Saturday Royal Ascot Tips from Andy Holding

By-and-large, course and distance form has held up nicely here this week and with ALFLAILA (best price 9-1) the only one of today’s field to fit that criteria in this seven-furlong contest, Owen Burrows’ colt can make that valuable experience count.

Fourth behind today’s favourite, Noble Truth, at listed level at Doncaster last season, he rounded off the campaign with a decent effort behind subsequent Guineas hero Coroebus. Using a quality handicap as a platform to build on for the rest of this campaign, the son of Dark Angel ended up running out an impressive winner and with the feature of his performance the way he travelled before quickening sharply late on, similar tactics should serve him well on his return visit.

PACHMENA (best price 12-1) proved no match for the progressive Rosscarberry at Roscommon last time out, but it was still a performance to warrant significant interest in today’s event.

Slightly below-par without her usual cheekpieces behind Atavique at Sligo previously, the headgear was back on for her latest assignment and on the evidence of what we witnessed at the Lenebane venue, the difference was very apparent. Staying on strongly from three out, Gavin Cromwell’s mare at least kept the well-fancied winner honest all the way to the line and when you consider she was up against a filly who has won a Group race since and, she was well clear of the rest, her effort has to go down as a career high. Third to another subsequent Group-race winner in the shape of Forebearance on her only previous visit to today’s track, the daughter of Sir Percy has a better body of work than her morning odds imply.

An unprecedented 27 runners go to post for this prestigious Group 1 sprint and it comes as little surprise to see Aussie raider Home Affairs a popular choice with the punters. Whether he quite deserves to be quite as short in the betting, though, is open to debate and given that he’s unproven over a stiff six-furlongs, he’s passed over in favour of both HIGHFIELD PRINCESS (best price 16-1) and MINZAAL (best price 14-1), who do bring solid C&D form to the table.

The former is already a Royal Ascot winner courtesy of her victory in the Buckingham Palace Stakes last season and since then she’s improved out of all recognition, deservedly now dining at the very top table. Indeed, her latest victory in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes was achieved in her fastest speed figure and on the evidence of that display she looked better than ever. In what looks likely to be a very strongly run race today, the fact she stays seven furlongs isn’t a bad thing and it’s just a case of whether her draw over towards the far side doesn’t end up holding her back.

The latter has a bit to find with her old rival on his latest encounter, but given that Owen Burrows went on record to say his horse would need the race beforehand, it wasn’t a bad return considering it was his first run for 207 days. The way he travelled on the Knavesmire suggested he retains all his swagger and having run a career high in last season’s Champions Sprint over today’s C&D, a return to this stiff six-furlongs will no doubt suit. Additionally, today’s fast ground will suit and providing he

gets plenty of cover from his low draw towards the far side, he’s fancied to come through strongly in the latter stages.

Archie Watson has already tasted success here earlier in the week and there’s a decent chance the Lambourn handler is not finished just yet as he sends TABDEED (best price 16-1) to post in this tricky puzzle with fairly solid credentials.

Placed at listed level for Owen Burrow last season, his best effort coming when he was runner-up to Great Ambassador at York, the son of Havana Gold has trod a similar path so far this term and with his latest performance coming out extremely well on the speed figures, it’s clear he’s continuing along the same trajectory. Said to not want extremes in terms of ground, today’s conditions should turn out to be ideal and with his middle draw set to provide Hollie Doyle with plenty of options of which group to track, the seven-year-old chestnut can hopefully reward each-way support.

Frankie Dettori will feel all the better for getting the monkey of his back with Inspiral here yesterday and with his confidence now back to normal levels, the Italian can strike gold again aboard HONITON (best price 5-1) in this tricky-looking three-year-old handicap.

Frustrating many with inability to get off the mark on his first three starts this season, John & Thady Gosden’s colt put matters right in no uncertain terms at Sandown last time out, quickening right away in the closing stages to score in a fast time. Obviously, he found life much easier not taking on the likes of Eldar Eldarov, Secret State and My Prospero like he had done previously, but there was something really taking about the way he went about his work at the Esher track. Sure to be buoyed by his new-found confidence, a clear passage here today should see him right in the thick of the action at the business end.

CALLING THE WIND (NAP) (best price 12-1) was a gallant runner-up in this race last season and, with connections no doubt keen to have another crack at going one place better for quite some time, Richard Hughes’ gelding rates a solid each-way proposition with most firms offering four places.

Progressive all through last season, he also proved his versatility regarding distances as he was good enough to finish third in a stellar renewal of the Cesarewicth prior to running a blinder in the November handicap over six-furlongs shorter. Despite that excellent effort over 1m4f on Town Moor, Richard Hughes’ gelding is undoubtable better over further and that view has been borne out by his two efforts so far this term. Although in no way disgraced at either Doncaster or Goodwood, he’s just struggled against genuine Group-race performers over that trip, but now returning to the scene of one of his career-high displays without having the guts ripped out of him, everything looks cherry-ripe for him to shine again.

FOX HILL (best price 7-1) has really retuned to form with a bang since being fitted with a visor and with her latest solid effort coming over tonight’s C&D, Eric Alston’s mare can go well again on returning to one of her favourite venues.

Although yet to score at the Merseyside track, she’s yet to finish out of the frame in four starts and her effort when runner-up to Cuban Breeze here nine days ago could have gone either way in a bobbing finish. Prior to that display, she’d slammed a useful field to the tune of three lengths in the first-time headgear at Nottingham and if she’s allowed to dominate in a similar vein here this evening, the daughter of Foxwedge has a decent chance of making all.