ITM Plus Free Preview - Rob Dove gives Friday Royal Ascot thoughts
Pro Punter Rob Dove was on Fire Thursday - Check him out Friday at Royal Ascot
Albany Stakes (6f Group 3, 2yo F)
Gold Digger was very impressive to me on debut, 260k breeze up missed the break by a length or so but cruised through the the race and quickened up well with some fast sectionals to get past Awaken (who I also wouldn’t rule out here), the time was ok with sectional upgrades & there could be much more to come. This looks a strong field there are multiple ways you could go but Venetian Sun looks worth a go to me, the trainer is really sweet on her & was already talking about this race for her before she won at Carlisle, after the race he said this is the first time she’d been off the bridle, that form is nothing special but she wasn’t doing alot in front and that run plus the step up in trip should see a big improvement.
Commonwealth Cup (6f Group 1, 3yo)
Shadow Of Light looks pretty solid here, the champion 2 year old came back in the 2000 Guineas and ran a huge race, quickening in to the race like the winner but just got outstayed up the hill by 2 nice colts, well clear of the third that looks very strong form. It is a strong field however and I’m not sure how much value we’ll get backing the favourite. With a tailwind forecast I’m interested in a couple of outsiders that ran into a headwind last time, Arizona Blaze & Arabian Dusk ran in the same race at Haydock into a headwind & neither had cover, Arabian Dusk ran a really good race just losing out in a photo & she may be on the improve, Arizona Blaze weakened out of it but maybe was on the worst part of the track as well & he’s run some good races previously.
Coronation Stakes (1m round Group 1, 3yo F)
Falakeyah cuts back to a mile here after setting a setting a strong pace at Newmarket racing keenly , that time was good but she’ll need a bit more here & she could just set the race up for Zarigana who won the French 1000 Guineas off a slow pace running some very fast closing sectionals, she looks the most likely winner to me. The one I’m interested in at a bigger price is Flight who I thought ran a huge race in the 1000 Guineas, she raced away from the winner who ran more even sectionals than her. She was disappointing in Ireland since but I think that race was a mess for her, she was held up off a slow pace & keen, when the pace quickened she couldn't go with them and got buffeted around, this likely strongly run contest should suit her more & if she can step forward for fitness from Newmarket she’s got a real chance.
King Edward VII Stakes (1m4f Group 2, 3yo )
Amiloc is a horse I’ve been following this season after really powering home at Kempton off a slow pace to mow down a good horse , on his first run of the season he was weak in the betting suggesting he probably needed the run but again he powered home in good time, upped in trip last time he was racing lazily early on but again powered home looking like he had more to give with competition. This is quite a strong race with Zahrann showing a nice turn of foot in Ireland last time & Puppet Master potentially improving but Amiloc looks like he’s got the ability to win Group 1’s to me so (sadly not the Arc no geldings allowed) & reminds me of his sire Postponed who won the King George here over course & distance.
Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes (5f handicap)
With a tailwind forecast on lightening quick ground this should be all about speed & a couple that interest me at the prices are Ruby’s Profit who is lightening quick early as she showed at Epsom last time, it was a headwind that day though and she got mowed down by a couple out the back. The other one is Candy who looks interesting on the cut back in trip , he’s been overmatched on his last 2 starts fading late (into a headwind as well last time) & might regain some form here.
Selections
2:30 (17) Venetian Sun & (6) Gold Digger
3:05 (9) Shadow Of Light & (3) Arizona Blaze E/W & (13) Arabian Dusk E/W
4:20 (7) Flight E/W
5:35 (1) Amiloc
6:10 (13) Ruby’s Profit E/W & Candy E/W