ITV Racing Tips Thursday 21st June: Our Fancies From Royal Ascot On Ladies' Day

ITV Racing Tips Thursday 21st June: Our Fancies From Royal Ascot On Ladies' Day
19:30, 20 Jun 2018

Thursday at Royal Ascot is ladies day, a day where no matter how hard you try you’ll always get prodded by a huge fascinator! More importantly, it’s Ascot Gold Cup day and once again this year’s runners look to have served up a treat.

Yesterday the main talking point was of course Cracksman’s shock defeat to Poet’s Word. John Gosden’s star just looked very sluggish, he never ran his race and unfortunately he was beaten very fairly there. His future is uncertain now, I would be confident he will be given a break and come back to form soon. He’s still a star and is still talented.

Take nothing away from the winner, he travelled the best, finished quickly and won superbly well. Taking on the three-year-olds like Roaring Lion and Masar will be far from easy, and especially giving weight, but he was class on the day. Sir Michael Stoute was crowned the winningmost trainer at Royal Ascot, beating the legendary Sir Henry Cecil. It’s great that it was Poet’s Word, a typical Stoute progressive four-year-old.

One horse I nominated to watch was Southern France who ran a really positive race when second in the Queens Vase behind stablemate Kew Gardens. He’s still improving and I really think he could reverse the placings should they meet in the final classic of the season. To make up that much ground in the final few furlongs really is encouraging, I hope you also backed him for the St Leger too.

Ascot is a great environment to be around, and I’m sure they will all flood through the gates tomorrow for an exciting day of racing. Away from fashion, hats and booze, winners are to be sourced and I’ll try my best once again.

2:30 (Norfolk)

The Norfolk is always an ultra-competitive contest and once again the two-year-old field is led by a Wesley Ward-trained runner in Shang Shang Shang. It’s hard to look past the filly who clocked some excellent times in her debut victory in America. Of course she will want the rain to stay away, and with that looking likely she can make a bold bid especially as she receives the weight allowances.

Vintage Brut sets a very high form standard and must be respected but don’t be surprised to see a big run from Kinks for Mick Channon. He was unlucky last time out and may be able to make amends here.

3:05 (Hampton Court)

I am a huge fan of Wadilsafa, who I think is a very exciting colt in the making and could have the class to take this competitive Group Three contest. He won with a fair bit of class at Newmarket last time, seeing off the horse that beat him pretty well and I imagine he’ll take a big step forward from that here. There should be more to come, I hope.

Masaarr is a horse that can outrun his odds, meanwhile the improving Fajjaj is coming here with a very solid each-way chance.

3:40 (Ribblesdale)

Another tough call between the form of Wild Illusion and the epic potential of Sun Maiden. I think the latter has caught my attention more, because after watching her maiden it’s hard not to think she will prove very good this season. She has been campaigned with this race in mind, and receives 3lb in the weights from the Oaks runner-up. Of course it’s early days, but she does look really special. Meanwhile Dancing Brave Bear and Highgarden could easily outrun their odds.

4:20 (Gold Cup)

I’ve taken a close look at the Ascot Gold Cup which should be a great race featuring Order Of St George and Big Orange here.

5:00 (Britannia)

At the start of the season I asked Hugo Palmer to nominate one horse to follow, and his answer was Corrosive. I told virtually everyone in my contacts book to back him at Yarmouth, and did so again when he won at Ascot last time – if he wins this it could be a personal highlight for me. The way he battled on well in both those starts was quite taking, he has a nice fair weight and is still open to loads of improvement this season. I imagine he’ll have progressed since his last run, and I hope he’ll take a fair bit of beating here.

Elsewhere keep an eye out for First Contact, Sam Gold and Ostillo for the place money.

5:35 (King George V)

Another horse I have been tracking fairly closely is the Charlie Appleby trained Cross Counter, who shaped extremely well in two wins before finishing a fair second last time. He has been targeted at this race, and under a fair weight I can see him running a big race.

At a bit of a bigger price take a look at Downdraft for Joseph O’Brien who shaped very well when a winner over a mile-and-a-quarter in Ireland last time. There could be a bit more to come from him over this trip, and on fast ground and he has subsequently been purchased by some powerful connections.

x
Suggested Searches:
The Sportsman
Manchester United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Premier League
Sportsman HQ
72-76 Cross St
Manchester M2 4JG
We will not ask you to provide any personal information when using The Sportsman website. You may see advertisement banners on the site, and if you choose to visit those websites, you will accept the terms and conditions and privacy policy applicable to those websites. The link below directs you to our Group Privacy Policy, and our Data Protection Officer can be contacted by email at: [email protected]

All original material is Copyright © 2019 by The Sportsman Communications Ltd.
Other material is copyright their respective owners.