Another amazing day yesterday – almost a carbon copy of day 2 but with the added bonus of the winning horse being owned and bred by Michael. I imagine Brown Panther could go on from this and compete at a very high level, particularly if he gets the right conditions.
For me it was another day when I looked into the betting abyss but came out on top. I backed a succession of losers throughout the day, but once again was bailed out in the last race by a Manor House horse.
Sunday Bess was a disappointment. I asked Richard when he came out if he thought she would go on the ground – he grimaced and shook his head. It was probably a mistake to have run but at least we know now for sure. She’s still a maiden after five runs – we’ll probably look for a little race for her now.
Kenny Powers was also disappointing, but he was very green and will come on significantly for the run. Juno the Muffinman was also very green but should be a lot better next time. Michael and I own two 2yos by Holy Roman Emperor – Juno the Muffinman and Roman Seal. I named one of them and Michael named the other – I won’t say which was which…
I quite fancy the card today. We’ve had a bit more rain and the ground is likely to soften up further – there will be plenty of runners that should not really be taking part but will run anyway as the owners will have their days out planned – Sunday Bess was a good example of that yesterday. The course is likely to be softer in the back straight than the home straight, which will mean tolerance for soft ground is even more important in the longer races.
Switcher goes in the first against the Bolger hotpot. Switcher is a Whipper sister to Marine Boy – she will definitely appreciate the rain and she has plenty of scope. If Teolane goes on the ground and is the horse she is being touted up to being then she will probably win but Switcher will cope well with the conditions and an each way bet feels like a good proposition.
There are several decent animals in the Edward VII including Nathanial, who I am reliably told will ‘love the ground’. Nathaniel is a lovely horse but he has a habit of finding one to beat him, and for my money the horse to be on is Mijhaar, who has already acted on the ground and might be a bit special. Like Brown Panther he is by Shirocco – I’ll be backing him with quiet confidence.
In the Coronation I really like the chances of the French horse Nova Hawk. Both of her wins came on soft ground and she was committed to Ascot before the rains came. There are question marks over most of the others and it feels like a solid opportunity.
There will be plenty of support for Green Destiny in the Wolferton, and it’s not hard to see why. I don’t see the point in backing horses like this – the world and his wife will be on and it will be reflected in the price. In my short trousered days I used to follow Gerald Cottrell’s horses throughout the year – Stuart Kittow was his assistant for 15 years and married his daughter. Resurge is a Danehill Dancer brother to Araafa – he appears to be in the form of his life at the age of 6. I’ll go with him win and place – he is a working man’s price.
In the Queen’s Vase I’m going to be dull and side with the favourite Regent Street. Coolmore are good at winning this sort of race and Regent Street looks a fairly dour sort who should handle the conditions well. I like Kalk Bay in the last – again conditions may have come right for him at the eleventh hour.