Matchbook’s resident racing tipster Micheál Deasy has a bet for each race on Day Five of Royal Ascot.
Pinatubo showed a lot of class to close down a runaway leader at Epsom last time out and was going away at the line. Charlie Appleby gave him numerous entries this week but has decided to step him up in trip for the Chesham. This looks to be a match between him and Lope Y Fernandez but Pinatubo is the value at the prices.
Space Blues has looked a different horse now that he has been dropped back to 7f. He bolted up at York and kept it going at Epsom where his connection would have been hoping he would have been running in the Derby if their early season entires with him had gone to plan. He could be a class above these again today and can bring up a quick double for Charlie Appleby.
Trainer Charlie Appleby could have a quick-fire double in the first two races
Mirage Dancer could be the latest older horse to land a big race for Sir Michael Stoute. He announced himself to the world at Royal Ascot two years ago when running a huge race on only his third start in the Hampton Court.
He started as favourite for the Wolferton Stakes here last year and that was the only time all season that he finished outside the top two in the UK.
Connections thought enough of him to send him to Sha Tin for the Hong Kong Vase in December where nothing went right for him. You could forgive him that though and he comes here on the back of an easy win at Goodwood to set him up for a crack at this. He is a high class horse and it would be no surprise if he progresses again to land this for his genius trainer.
Sands of Mali is a massive price for this considering his course form. He finished second in the Commonwealth Cup last year and won the Champion Sprint here last October. He was well beaten at Hamilton on his seasonal debut but I’m happy enough to allow him that. That will have blown the cobwebs off nicely ahead of this which was almost certainly the early season target. I can see him going off a lot shorter than the 15.5 he is now and think he will go very close.
Hey Jonesy has run many a good race at Group level but after much frustration is finally lowering his sights and being given a go at a handicap. He always travels very strongly through his races but has always found one or two a bit better at the top level. He has plenty of weight here but has earned that mark running well at a higher level. I think he is almost guaranteed to place here and has a great chance of getting a well overdue win too.
Younevercall is a relatively lightly raced hurdler who finished off the season by absolutely thrashing On The Blind Side at Sandown. That has earned him a hurdles mark of 157 which makes him well above average. Nobody has missed this though and he is after being well backed already which makes him a win only bet for me here. If he can transfer that hurdles form to the flat he could win this easily.
I also think Black Corton is well worth a bet at a double figure price. He is much better known as a chaser now but his career hit an upward curve originally as a summer jumps horse that loved the better ground. Staying the trip won’t be an issue and Paul Nicholls isn’t sending him to Ascot for the fun of it. Could be a dark horse in this.
Black Corton tries his luck on the flat today.
