System Picks For Royal Ascot Day 1

2:30 Queen Anne

1st Chil The Kite 40/1 - 65
2nd Penitent 50/1 - 60
3rd Gregorian 16/1 - 40
4th Trumpet Major 33/1 - 35
5th Elusive Kate - 8/1 - 30
6th Animal Kingdom 5/6 - 25
6th Gabriel 33/1 - 25

Now as the last, god knows how many runnings, the winner has been no longer than 7/1, i suspect Animal Kingdom is the horse to back. However the reason the horse scored so low is because he has never won 1m and over, he has come 2nd out of 2 attempts at 1m. He has only won on flat round tracks. This will be a straight mile with undulations. And the jockey has ridden him 4 times and won on him twice, also of 4 times on turf he has run 4 and only won 1, and that was in a 18k claimer. Very versatile horse though and i suspect he will not be fazed by anything. I must admit Chil The Kite and Elusive Kate are the 2 i like. Elusive Kate probably edges it, although i have put Chil The Kite down as 40/1 is an excellent e/w price.

3:05 King's Stand

1st Reckless Abandon 11/2 - 65
2nd Pearl Secret 12/1 - 40
2nd Shea Shea 9/4 - 40
3rd Swiss Spirit 8/1 - 35
4th Medicean Man 20/1 - 30

very difficult to score Shea Shea, but in theory could be clear 2nd in this, not sure would score as much as Reckless Abandon though. I like the first 4 on this list, but Reckless Abandon looks the obvious winner.

3:45 St James Palace

1st Dawn Approach 6/4 - 100
2nd Magician 11/4 - 55
3rd Toronado 4/1 - 50
4th Mars 12/1 - 20
5th Leitir Mor 100/1 - 15

Firstly i would like to point out, both Dawn Approach and Magician have raced George Vancouver over 1m, DA beat him by 15L while Magician beat him by only 12L. Massive difference in rating, one of the reasons is that Dawn Approach's sire was unbeaten at Ascot, was brilliant on this surface and this distance. Mars i think will be more effective over further, and i have always rated Mars very highly but, seems like he is a 2nd thought for the O'Brien camp. Magician is at a massive disadvantage with Joseph on him. I think DA will be hard to beat. George Vancouver needs firm ground to be effective. I think Dundonnell could turn over his form with Toronado, so actually wouldn't be surprised if Dundonnell is close. But i think DA is unbeatable at this distance. Glad Bolger has put a pacemaker in for DA, it stops O'Brien dictating everything again.

 

 

4:25 Coventry

1st Stubbs 11/4 - 65
2nd Wahaab 12/1 - 60
3rd Thunder Strike 10/1 - 55
4th Sir John Hawkins 6/1 - 50
4th Dubawi Fun 33/1 - 50
5th Championship 5/1 - 45
5th Parbold 14/1 - 45

Very tight little contest here. Stubbs just edges it, and really i think he is expected to win this. But once again Jospeh is on him, and although he has to win a few races this week, this could be one of his best chances, but i fancy their other runner Sir John Hawkins, i also like the chances of Thunder Strike and the other Hannon horse Championship. I know Fahey rates Parbold too. Tough to call. I think Parbold could be a very nice e/w price and as i said Fahey really rates this horse, is his best 2yo.

5:00 Ascot Stakes

1st Well Sharp 9/1 - 50
2nd Big Easy 10/1 - 45
3rd Tiger Cliff 11/2 - 40
4th Midnight Oil 10/1 - 35

very close on these. Midnight Oil would be one to watch as Willie Mullins has fantastic strike rate at Ascot, but the others all have claims and i could easily see them coming home in this order

5:35 Windsor Castle

1st Anticipated 5/1 - 75
2nd Ben Hall 16/1 - 45
3rd Fountain Of Youth 8/1 - 35
3rd Sleeper King 14/1 - 35
3rd De Blaue Reiter 50/1 - 35
4th Justice Day 14/1 - 30

I like Anticipated, head and shoulders above the rest