1.50 Ascot – Miss El Fundi (Each Way)
I put up Miss El Fundi at Royal Ascot, and she wasn’t disgraced in finishing back in fifth place. Since then she’s won on to break her maiden tag by winning at Kempton; the form might not be worth much, but she couldn’t have done much more. The daughter of Sea The Stars should be fine stepping back into group company, and Ascot is in her blood. Her dam, Miss Celestial, ran well here for the same connections, so the track shouldn’t be a problem. I think she’s a filly that can keep on improving.
2.05 York – Strong Johnson (Each Way)
David O’Meara and Paul Midgeley have won the last four renewals of this race between them with two wins apiece. This year I’m looking at Paul Midgeley’s team and at Strong Johnson. He’s been running in some good races this season and wasn’t disgraced in a warm heat at Thirsk earlier this month. Last year he ran in this race and fared ok back in sixth. The eight-year-old gelding is now 8lb lower than his last win, and I wouldn’t be surprised this race had been the plan. I can see him going well.
2.25 Ascot – Devoted Queen (Win)
Devoted Queen should be hard to beat here for Charlie Appleby. She was very impressive when winning a Listed race at York in May. That day she wore a first-time hood, and connections have decided to keep the headgear on again. In that race at York, she beat a horse called Spiritual, who has gone on to win a Listed race at Sandown, and she beat several horses who line up here. With the three-year-old weight for age allowance, I expect the daughter of Kingman to kick on.
2.40 York – Silky Wilkie (Each Way)
Patience must be running thin now with Silky Wilkie, who keeps running well without getting his head in front. The last time we saw him, he was just outfought in the finish at Hamilton to finish a close second. He lurks on his last winning mark of 99 and has been rated higher in the past 12 months. Though he’s never won at York, he’s run well at the track. I don’t think this is the strongest of York handicaps I’ve ever seen, and maybe this could be his time.
3.00 Ascot – New Image (Each Way)
I thought this was the trickiest race of the day, but New Image, trained by David O’Meara, is a horse on an upward curve. He was last seen finishing hard and fast at York last time out. Before that, he had won at Musselburgh, so he’s clearly in the form of his life. I think the strong pace at Ascot will really suit him, and I think he’s a horse who is still ahead of his mark. With Mark Winn booked for the ride, I can see him being in the mix.
3.15 York – Alfaila (Win)
This is a trappy little race, but I’m convinced Alfaila is a Group 1 horse in waiting. I thought Jim Crowley didn’t give him the best of rides in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, and he should have least finished a lot closer to Auguste Rodin. Coming back to York for the son of Dark Angel shouldn’t be a problem, as he won this race last year. I think he’s got a good chance of backing it up, and I’m hopeful he can win this race before maybe coming back to the Juddmonte here next month.
3.40 Ascot – Goliath EW / Middle Earth EW
I’m going to stick my antepost feelings here with Goliath and Middle Earth. I want to take on Auguste Rodin, as I thought he was a bit underwhelming even though he won at Royal Ascot. For me, I just think he wants really quick ground, and I don’t think it will be that fast on Saturday. Though my selections were beaten in the Hardwicke Stakes, I think both performances can be marked up, particularly Middle Earth. He was the only horse that came off the pace that day, and if he’d been ridden closer, I’m sure he would have given the winner Isle Of Jura something to think about. The son of Roaring Lion has been progressing well this season, and he’s a horse I don’t think we’ve gotten to the bottom of. The ground should be fine, and I can see him outrunning his odds.
Goliath is the other horse I like for this race. He’s been a model of consistency, and he ran well to finish second at Royal Ascot last month. That was also his first run on quick ground, and I think it will ride a little bit slower this time around. His French form isn’t too bad, and I think he may surprise a few people with Christophe Soumillon booked for the ride.