JERSEY STAKES
Saturday 24th June, 3:05pm
Covey @ 2/1
The Antarctic @ 5/1
Enfjaar @ 7/1
Olivia Maralda @ 7/1
Mysterious Night @ 17/2
Holloway Boy @ 10/1
view odds
*prices correct at time of writing.
WE SAY…
An intriguing puzzle to unpick here with a week that has offered surprises aplenty. Frankie Dettori is on a roll and rides the favourite Covey – who was easily the best in a competitive field at Haydock. The Antarctic is a classy customer and comes into this off the back of a good win at Naas. Olivia Maralda is one to keep an eye on after bouncing back from Guineas disappointment with a Listed success at Epsom.
CORNELIUS SAYS…
“Covey won very nicely last time out. It was amazing he went off as big as 6/4 when he won at Haydock because the whole world seemed to know he was going to win, and he duly won by three and a quarter lengths conceding a lot of weight. This is a typical Gosden horse that graduates from good handicaps and could easily be quality.”
“The Antarctic looks a very fair price having won his last race in Ireland. The Roger Varian-trained Enfjaar couldn’t have won his last race at Chelmsford any more readily and could be a contender.”
“Streets of Gold who came third last time at Epsom and wasn’t good enough get in a blow in the first two but I’m not sure if the track necessarily suited.”
“Assuming there is no rain, the conditions will suit Holloway Boy really well because in the Chesham Stakes last year it was very quick ground. He continued to run well through the rest of the season. He’s only had that one run in the Guineas this year, but it was no disgrace. Having said that, he’s still got to convince us he’s trained on.”
“There is one at a big price who should be definitely considered here, Thunder Bear at 33/1, wasn’t beaten terribly far over at Naas by The Antarctic last time and looks like the 7 furlongs will suit really well.”
SPOTLIGHT…
“Covey does look outstanding, but big runs from a couple of outsiders by Streets of Gold, and Thunderbear mean we will have a proper contest.”
QUEEN ELIZABETH II JUBILEE STAKES
Saturday 24th June, 3:40pm
Artorius @ 4/1
Wellington @ 9/2
Highfield Princess @ 5/1
Kinross @ 7/1
Sacred @ 7/1
Rohaan @ 11/1
view odds
*prices correct at time of writing.
WE SAY…
This should be a scorcher as Highfield Princess bids to be crowned champion sprinter against the boys from overseas. Artorius was third in this race in 2022 and comes into this with better form than this time last year. Wellington is a serial winner in Hong Kong, but has never raced outside of Sha Tin, so question marks remain.
CORNELIUS SAYS…
“Artorius has been well talked about for the Australians and we know how good they are with sprinters.”
“I know some shrewd international players are very keen on Wellington and he has plenty of wins to his name but he’s never done it outside of Hong Kong.”
“Highfield Princess is an outstandingly good horse as proved by the phenomenal year last year. A quick turnaround is going to be a massive plus in her favour and the extra furlong is not really a problem as she’s so versatile.”
“Sandrine won at Ascot a couple years ago, but I think it would be surprising if she outran her odds.”
“Rohaan performs well on the track and has ability at Ascot, however, has only ran once this year and was well-beaten.”
SPOTLIGHT…
“I’m going to give Highfield Princess another go at the odds that are on offer. I think she was a little bit unlucky on Tuesday, if the finish had been tighter, she might have ended up getting the race. She was only beaten a length and she was conceding a lot of weight to Bradsell.”
HARDWICKE STAKES
Friday 23rd June, 5:35pm
Hukum @ 15/8
Free Wind @ 9/4
Pyledriver @ 7/1
Changingoftheguard @ 8/1
Deauville Legend @ 8/1
West Wind Blows @ 18/1
view odds
*prices correct at time of writing.
WE SAY…
A classy field heads to post for the Hardwicke with all eyes on Hukum after his stunning return in the Brigadier Gerard. Pyledriver makes his come back having last been seen winning the King George in sensational style. There are plenty of able candidates in this field in a week in which it has paid to take on the favourites.
CORNELIUS SAYS…
“Changingoftheguard and Deauville Legend have plenty of ability.”
“A lot of people had written Hukum off after he got injured. He’s back at Royal Ascot and competing over a distance which we probably think he is more suited to than the Brigadier Gerard, so he is a definitely a major player.”
“Pyledriver has had his issues. I don’t think William Muir has made any secret of the fact that the race they are really after is a repeat of the King George in July.”
SPOTLIGHT…
“I just have a feeling Hukum is different gravy. If you look at basic form figures from last year when Hukum and Pyledriver clashed in the coronation Cup at Epsom, there was 4¼ lengths between them. That’s quite a superiority!”
LOOK OUT FOR…
1. A low draw is something to note in the Chesham Stakes, with fifteen of the last seventeen winners coming from between stalls 1-8.
2. There has been no winner from stall one in the last 18 runnings of the Jubilee Stakes.
3. Since 1980 there have been only nine winning favourites in the Wokingham Stakes.
4. Horses who have failed to win the Guineas have often performed well in the Jersey Stakes. Olivia Maralda – seventh in the Guineas and has won subsequently at Epsom – fits that brief. As well as Holloway Boy who ran ninth in the 2,000 Guineas and Quar Shamar who wasn’t beaten far behind Paddington in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.
VERDICT
“The Jubilee Stakes is going to be a proper race, one million pounds prize money guaranteed, a massive international field, a race like this is exactly what we love about Royal Ascot. It is lovely to think that a race named after a Queen could be won by a Princess!”
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