Royal Ascot Day 2: Three Betting Previews & Picks for Free! When you are beaten into second by a 66/1 outsider in the opener, you get that distinct feeling things are simply not going your way. That looked to be the case for our next two selections, before BOW ECHO (11/10) and MAP OF STARS (7/1) stepped up to turn the opening day into a very tidy profit!
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Royal Ascot Day 2: Three Betting Previews & Picks for Free!
In today’s update, we are tracking three excellent value angles for Day 2 at the Royal meeting.
15:40 Royal Ascot – FRIENDLY SOLE 9/2
The highly progressive filly BLUE BOLT is fully expected to improve again, and she is clearly well-suited by a fast turf surface. Andrew Balding has his Kingsclere yard in excellent order at the moment, but you have to ask yourself if she genuinely deserves to be the clear market leader at those odds.
The lightly raced KON TIKI finished only three-quarters of a length behind BLUE BOLT at Goodwood, which strongly suggests he too should be heavily involved in the finish. CATHEDRAL is one I would certainly throw into Placepot permutations, though he admittedly doesn’t win anywhere near as often as he should.
Instead, I readily prefer FRIENDLY SOLE. This 5-year-old mare boasts an impressive profile, having won 5 of her 7 career starts. While the daughter of Kingman was officially pulled up on her seasonal reappearance, she was still travelling all over her rivals and going strongly when unfortunately stumbling at the two-furlong marker. From what I saw that day, she has retained all of her natural ability and should be perfectly suited by a return to a stiff, galloping mile.
16:20 Royal Ascot – ALMAQAM 13/2
What concerns me most with DARYZ is the prospect of fast ground today. On his only previous career start on a quick surface, Francis-Henri Graffard’s 4-year-old finished a remote last of six at York. While he has undoubtedly improved since that run, the second top-rated runner in this field definitely has something to prove under these conditions.
OMBUDSMAN has won 8 of his 11 races, including a brilliant victory in this exact Prince of Wales’s Stakes last season. However, while the John & Thady Gosden-trained 5-year-old is a perfect two-for-two this term, he was absolutely all out to scramble home in his prep race at Sandown. To cut a long story short, I’m not at all interested in backing him at such short, restrictive odds.
Elsewhere, MINNIE HAUK was a massive disappointment last time out at the Curragh. SEE THE FIRE still has a fair bit to find on the figures, while DANCING GEMINI appears completely out of form.
With the Ed Walker yard operating in excellent form, we have to take a chance on the stable’s runner, ALMAQAM. On paper, the 5-year-old technically needs to find a few pounds with the principals, but he comes into the race having produced a career-best performance on his latest outing. This son of Lope De Vega is a remarkably easy ride, and Kieren Shoemark knows exactly how to get the best out of him.
17:00 Royal Ascot – INDALO 11/1
Suffice to say, the winner of a ultra-competitive, 30-runner Royal Ascot handicap is always going to need things to fall perfectly in running. Given that the bookmakers have opened up the market at 10/1 the field, it’s fair to suggest this is a complete lottery on paper.
There has been steady market support for JAGGED EDGE, but I’m personally not buying into his chances at the current prices. ARCHIVIST could still prove himself to be better than his current handicap mark, but his current odds of 15/2 offer zero appeal as a betting proposition.
The strong-travelling LA BOTTE looks sure to be suited by dropping back in trip, and Mark Zahra’s mount will have no issues navigating a massive field. Given a standard bit of luck in running, he should easily hit the frame to finish in the top six. Front-runner LINWOOD is a remarkably brave sort, and a 3-pound penalty is by no means a deal-breaker; that said, he is carrying a big weight today and will likely be a sitting target for the closers.
If this contest were over an extra two furlongs, I would be highly interested in the chances of ERZINDJAN. SCOVILLE was disappointing on his seasonal return, but a recent wind operation should have put him spot on for this target. With a top-tier jockey booked, he’s one to note. If SHOUT settles better in the early stages, he could easily be involved in the finish, but for the winner, I’m firmly siding with the Roger Varian-trained INDALO.
The 4-year-old hails from the stable that captured this exact race last year, and he has already shown a very solid level of form this season. Since he improved significantly race-to-race as a three-year-old, further progression looks imminent. The grey possesses a lethal turn of foot, and both the conditions and the big field size should suit his running style perfectly.
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