember on Thursday with the Gold Cup winner and his KING FRANKEL having been runner up twice, could still have a big say if he doesn't meet trouble in running again (met traffic problems at Epsom last time).
Lively Outsider - Brian Meehan's GLENTANEOUS comfortably landed the odds second time up in at Lingfield in February. Went down fighting under a penalty against another good prospect since and further progress not ruled out up in trip available at 33/1.
RESULT
1st - (10) Foxes Tales @13/2 [Oisin Murphy].
6:10 Royal Ascot - Queen Alexandra Stakes
2m 6f 16 runners
We conclude with the longest distance race on the Flat calendar, an event that is often targeted by the National Hunt trainers. This marathon race was won last year by Alan King's WHO DARES WINS, a smart dual-purpose performer who should be a lot fitter for his return in a Chester handicap. Obviously can't be discounted, although this looks a stronger renewal with work cut out to see off the likes of FALCON EIGHT. Dermot Weld's inmate won the Chester Cup last time and Frankie Dettori takes the ride once more clearly looks the one to beat here. Stratum is the main chance of Willie Mullins here, previous winner of the Cesarewitch on soft ground, usually makes the running and will have Ryan Moore today, rain will not be an issue so huge opportunity. Might be competition for the lead even in a race over this trip with Stag Horn another likely to go on from the front, winner of three races of 2m+ (9L winner at Pontefract) finished fourth behind Stradivarius here in the Sagaro Stakes.
RESULT
1st - (14) Stratum @4/1 [Ryan Moore].
That's all for Royal Ascot this year, been difficult as always, but we found enough winners to say we'll be back next year. For now it's goodbye and a quick return to the normal meetings starting with Pontefract tomorrow and then Kempton Park next Wednesday. Plus plenty of action in the European Football Championships and England facing Czech Republic on Tuesday.
