Tote Placepot Tips for Saturday's Racing at Royal Ascot

Leg 1 Selections: ALFRED MUNNINGS, ALZAHIR

The fifth and final day of Royal Ascot kickstarts with the Chesham Stakes, where ALFRED MUNNINGS will be fancied to enhance his stable's excellent record in this race. His trainer, Aidan O’Brien, is seeking a fifth winner in this race in the last six years and this son of Dubawi looked a monster on debut when showing a good turn of foot to quicken away from his rivals last month. Held in high regard, there will be many long faces if he can’t justify favouritism, so he is a must for the shortlist on leg one. 

John Gosden saddles three runners with preference for ALZAHIR, who’s the choice of Frankie Dettori, and showed a lot of ability when a close-up second on debut at Yarmouth. The fact that Frankie has opted for him over the stables two debutant winners suggests major improvement is expected from this Sea The Stars colt and he looks the viable alternative to the favourite in the opener. Crypto Force looked good on debut in Ireland but this demands more and he may be found out in the latter stages. 

Leg 2 Selections: ROCCHIGIANI, SAMBURU, STAR GIRLS AALMAL 

The Group Three Jersey Stakes looks a high-class renewal for the grade and I have three suggestions. The first one is ROCCHIGIANI who’s second in Germany last time was boosted when the winner Maljoom returned a very unlucky loser when fourth in the St James' Palace earlier this week. This three-year-old is clearly worth his position in the line-up and could be tough to peg back if able to gain a prominent role from stall 11 under suitable conditions. 

SAMBURU has done nothing but improve with each start and he kept his unbeaten record firmly intact when winning with a bit to spare at York last time. This is a completely different test, but Frankie has picked him over the stables’ two other runners and, with the cheekpieces applied, he’s dangerous to dismiss.

STAR GIRLS AALMAL ran a blinder when fourth in the Irish 1000 Guineas and the drop in trip/grade will be no issue, so she’s worth another chance and should be capable of hitting the frame in leg two. 

Leg 3 Selections: HURRICANE LANE, BROOME

Despite conceding fitness to nearly all rivals, three-time Group One winner HURRICANE LANE will be hard to beat in the Hardwicke Stakes if close to his best. He had an excellent three-year-old campaign, winning three Group One’s which included the Irish Derby and the St Leger and gave a bold account of himself when narrowly denied into third in the Arc at Longchamp on his final start. Luckily, he escapes a penalty, so it’s hard to look past him here with the best form on offer and more to come with bigger fish to fry later into the season. 

If, for some strange reason he does underperform, which is highly doubtful, the Aidan O’Brien-trained BROOME might be able to go one better than he did twelve months ago. He’s also a Group One winner and the last time he ran on this sort of ground, he was an excellent second in the Breeders' Cup Turf, so conditions will be perfect. He had shaped as if in need of his return when fifth in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and, now that he’s expected to be fitter, Ryan Moore can make sure the favourite doesn’t have it all his own way here. He should, at the very least, fill the runner-up spot in this event for leg three. 

Leg 4 Selections: SACRED, MINZAAL, KINROSS

An excellent feature race of the day, the Platinum Jubilee, and I think the William Haggas-trained SACRED can make her class tell on return to the highest level. A very impressive winner of the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury on her final start last term, she went close at this meeting two years ago when second to Campanelle in the Queen Mary. It’s interesting to see connections persevere with her over this sprint trip after ten months off and she should be suited to the nature of this race, as she’s a strong-traveller with a potent turn of foot. If she can perform to anything near her best under Tom Marquand, she’s got a great chance. 

MINZAAL has been laid out for this all season and has some seriously good form in the book despite not seeing him that often, as proven when third behind Creative Force over track and trip on Champions Day back in October. He shaped well on his return when third in a Group Two at York against race-fit rivals and will be extremely well-suited to the strong-pace scenario on offer here, so he’s high on the shortlist and I’ll be disappointed if he can’t figure prominently here.

Ralph Beckett’s KINROSS has been unlucky in a couple of Group One’s and should have come on for last month's encouraging Haydock return when third, so he could easily reach the frame and eliminate some units. 

Leg 5 Selections: APOLLO ONE, URBAN BEAT, SUMMERGHAND, WARRIOR BRAVE

This is an ultra-open affair of the Wokingham Stakes, but APOLLO ONE got back to form when second at Chelmsford three weeks ago and has Benoit De La Sayette in the saddle, who claims five-pounds. He was narrowly denied off 100 at Newmarket over this distance on similar ground by Blackrod and is weighted to reverse the form here. He ran well on his only previous visit here in a Group Three when a close-up fourth behind Rohaan, so he’s got course form, is well-treated off 98 and has an excellent claimer in the saddle. With all his experience to draw upon, he should go very well here despite this being fiercely competitive. 

URBAN BEAT should strip fitter for his return in a Group Two and has a touch of class. He’s generally very consistent and goes well on this sort of ground. He’s won and ran some very good races in big-field handicaps around this mark and the booking of Frankie Dettori is interesting. He could make a bold effort with the cheekpieces reapplied. 

SUMMERGHAND was last successful in a Listed event and has proven himself in Group company too. He’s got loads of good form in big-field handicaps and was beaten just a short-head in this race two years ago off this exact mark under James Doyle. He’s got solid claims. Warrior Brave, who’s well-treated, completes the quartet. 

Leg 6 Selections: ALDOUS HUXLEY, KNIGHTSWOOD 

George Boughey has a nice chance with Missed The Cut in the Golden Gates Stakes, who has powered clear to record two facile victories since his debut fourth. But, that said, ALDOUS HUXLEY was in front of the former by six-lengths when the pair clashed at Newmarket on much worse terms and was just denied in a Listed event when last spotted. While Missed the Cut was making his debut, the latter has Benoit claiming five-pounds, so is confidently selected to confirm his superiority here with the return to better ground also in his favour. 

Mark Johnston’s KNIGHTSWOOD shaped very nicely when third on debut on the all-weather and has won back-to-back events since switching to the turf from the front in recent weeks. He’s a very straightforward horse, who appears to have been let in lightly here on handicap debut, and Jason Hart deservedly retains the ride. It won’t be easy trying to dictate matters in this race, but he’s going the right way and while this demands another personal best, he may well be equal to the task.

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