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Winning Post
By David Thorpe
Royal Ascot is the highlight of the racing week but the glamour and posh
frocks should not take away from the numerous betting opportunities at
the meeting.
First priority for any prospective punter is to find a bookie that will
let you back Jimmy Fortune at odds of 14/1 to be top jockey.
If each-way prices are available then it’s the best bet of the week.
Aidan O’Brien will have his usual massive list of major contenders
at the Berkshire venue with the stayer Yeats looking to be his best chance
at the meeting in the Ascot Gold Cup on Thursday.
The Ballydoyle trainer has the two best two-year-old colts of the season
in Williamthenavigator and Yoursothrilling.
Meanwhile Dylan Thomas who is to be ridden by top Belgian jockey Christophe
Soumillon is another horse with a massive chance of success.
Perhaps the most interesting Irish runner of the week will be George Washington.
Last year’s 2,000 Guineas winner is to have his first run after
being brought out of retirement and how he copes will reveal a lot about
the horse’s prospects for the new season.
Australian trainers have started to send horses over to contest the sprint
races at Royal Ascot but while much attention will focus on Takeover Target
my sources Down Under tell me that the best of Aussie contenders is Belinda’s
Dream.
This sprinter is rated as the best of the four Australian-trained horses
that will run at Ascot this week and while it is not always best to back
horses that have travelled long distances the record of Australian horses
at the meeting suggests that they should not be ignored.
The top race on Friday is the Coronation Stakes. This Group One contest
for fillies always produces an exciting finish and Irish punters will
be hoping that Finsceal Beo, from the Jim Bolger yard, will be able to
record another famous victory and take another step towards securing her
place among racing’s true legends.
The biggest race on Saturday is the Golden Jubilee Stakes. This Group
One contest looks to be one of the hardest races to call on the entire
card.
Dutch Art was second in the 2,000 Guineas and will be a major player in
this race but the preference is for Sandar Camillo as Jeremy Noseda’s
horse is a high-quality performer. He is due a big race win and Saturday’s
race could be it. |
