It was a disastrous day for the bookies on Thursday as Fame And Glory landed one of the biggest gambles in Royal Ascot history. Fresh on the back of that success, we have all the latest tips for Friday's race card at Royal Ascot.
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Punters have been treated to plenty of top class races and breathtaking finishes this week and Friday’s racing should be no different as the Group One Coronation Stakes takes top billing on another action-packed card.
The day kicks off with the Group Three
Albany Stakes (2.30) and Jim Bolger will be hoping that
TEOLANE (7/4,
Ladbrokes) can follow in the footsteps of his 2008 winner Cuis Ghaire. The selection is certainly capable of doing that and the highly promising filly will be incredibly difficult to beat if she turns up at Ascot in the same form that saw her land the Listed Coolmore Stude Fillies’ Stakes at Naas last Monday.
That was a taking performance and she showed plenty of speed once she grabbed the rail in the six furlong contest. It was clear during the race that she would be suited by a return to seven furlongs in time but with the rain already softening the ground at Ascot and with more on the way, her proven stamina could be crucial when they reach the business end of the proceedings.
Her master trainer certainly knows how to win with this type of horse and the fact that he chooses to run her here instead of keeping her fresh for the Moyglare Stud Stakes is a tip in itself. Indeed, Cuis Ghaire actually won the same Naas race that Teolane recently conquered before she powered to victory in the Albany in 2008.
This year’s King Edward VII Stakes (3.05) looks a particularly intriguing race and it’s fascinating to see Sir Henry Cecil’s World Domination given another opportunity to prove his class in the Group Two contest. His Derby hopes came crashing down when he could only finish fourth in the Dante but that was run at a farcical pace and it wouldn’t be surprising to see plenty of punters keeping the faith on Friday.
He has the ability to go close, but he could be playing second fiddle to John Gosden’s
NATHANIEL (11/4,
bet365) who missed the Derby for completely different reasons. John Gosden’s colt was waiting to take his chance in the race if there was any rain at Epsom but with the clouds letting the trainer down he was kept for this race instead.
Last seen finishing second to eventual Investec Derby runner-up Treasure Beach in the Chester Vase at last month’s May meeting Nathaniel will be one horse that is likely to handle the underfoot conditions at Ascot and he certainly has the form in the book.
The son of Galileo can actually claim to be the horse to get closest in any race to 2000 Guineas hero Frankel after he lost out by just half a length to the superstar in a maiden last season. That was just one example of his juvenile form working out well and he cruised to a facile success at 1/20 on his three-year-old comeback this season.
His performance in the Chester Vase was a creditable effort and it was clear that he was never really handling the track under the hands of William Buick. He is sure to find his feet much quicker at Ascot and he can take this on the way to the St Leger at Doncaster in September.
Friday’s feature comes in the shape of the Coronation Stakes (3.45) and the softening ground is bound to play a huge part in the result of the race. If it hadn’t have been for the recent rain then Richard Hannon’s Memory would rate a decent bet and connections are sure to pick up a big prize with last year’s Albany winner at some point. She certainly comes with risks attached but she has a devastating finishing kick and if she handles the softer going better than many punters believe she will, she is going to be a danger to all.
However, the likelihood is that even if she does decide to leave the stalls this time her powerful turn of foot could be blunted by the ground and along with Irish and English 1000 Guineas runner-up Together and Brian Meehan’s Theyskens’ Theory, she is worth taking on with French raider
IMMORTAL VERSE (12/1,
Ladbrokes).
The selection has always been highly regarded by trainer Robert Collet but for a number of different reasons she had never had chance to prove herself on the racecourse. That was until earlier this month when she bolted home in the Prix De Sandringham, a high class Chantilly Group Two that is always contested by some of France’s leading fillies.
Her performance there was mightily impressive and her smart turn of foot to record a career best effort proved that the soft going on the day was anything but a hindrance to her chances. Coming from last to first after racing freely under the hands of Olivier Peslier, Immortal Verse swept past her rivals in awesome fashion and booked her trip to Royal Ascot.
She is forgiven her eleventh in the French 1000 Guineas after being set a hopeless task from the rear and with the fantastic Gerald Mosse in the saddle she has every chance of causing a bit of an upset at very generous odds.
Nick Wilby’s selections:
3.05 –
Nathaniel (11/4,
bet365)
