Royal Ascot 2022

Tough couple of days.

I'm disinclined to get involved with short-priced favourites so will always be in danger of losing if the bookies are taking a hammering.

Coltraine dug me out of a bit of a hole yesterday but I still ended the day down.

Tempus was my only return today, covering most of the longshot bets in his race.

But I've thoroughly enjoyed the racing itself. The horses are beautifully turned out and the entire picture is enhanced by the sunshine.

I'm not giving up hope of turning things round tomorrow.
 
Slim said:
I don't see it with my own eyes with The Antarctic. I'd be favouring Walbank.
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Never impressed me at all and the horses he beat were well beaten by LBB today.


I know Aiden's horse can massively improve between races but he'll need wings to beat Walbank IMO
 
Thursday:
Israr won with a bit in hand at Newbury and although this is likely tougher I like the step up in trip. I think 8s is acceptable

I backed Sea Silk Road for the Ribblesdale awhile ago when I was looking at the prices and the market leaders were Emily, Nashwa and Tuesday and the Haggas filly was 10s. They were never gonna run so SSR seemed the logical choice over Mukkaddamah who I like but has stamina doubts. I fear the Harrington in this and I have her in doubles with Perfect Power and Otterman Fleet.

Kyprios has been backable for the Gold Cup up until entries really. Strad is not the horse he was and Trueshan was never gonna run. The rest are sub par. I'm sure Slim has bigger prices but I'm happy with my position.

This could be hyperbole but I can't remember a better quality field for a handicap than this year's Britannia. So many really good horses and whilst I've backed Wanees who has been on my tracker since his win at Sandown I can't be confident. I'm also on Koy Koy who has form with Outgate (should have beaten him at Chester) and who was 25s when the draw was released and it seemed bad (not really). King of Time is short but looked a group horse when he beat Bullet Force at Newmarket. And then you have the Cox thing who beat Mighty Ulysees at Haydock. Unreal standard.
 
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Good luck, Euro.

I think Mojo Star can bring something to the Gold Cup party tomorrow. Unproven over the trip but just the type of freak to do well over it and will like fast ground I reckon.

Kitsune Power is overpriced in the 5.00 and Montassib the favourite will do for me in the last race. He can be done win or each way.
 
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Marb said:
Good luck, Euro.

I think Mojo Star can bring something to the Gold Cup party tomorrow. Unproven over the trip but just the type of freak to do well over it and will like fast ground I reckon.

Kitsune Power is overpriced in the 5.00 and Montassib the favourite will do for me in the last race. He can be done win or each way.
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Mojo Star ran a cracker in the St Leger but where he gets his stamina from beats the hell out of me. His dam was a 7furlong horse and Sea The Stars a middle distance horse,

However if there is going to be an unpset he could be the one......good luck
 
Euronymous said:
Thursday:
This could be hyperbole but I can't remember a better quality field for a handicap than this year's Britannia. So many really good horses and whilst I've backed Wanees who has been on my tracker since his win at Sandown I can't be confident. I'm also on Koy Koy who has form with Outgate (should have beaten him at Chester) and who was 25s when the draw was released and it seemed bad (not really). King of Time is short but looked a group horse when he beat Bullet Force at Newmarket. And then you have the Cox thing who beat Mighty Ulysees at Haydock. Unreal standard.
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I agree. This is what I sent out to family/friend the other day:

Similar comments apply here as for the KGV. I’m just trying to second-guess trainers’ approaches. I have to back Whoputfiftyin you (8/1) whose form was franked by Outgate on Saturday and Mighty Ulysses in the SJP. I can see that price halving. I have Tranquil Night on a nice curve but Buick rides the unbeaten King Of Time (5/1) and the stable has bounced back impressively from an underwhelming Epsom. I’m not sure I can back it at 5/1, though. I’ve also taken 50s (boosted to 60s, BOG) Harrow and 25s (28s, BOG) stablemate Koy Koy. Harrow started the season rated 103 after a nice third in the G3 Somerville Tattersall but a string of modest efforts has seen his mark drop 7lbs. He wears first time cheekpieces, Harry Davies has been booked and it's drawn right under the near rail. The owners (fronted by that big tube Harry Herbert) like their Ascot winners. This has also prompted me to back stablemate Koy Koy since David Probert presumably prefers its chances. I can see my alighting on one or two more value pops by the off!
 
Tanlic said:
So I see..they know best:)....I backed Bay Bridge at even to cover my ass and if he wins I'll back Home affairs who's not that far behind Native Strip.
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After a dozen years or so Tanlic finally finds somebody who 'knows best.' Kudos, Dude - proud of you!
 
I had a great day today. Five winners and four placings....my pin even worked in the Hunt Cup...:lol:. Just one of those very lovely rare days, the high point of which I think was a toss up between Little Big Bear because I thought he was the absolute dogs b*llox beforehand and also Saffron Beach who is just such a wonderful tough mare...imagine owning her!

And what a good ride by Shane Crosse too! (One I didn’t back but a great ride).
 
Actually I don't know what the thinking behind Nature Strip not running.

Waller is a part owner of Home Affairs which may well have a bearing on their decison.

Either way I have never in my life disagreed with a trainers decision not to run a horse

How could I if I am not privy to what has gone on in the yard?

On the otherhand those who criticise the likes of Nicky Henderson when he pulls one, do get on my tits.
 
jinnyj said:
I had a great day today. Five winners and four placings....my pin even worked in the Hunt Cup...:lol:. Just one of those very lovely rare days, the high point of which I think was a toss up between Little Big Bear because I thought he was the absolute dogs b*llox beforehand and also Saffron Beach who is just such a wonderful tough mare...imagine owning her!

And what a good ride by Shane Crosse too! (One I didn’t back but a great ride).
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I was having a ball mysel Jin until Azure Blue met a right horse at Ripon who made her look ordinary.......never mind tomorrow's another day
 
Agree with Euro that the Britannia is as tough as they come but I’ve backed Amortentia at 11/1 with a bookie I have hardly ever used; 10bet because they allowed me to get on what I wanted and offered 6 places. I’ll need to keep an eye out for their prices in future, assuming they payout in the unlikely event I win.
 
Marb said:
Good luck, Euro.

I think Mojo Star can bring something to the Gold Cup party tomorrow. Unproven over the trip but just the type of freak to do well over it and will like fast ground.
Montassib the favourite will do for me in the last race. He can be done win or each way.
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I have changed my mind on the 5.00.

A horse who has been racing freely in Ireland and so might be suited by a faster pace and proper big field is Fiach Mchugh. He seems to have improved a fair bit since being gelded, and while the Racing Post state the form of his last win might not be the strongest, he was second to an Aidan O Brien horse called Ivy League the time before, who went on to finish second in a group three race and now rated 106. So a rating of 96 for Fiach Mchugh seems reasonable. He will need to be on a steep upward curve but I can't rule out that he has been targetted at this race, so some market support might be a good sign. I guess I will have to pay to find out.
 
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Euronymous said:
I thought I found one for the Hunt Cup in Star of Orion but Beckett hasn't got a claimer on and although 98 is a winnable mark (came down 2lbs for his run in the Vic Cup even though he was badly drawn) I have a feeling Ralph wants another couple of pounds off and then he'll put a claimer on for the International he was 2nd in last year. Also probably better at 7 than 8.
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Out today in the Buckingham Palace over 7, which makes way more sense than the Hunt Cup would have done. Again, no claimer on so I do wonder if he's off today but he must be I suppose given the stature of the meeting.
 
Thursday thoughts (written on Tuesday) (updates in red):

2.30 - No interest

3.05 - I did delve into my ratings for this but most of them are already progressive and the handicapper appears not to be taking any chances with the ones that have shown good form. On top of that, a lot of them will improve again for the step up in trip. One of the ones I have a higher rating for is Post Impressionist (10/1) but Marquand rides the stablemate Mandobi (9/1), which is probably a tip in itself. (Gone in again at 14/1 BOG.) I’ve backed Flying Dolphin (20/1, 6 places). Murtagh had a devastating handicap winner last year when Create Belief blew the Sandringham apart off 97 before going on to win a G3 (rated 110) so he isn't averse to getting them here totally under the radar. The chances are this is a decent one. It's more trainer study than form study but I want it onside anyway! Franz Strauss (20s,6pl, BOG taken) carries the first Godolphin colours and could be the type to go up enough to get into the bigger all-age midsummer handicaps off a low weight. I’ve also taken Vina Sena (28/1, 5 pl, BOG), which was a real eyecatcher last time. I’ll probably settle for this group against the field.

3.40 - I’m happy to leave this race alone.

4.20 - It was only today that I finally got round to checking out Kyprios’s form and now I understand why it has been gambled. I’m not convinced the form can be taken at face value (Bay Bridge now springs to mind) but it certainly stacks up numbers-wise. However, I can’t back it at 7/4 now. I really would love to see Stradivarius win but can’t back him at 5/2 either. Trueshan looks like a non-runner so there will be a hefty R4 as well. I’m happy to wait for the reformed market – assuming Trueshan does come out – and find a way of backing Princess Zoe. Tashkhan (40/1) looks overpriced but might drift anyway by the morning of the race. If they decide to run Trueshan (11/2) the chances are the price will go out a bit and I might take a pop then. (Still haven't backed anything and I missed the price on Tashkhan. I'll decide nearer the off.)

5.00 - Similar comments apply here as for the KGV. I’m just trying to second-guess trainers’ approaches. I have to back Whoputfiftyin you (8/1) whose form was franked by Outgate on Saturday and Mighty Ulysses in the SJP. I can see that price halving. I have Tranquil Night on a nice curve but Buick rides the unbeaten King Of Time (5/1) and the stable has bounced back impressively from an underwhelming Epsom. I’m not sure I can back it at 5/1, though. I’ve also taken 50s (boosted to 60s, BOG) Harrow and 25s (28s, BOG) stablemate Koy Koy. Harrow started the season rated 103 after a nice third in the G3 Somerville Tattersall but a string of modest efforts has seen his mark drop 7lbs. He wears first time cheekpieces, Harry Davies has been booked and it's drawn right under the near rail. The owners (fronted by that big tube Harry Herbert) like their Ascot winners. This has also prompted me to back stablemate Koy Koy since David Probert presumably prefers its chances. I can see me alighting on one or two more value pops by the off! (See the longshot thread!)

5.35 - I’ll probably only have a bet in this if it’s a freebie and will decide nearer the off.

6.10 - Baradar (28/1) (80/1, 7pl this morning, taken) and Current Option (40/1) (66/1 ditto) look like serious long-term plots (not any more, but I ain't backing out) so both will have to carry some cash but I’ll hang off for now and keep an eye out for drifts and extra places. If they’re just in decline no price will be a value one but why bring them here? I’ll probably back both Godolphins too (Path Of Thunder, 33s, ditto; Silent Film 12s, win only). Chiefofchiefs is a good marker for the form having won it last year and rated on it. I thought Vafortino (12/1) (8/1w, taken :mad:) looked impressive in the Victoria Cup and anticipate further improvement. The unbeaten Montassib is 6/1 favourite but is drawn against the far rail. I’ll probably add a couple more by post time. (Ejtilaab, 50/1, 7pl taken and Fastnet Crown 20s, ditto.)
 
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I think between four or five of us on various threads we have backed half the field in the Brittania. We shall retain our credibility as long as one person lands a decent blow on the enemy. :)

I'll cheer for yours if you are there at the business end, if you'll return the favour, chaps. :)
 
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Marb said:
I think between four or five of us on various threads we have backed half the field in the Brittania. We shall retain our credibility as long as one person lands a decent blow on the enemy. :)
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It's that kind of race.


Marb said:
I'll cheer for yours if you are there at the business end, if you'll return the favour, chaps. :)
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Goes without saying but I'm donald-ducked if I can remember who tipped what!
 
Desert Orchid said:
It's that kind of race.




Goes without saying but I'm donald-ducked if I can remember who tipped what!
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Ha indeed. I need to put my (alledged) photographic memory to the test!

I will be delighted if my one Fiach Mchugh could just get a place truth to be told. The handicap mark is ok its more about how much improvement he can show in todays race and I have taken a chance.

As Euro said, its a very hot race.
 
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