Thursday Royal Ascot Tips from Andy Holding

So many unknown quantities in every aspect, it’s hard to be too dogmatic about the final outcome of this three-year-old 1m4f handicap, but of the more unexposed members of the party who could easily be open to plenty of improvement, DEAUVILLE LEGEND (best price 16/1) makes the most appeal at the morning odds.

Promising in both his two starts in useful novice events as a juvenile, James Ferguson’s gelding reappeared at Windsor towards the backend of April and despite facing the might of two strongly-fancied Godolphin runners, he came through with flying colours. Always travelling sweetly at the Berkshire venue, there was a lot to like about the way he put the race to bed inside the final two-furlongs and with the overall time and backend sectionals backing up the visual aspect of the display, an assessment of 89 by the handicapper seems more than fair. Put away to protect that mark ever since and bred to relish a step up in trip, the son of Sea The Stars deserves more respect his position in the market affords him.

JUSTANOTHERBOTTLE (best price 15/4) gave away all chance in the Epsom Dash by rearing in the stalls, but providing he doesn’t repeat what happened 12 days ago, Kevin Ryan’s gelding can get back on track.

Wisely accepting the situation at the Surrey venue, at least Kevin Stott saved the eight-year-old having an unnecessary hard race and it’s best to concentrate on his more productive performances previously. A good second to Zarzyni at Musselburgh three starts ago, he had the likes of subsequent winners Fine Wine and Raasel behind him that day and his effort when fourth at Newmarket next time was equally impressive on the figures.

Winner of the Great St Wilfred here last season, the son of Intense Focus made it 2-2 at the Garden racecourse with another all-the-way victory on his final start to the campaign and with today’s small field providing him ample opportunity to get to the front early, he could be difficult to peg back.

With Trueshan a likely defector due to fast ground, most punters see this year’s Gold Cup between Kyprios and Stradivarius – and they might well be right – but if there is a smidgen of value to be had in the ranks of the outsiders, BURNING VICTORY (best price 20/1) stands out in that particular angle of approach.

Just shy of top class over hurdles, her technique over her obstacles often an Achilles heel, Willie Mullins’ mare has proven to be a very smart performer when having her attentions switched to the Flat and if repeating her fine runner-up effort in last season’s Cesarewitch at Newmarket, she has a decent squeak of making the frame at the very least.

In what can only be described a brutal test at HQ, only eventual winner Buzz and her could maintain the gallop all the way to the line and with the pair well clear of a stellar field of top-quality handicappers, it’s not a far-fetched view to suggest the front two ran to Group standard. Hailing from a yard never a million miles away with their runners in all the big staying contests in recent times, the daughter of Nathaniel can go well at a big price.

One of the most difficult races of the entire week with so many improving unexposed types going to post and then when you add in the vagaries of the drawn and pace aspect to proceedings, the puzzle becomes even hardy to decipher. That said, there’s a decent chance WHOPUTFIFTYINYOU (best price 6/1) remains a well-handicapped horse, especially in light of what happened here on Tuesday and, as a result, Clive Cox’s colt has to be one of the first names down on the team sheet.

Unbeaten in four starts, the son of Twilight Son was trying a mile for the first time in the hot Silver Bowl Handicap at Haydock last time out and in what turned out to be a very strongly run race, he came through with flying colours. Held up towards the rear, he was still in last place at the three-furlong pole but from that juncture onwards, he stayed on powerfully to gun down the heavily-backed favourite, Mighty Ulysses.

Given what the runner-up went on to achieve in Group 1 company on the first day on the meeting, this improving chestnut clearly run to a very high standard and when you also consider he went over the line with his ears pricked, it’s highly likely there’s still plenty more to come. Providing he ends up being on the right side of the draw, he simply has to be involved.

Another worth a strong mention is AMORTENTIA (best price 10/1), who represents a team who finally laid their Ascot hoodoo to rest in spectacular fashion here yesterday (0-54 going into the Prince Of Wales’ Stakes). Gelded during the winter following three promising performances against quality maiden opposition on home soil, Joseph O’Brien’s grey warmed up for a tilt at this prize in the best possible fashion with a display of some note at Naas on handicap debut.

Confidently ridden towards the rear of field, the son of Caravaggio still had loads to do as the field turned for home, but with a long, withering run from the three-furlong pole, he ended up winning going away with a bit to spare. Considering the round track at Co Kildare venue is often a front runners haven, his effort is massively upgradable and with a run-style that should be well-suited to the demands of today’s stiff track, the lightly-raced three-year-old makes more appeal than most.

WITH LOVE (best price 7/4) shaped with a huge amount of promise in a hot maiden on her debut at The Curragh and with today’s step up in trip likely to bring about further improvement, the daughter of Territories can strike a blow for her relatively (in-form) small stable.

As is always the case, two-year-old maidens at the Co Kildare venue are always chocked full of smart types from powerful yards, so the mere fact she was sent there strongly suggested connections were confident she would acquit herself with credit – and so it proved. A little outpaced as the tempo increased two out, she picked up nicely in the latter stages to hit the line hard in fourth and with the speed figure hinting it was a fair race of its kind, Kevin Coleman clearly has a smart filly on his hands.

Form-wise, the race has already begun to take shape with the fifth horse bolting up at Gowran last Sunday, so even though a good deal of respect goes out to the two previous winners Cash Or Crypto and Vice De Palio, she’s fancied to put one over on the colts.

Another race akin to doing a thousand piece baked bean jigsaw puzzle, but for the sadists out there, both CHIEFOFCHIEFS (best price 14/1) and SNAZZY JAZZY (best price 50/1) are offered up as small each-way interests against the field.

The former could make his own way to the Berkshire track, so familiar he is with the surroundings, and his latest effort over the C&D suggests he still has plenty to offer over the much-fabled straight course. Noted going well down to the halfway stage of the Victoria Cup back in early May, Charlie Fellows’ gelding got repeatedly stopped in his run from that point onwards and in the end, Hayley Turner gave up the ghost when realising his winning chance had gone.

Although it’s difficult to say with any degree of certainty where he would have finished, there’s a fair chance he would have been in the money at worst, and with regular pilot, Jamie Spencer, sure to employ his usual waiting tactics on his mount, the nine-year-old looks set to be a fun watch for his supporters.

The latter, as of yet, hasn’t quite hit the heights as the main selection over today’s course, but with a recent gelding operation allowing to take his game to another level, there’s a decent chance he can buck the trend. A good fourth behind subsequent Group 2 winner Brad The Brief at Haydock on his seasonal bow, Lawrence Mullaney’s inmate went on to produce a career-high at the ripe old age of seven by lowering the colours of a useful field of sprinters at Hamilton next time.

Clocking a big number for the grade at the Scottish venue, the son of Red Jazz beat several who have already gone on to boost the form since and with today’s extra furlong likely to aid his cause no end, odds of 33-1 seem a little out of kilter with his chance based on his speed figures.