ROYAL ASCOT

Yes it is that time of year , for me its my second favourite meeting of the year ( behind Glorious Goodwood which i hold special due to memories ) and simply fantastic week of racing *Please be kind weather* where a host of big names will be on show , a selection of special 2 yr olds wanting to cement there names in the pantheon of greatness and seal there place at the head of the markets for next years classics , Millions of Pounds in Prize money and some very odd looking hats ;-)....yes yes yes Royal Ascot is everything that any true Flat racing lover could want for and more , obviously both Frankel and Black Caviar are the two biggest names on show and the double special already reported on them should be taken but everyday there will be something special on show even if we haven't seen it yet!!.....So to get ahead i am going to be previewing each days card 1 day ahead but the finalised version may suffer alterations if there are any non runners or dramatic alterations in the weather etc....So without further ado lets move on.....


**********************ROYAL ASCOT**************************


RACE 1
BACK - FRANKEL - ( NAP ) - 1st @ 1.12
EW - 
OUTSIDER - 
*Frankel WILL NOT LOSE simple!!....the only other horse fit to be along side him is Excelebration ( 2nd ) and he has thrashed this 5 or 6 times now including lto...this is FREE MONEY....lump on everything you can find!!.
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RACE 2

BACK - BATED BREATH - 2nd @ 6.38
EW - STONE OF FOLCA - 
OUTSIDER - SOLE POWER - 3rd @ 10.5
*Now we have the hugely competitive KINGS STAND STAKES a frenetic 5f sprint which is super interesting for a number of reasons , Firstly we have STONE OF FOLCA a horse that as a 2yr old held any amount of promise after running some great and quick races with his best effort probably being a nk 2nd to Zebedee in 0.58 which was a great run however he never really progressed from that and after winning his maiden at 1/8 he regressed which was disappointing but and this is a big but , he won lto in a eye watering 0.53 breaking just about every sprint record there is in the Epsom Investec Dash over 5f against a high quality field he was simply stunning and the time was just amazing , this was the sort of race and performance i always knew he had but was reluctant to show....im hoping and fingers crossed he has developed a new love for his art and finally understands what is required but as we all know with sprinters they by and large are not the most resolute nor consistent of beasts!! but with an early show of 38.0/50.0 i simply cannot resist and will some of this and will re-check the market again tmrw...but that price screams " go on i dare ya!!"....
Secondly we have BATED BREATH who is for me the class in this race and has swerved the Jubilee stakes for this as Roger thinks this is a more realistic option as they want wins and black type to enhance its breeding value but tbf it does also have some rock solid form in the locker and its lto win was completed in a very quick time indeed and this is probably the most likeliest winner although my one reservation is that personally i feel its better over 6f , i may be wrong or it may be equally as good over both  but i just feel at 5f its worth taking on.
Thirdly we have a sprinter who i love and i think is probably as good as a sprinter as we have seen anywhere for a good number of years and is also very consistent and that is SOLE POWER a NK 2nd behind Bated Breath lto and running on strongly this is sure to run another huge race and will be in my mixed bag of bets and i will personally be lumping the place as well...so many options and at 10.5 is just the right side of good...and Finally we have Ortensia the Aussie sprinter and a quick one at that as are most of there's , this should not be underestimated as they have proven time and again before  they know how to produce winning sprinters but at 6.4 is a LAY for me as i think the UK and Ireland have enough ammo to attack with.
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RACE 3

BACK - POWER - 
EW - COGITO - 
OUTSIDER - THE NILE - 
*Now we have the St James Palace stakes over 1m and a race that holds many a cognitive form line and the strongest is obviously through POWER which won the Irish 2000 guineas so well , this looks a very useful animal which travels well and can quicken and is proven and will take all the beating.
Against it i would probably say COGITO is a lively alternative ( 24.0 ) and is improving fast which he showed when beating Stipulate and Tales of Grimm lto a very tidy performance and one that merits the upmost respect.
The remainder are in the main full of pre season wonder horses, horses of hyperbole and ruined reputations namely , Born to Sea , Most Improved , Wrote and Hermival ( 1st ,2nd and 4th lol )none of which i can see improving enough to trouble the judge so maybe a outsider could be of interest to place or surprise and i would suggest either Foxtrot Romeo or The Nile both of whom could easily improve enough to get involved and have shown that they have trained on and will be ready for a race and a fight and at 16 & 18.5 are big enough for interest.
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RACE 4

BACK - SIR PRANCEALOT ( EW NAP ) - ( 4th )
EW - N/A - 
OUTSIDER - DAWN APPROACH - 1st @ 5.20
*Now its a typically tough and big field Coventry Stakes over 6f but a race that interests me greatly as it includes a 2yr old that imo is not only the best i have seen this year but probably the best i have seen in a good few years , yes that includes Frankel et al!!...the horse that is SIR PRANCEALOT is imo simply stunning , it moves with proper full blown class , can quicken , can drop in or out and has any amount of ability i feel you will today witness something a bit special.
I dont really want to discuss anything else but if i had to nominate a serious challenger i would probably say for saver reasons i would go with Dawn Approach who has shown a high level of consistency and has enough in the locker to make it interesting , but personally for me this race is all about Sir Prancealot.
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RACE 5

BACK - VEILED - 
EW - DARK RANGER - 
OUTSIDER - AL KHANWANEEJ - 2nd @ 10.5
*Now we settle into something more sedate haha and its the 2m4f marathon trip that is the Ascot Stakes and a race that has quite often chucked up a few surprise winners and big prices.
Last years winner VEILED  is the obvious place to start sent out by master NH trainer Nicky Henderson who is also a dab hand with his NHF runners and has had a fair bit of success on the flat and you can g'tee that this will be primed for a big run ( Spoke to Hendo JNR regarding this and they feel it can win again, it is fit and ready to go they will have no complaints ) so is high on my list of candidates.
The two against it i like are Dark Ranger and Al Khanwaneej who both look like decent stayers who are in fine form and will be up to getting this trip , interesting race but not one for the purists.
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RACE 6

BACK - LYRIC ACE - 
EW - PAY FREEZE - 
OUTSIDER - AJMANY - 
*Finally we end day 1 with the super sprint that is the Windsor Castle stakes a race for 2yr old only and LYRIC ACE is an outstanding horse to have running for you in the getting out stakes this simply has speed to burn moves very well and is all pace and is one i like very much....Hannon what a lucky man.
The interesting runner would be Ajmany a debutant from Cumani and Ridden by friend Fallon this must be showing something special at home to suggest that this is acceptable and could be anything at a price and Finally Pay Freeze who destroyed the field in his maiden and again is open to any amount of improvement...great Finale!! 
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So thats Day 1 covered and what a fantastic day it looks like....excited.com ;-))))...
A small mention to the Euro's where i feel a Spain V Croatia DRAW is nailed on , neither will want to commit as i believe they will both go through with a draw under the new h2h ruling goal difference wont make any difference ( i think ive got that right? )...so on that basis a draw looks nailed on and Italy to WIN looks a banker bet...so a DRAW/Italy WIN double looks the play to me.

Ok im off to get ready as im off out this afternoon as i have promised my friend Marc i would support him in his quest ..the quest of watching JAWS at the Cinema as he doesnt want to go alone omg i cannot believe i am going!!...the things i do for friendship!!....i will be getting in some light trading tonight however to add some ammo to my Ascot war chest so see ya later, if not have a great day and i look forward to seeing everyone tmrw , be happy, stay lucky, keep smiling and Michael....i hope Israel is treating you kindly buddy ;-))..ttfn x