Matchbook’s resident racing tipster Micheál Deasy has a bet for each race on Day Two of Royal Ascot.
It’s a bit boring tipping a favourite but Final Song’s course and distance win look’s a lot better now that the rain has come. She made all and quickened away remarkably easily to win by 5 lengths once Oisin Murphy pushed the button. She could be anything but this is a wide-open race so a small win stake is advised.
Nate The Great can consider himself unlucky not to have a win at the Royal Meeting on his CV after running a great race in the Chesham Stakes last year when he finished 2nd to Arthur Kitt. He came from the back of the field that day, did not get a clear run through and eventually lost out by half a length.
12 months later and he is taking a huge step up in trip but he could provide a bit of value against the two Aidan O’Brien horses at the top of the market. Nate was last seen finishing a staying on third to eventual Derby winner Anthony Van Dyk at Lingfield over 1m4f. The way he finished would suggest the extra 2 furlongs should be fine for him and I can see him running into a place.
Magical looks a solid favourite in one of the races of the week. She has had 3 runs over 1m2f already this season and has improved for each one. Her best run of last season came over 1m4f here when she took the Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes on soft ground last October.
Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore are a fearsome combo.
She has two serious rivals in Sea Of Class and Crystal Ocean but gets the vote ahead of these due to the fact 1m2f is short of their optimum trip. She should provide another winner for Aidan O’Brien.
Anna Nerium is one of my favourite horses in training. She only has one way of running and that is coming from last to first with a barnstorming run, most recently seen to devastating effect at Epsom a few weeks ago.
It is a running style that should suit Ascot and any cut in the ground will also be in her favour.
She is a nice price already and you will also be able to get better in-play if she sits out the back. Guaranteed to give you an exciting run for your money.
Raising Sand has got his optimum conditions today on a course he loves. He has a 50% strike rate over course and distance and is usually seen at his best in the autumn when he gets soft ground. There is a huge amount in his favour today but he is well found in the market now at around 9.0. He is well worth a bet although his price is skinny enough for a 30 runner handicap.
What’s The Story finished 4th in this last year and warmed up for this with an impressive win at York. He was very strong at the line that day and the second horse Firmament gave the form a boost when winning at York last Saturday. His trainer could not be in better form, he had 5 winners on Monday and if What’s The Story can take some of that stable momentum into this race he has a huge chance of hitting the frame at a big price
Stylehunter is a horse that you have to catch on the right day but I think he could be a potential improver in this field. John Gosden thought enough of him to give him his handicap debut in the Britannia Stakes here last year where he travelled like an absolute dream into the final two furlongs but never quite got to the winner, finishing amongst a group of horses in 6th.
That would have been a real learning experience for him and he is entitled to improve again as a 4 year old. He was far too fresh on his first run of the season at Newmarket 12 days ago over a longer than ideal trip but that will have put him spot on for this and hopefully he can run a big race here.
Trainer John Gosden has a chance with Stylehunter in the Hunt Cup.
Red Epaulette won the first race of the Irish flat season at Naas and looked a decent horse in doing so. He was most recently seen giving a well regarded Ballydoyle horse, Pistoletto, a proper race back at Naas, pushing the long odds on shot all the way before being headed at the line. He is a massive price here which may be due to the fact he is from a little known Irish trainer and is well worth a bet in another wide open 2 year old race.
