Royal Ascot preview: four big-priced tips for days 4 and 5
Flat season 2022: bets 20, 21, 22 & 23
There is more wonderful racing at Royal Ascot tomorrow (Friday) but finding winners is even tougher than usual.
So I am only going to put up one horse in the seven races – Hughie Morrison’s STAY WELL in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (3.40pm).
The Berkshire handler has long had a high opinion of this four-year-old gelding and, when interviewed about the horse last year, said he was convinced he would get better with age.
The unkindest cut of all – losing his “wedding tackle’’ – seems to have reaped its rewards too as the horse has been runner-up in his two races this term, with the promise of still better to come.
Back him each way at 16-1 with bet365 or Paddy Power offering six places on the race, which is a really competitive mile and a half handicap.
I think there may be better betting opportunities on the final day of this meeting and I have already tipped up two horses in two different races for Saturday.
I put up Gulliver each way at 33-1 for the Wokingham Handicap (Saturday 5pm) three weeks ago but I want to go in double handed with another course and distance specialist.
Ed Walker’s POPMASTER won well at Ascot last year and is a big price after his encouraging run when second on the all weather at Chelmsford last month. I like the jockey booking of Tom Marquand and so back him each way at 33-1 with Paddy Power or Betfair fixed odds offering seven places.
I put up Minzaal for the Platinum Jubilee Stakes (Saturday 4.20pm) at 14-1 and, although he has drifted in price, I still expect him to run a big race.
But, once again, I will go in double handed, this time with a real outsider in DOUBLE OR BUBBLE.
Chris Wall’s five-year-old mare gets better with age and it’s not unrealistic to think she can make a mark at Group 1 level on the fast ground that she loves. Back her each way at 40-1 with one of the bookies offering six places, notably bet365, Sky Bet, Paddy Power and Betfair fixed odds.
Finally, I will turn to the so-called “getting out stakes”, the very last race on the card. I have long been a fan of Richard Hughes’ classy stayer CALLING THE WIND, who was second in this race last year.
The six-year-old gelding would definitely prefer softer ground but he has shown in the past that he is no slouch when it rides faster too. Most important of all, he is one of the few Flat horses to stay every yard of this 2 miles 5 furlong marathon trip.
Back him each way at 14-1 for the Queen Alexandra Stakes (Saturday 6.10pm) with Paddy Power, Betfair fixed odds or Bet Victor, all paying four places.
That’s over and out for me for the week, and what a blast it continues to be. It’s back to one newsletter a week from now on after a bargain three this week. If you have enjoyed these free offerings, please recommend them to a friend.
One for the horse tracker
Random Harvest ran a mighty race for the Ed Walker/Saffie Osborne trainer/jockey combination in the Kensington Palace Stakes yesterday. Looking like the winner with a furlong to go, the pair eventually finished second to another 40-1 shot, Rising Star. Random Harvest will be even better with cut in the ground, according to her trainer, so bear her in mind if and when the rain finally arrives and the four-year-old filly is out again in a big-field handicap with “soft” in the going description.
Bets record for the 2022 Flat season
Pending:
1 point each way Princess Zoe at 13/2 for the Ascot Gold Cup, 1/5 odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Star of Orion at 25-1 in the Buckingham Palace Stakes, 1/5 odds, 7 places.
1 point each way Dance Fever at 20-1 in the Buckingham Palace Stakes, 1/5 odds, 7 places.
1 point each way Stay Well at 16-1 in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, 1/5 odds, 6 places.
1 point each way Minzaal at 14-1 in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes, 1/5 odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Double or Bubble at 40-1 in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes, 1/5 odds, 6 places.
1 point each way Gulliver at 33-1 in the Wokingham Handicap, ¼ odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Popmaster at 33-1 in the Wokingham Handicap, 1/5 odds, 7 places.
1 point each way Calling the Wind at 14-1 in the Queen Alexandra Stakes, 1/5 odds, 4 places.
Settled:
1 point each way Arcadian Sunrise Cup at 16-1 in the Chester Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places. 4th. + 3 points.
1 point each way Morph Speed at 25-1 in the Chester Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Auditor at 16-1 in the TRU7 Handicap, 1/4 odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Moss Gill at 12-1 in the Temple Stakes, 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Caradoc at 11-1 the Cazoo Handicap, 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Westover at 20-1 in the Cazoo Derby,, 1/5 odds, 3 places. 3rd. + 3 points.
1 point each way Changingoftheguard at 9-1 in the Cazoo Derby, 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each Moneista at 16-1 in the King’s Stand Stakes, 1/5 odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Rock Eagle at 20-1 in the Ascot Stakes, 1/5 odds, 7 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Raymond Tusk at 33-1 in the Copper Horse Stakes, 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Get Shirty at 14-1 in the Copper Horse Stakes, 1/5 odds, 5 places. 1st. + 16.8 points.
1 point each way Aratus at 40-1 in the Royal Hunt Cup, ¼ odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Symbolize at 18-1 in the Royal Hunt Cup, 1/5 odds, 8 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Rosemary and Thyme at 40-1 in the Kensington Palace Stakes, 1/5 odds, 5 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
2022 Flat season running total: + 0.8 points.
2021-2 jumps season + 77.95 points.
My gambling record for the seven years: I have made a profit in 12 of the past 13 seasons. To a 1 point level stake over this period, I have made a profit of 460 points. All bets are either 1 point each way or 2 points win (a "point" is your chosen regular stake).