It’s time for the fanciest, fabulous and glamorous week of the year. Royal Ascot returns for the midsummer event of the season. Some big names take to the track to battle it out in front of royalty, dignitaries and punters alike. Whose today’s NAP? Find out below.
Royal Rogue
NAP: Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Group Two) – Rogue Millennium @ 3/1 (William Hill)
Despite transitioning over to Ireland, Rogue Millennium is still a little inconsistent. She was hampered in the Lanwades Stud Stakes, trying to go down the inner. She switched to the outside but too late in the day. Today, she isn’t drawn much better in stall two, unlike in stall seven in last year’s race. But she performs on firmer ground, unlike some of her counterparts and she’s best rated in the field. She should, hopefully, have a little more luck in running this time around.
Not A Flailed Shot
E/W Bet: Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (GROUP ONE) – Alflaila @ 8/1 (BetVictor, Betfred, Boylesports)
Whilst everyone looks to the top of the market for the race of the day, there’s some value to be had with Alflaila. He won the Group Two Strensall Stakes on firm ground, and it’s clear it’s his preferred ground. He’s relatively unexposed at Group One level, after finishing fifth in the Irish Champion Stakes, but ran best of the rest after the top four battled it out between a length. He’s one of only a few horses that will perform on this sort of ground, and can run well in behind my main pick, Inspiral.
Roaring Success
Handicap Best: Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage H’cap) – Wild Tiger @ 9/1 (General)
Only three favourites have won this race, which makes the price of 9/1 all the more appealing. There are plenty of chances for everyone, but drawing up a pace map and looking at the results down the straight course yesterday, there’s an advantage down the outside. Wild Tiger is in amongst it in stall 20. He’s off the back of two wins and is climbing through the rankings. Only six pounds raised from his last run and still very well handicapped, he could be the fourth favourite to win the Royal Hunt Cup.
I also can’t escape Real Gain. He was disappointing in the Spring Cup on return, but you don’t have to go back far to realise his best performance came on firm ground. He may be feeling the effects of that win in handicap terms, but he has some advantages today. He’s drawn on the far side, which seems to be the trend on the straight course. He can come on from the run from Newbury and William Buick on board is significant. Nice price at 12/1 (BetVictor, Boylesports).
At a price, Talis Evolvere makes sense. With Joe Leavy claiming five pounds off his mark of 100, he can make a significant impact. The claimer has won on him at Newcastle and finished third with him in the Spring Cup at Newbury. Ryan Moore’s third on him last time out has kept the mark that is ideal for Talis Evolvere, but will have to tack over in the early stages to latch on to the pace. Proper each-way 18/1 (General).
Selections:
14:30 – Queen Mary Stakes (Group Two) – Leovanni @ 8/1 (Unibet), Maw Lam e/w @ 33/1 (General)
15:05 – Queen’s Vase (Group Two) – Highbury @ 100/30 (William Hill, Betfred, Boylesports), Mina Rashid e/ w @ 16/1 (William Hill)
15:45 – Duke Of Cambridge Stakes (Group Two) – ROGUE MILLENNIUM (NAP) @ 3/1 (William Hill)
16:25 – Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (GROUP ONE) – Inspiral @ 5/2 (William Hill) ALFLAILA (E/W) @ 8/1 (BetVictor, Betfred, Boylesports)
17:05 – Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage H’cap) – WILD TIGER (HB) @ 9/1 (General), Real Gain e/w @ 12/1 (BetVictor, Boylesports), Talis Evolvere e/w @ 18/1 (General)
17:40 – Kensington Palace Stakes – Doha @ 10/1 (General), Azahara Palace e/w @ 14/1 (William Hill), Villanvoa Queen e/w @ 22/1 (William Hill, 888Sport, Unibet)
18:15 – Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) – Hawaiian @ 10/1 (General), Cheval De Guerre e/w @ 20/1 (William Hill), Aviation Time e/w @ 28/1 (Boylesports)
Best of Luck!
