The Neighsayers - Royal Ascot Day 2 Review

 Royal Ascot Day 2 Review

Queen Mary

Fascinating race and fair! Best horses came to the fore, apart from the smash up KASSAYA. She was short of room when the race quickened and race was over there. She’ll be certain to tackle 6 furlongs next I think looking at her page, maybe the Princess Margret Stakes at Ascot, fillies F3. The only real hard luck story I could see. 

LEOVANNI looks proper, travels and finds, everything you could ask for. MAW LAM the eye-catcher here for me, last in her group and quite possibly last overall as they came inside the two pole, she really quickened final 150 yards. She could be a very, very live player in the Lowther at York, even more likelier given her geographical location. MAKE HASTE a no show here, bit keen early doors. Would give her another chance next time with big day experience, conditions race at Goodwood previously won by The Platinum Queen a possible shout, if this hasn’t blown her brains.

Queen’s Vase

MEYDAAN wants dropping in trip, 12f is his absolute max, wouldn’t be adverse to seeing him over 10 again, although that’s unlikely as he won over that on debut. Travelled as well as any, just unable to find anything. ILLINOIS best horse in the race and showed a willing attitude, due to the nature of the race immediate shouts of the Leger, but I’d be disappointed if there wasn’t one better than him. THE EQUATOR a nice horse, strange pedigree related to sprinters, would like so see him over 12f though. IMPERIAL SOVEREIGN wants not a yard further than 10 furlongs, wouldn’t mind the “Kincsem Handicap” at Goodwood.

Duke of Cambridge 

RUNNING LION benefited from a canny rude from Oisin here. Stayed out of the hustle and bustle early, got position in front and never saw another rival. Another that’s likely to over bet next time. MAGICAL SUNSET the one to take from the race I think, came from the farthest back and staying on all the way home. Could definitely pick up a listed race, maybe even a group 3 on this showing. Brief touch on Lewis’ antepost selection OCEAN JEWEL, seemed travelled okay but found little when push came to shove, no real excuses but if you’re looking for one, she was on the only one to travel 3 wide all the way but she still showed little.

Prince of Wales’ 

The French have had a shocking week, why come to England and race at extreme pace, set by their own horses when they don’t do this for the other 51 weeks of the year. AUGUSTE RODIN has been tough to predict previously, but seems we’ve finally found the time to back him. Strong pace and rattling fast ground, showed a great attitude to hold off the challengers. ALFLAILA will undoubtably tighten up for the run and hopefully run on a day when Shadwell have to split their jockey’s up… ROYAL RHYME can be a real player in group 1’s toward the back end of the season, needs soft ground and wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in France at some point before Champions Day. It was a strange decision to see INSPIRAL pointed in this direction before the POW and looked even stranger after. Slow away, never looked comfortable and found very little. Lambs to the slaughter really, put Shoemark in a vulnerable position when as a jockey there he’s done very little wrong. No doubt she’ll be campaigned back at a mile in the UK again before stepping back up to 11f round Del-Mar as it is this year.

Royal Hunt Cup

HOLLOWAY BOY the obvious one to take from this, had to sit and suffer for a long way in relative terms, when everyone else was winding up top speed he was sat with nowhere to go, ran on well when in the clear. Horse seems to love Ascot and will be campaigned here strictly I’d say from here. Quinny suggests the Moet & Chandon International Handicap for him, dropping to 7 furlongs but should be fine. WILD TIGER can be upgraded here for me also, did the donkey work up the middle and was much more prominent than anything else that featured. Has to be black type level. MIRSKY must collect a nice pot soon, knowing the O’meara yard it’ll be a Goodwood or York, keep an eye on his entries. DUTCH DECOY showed he’s still in form here, certain to run his race on the Newmarket July course. BLUE FOR YOU back on his last winning mark, will be lower after this. Moved okay through the race for a horse that finished 21st but horses for courses etc etc and his is York.

Kensington Palace

ROWAYEH ready for 10F now I think, seemed to have grown up over the winter and would keep the hood away as they’ve done here. Much better from her. VICTORIA FALLS yet again caught the eye. Can appreciate why she’d run here solid prize money but god she was a certainty in the right race, probably goes up 6 here for placing. CANOODLED was disappointed to see her here, hope she comes out okay and can go to Newmarket next week, the race highlighted for her after Epsom. AZAHARA PALACE nice run here, as much as she was outclassed, she showed enough encouragement that she can run okay, find a 4YO+ anywhere downwards from a 85 capped race. Should get slightly further than the mile too.

Windsor Castle

Good fun watching GABALDON blaze a trail here, serious speed. Would love to see him back round a bend in the US. AVIATION TIME gave another positive advert to the Hilary Needler form here, following on from the Queen Mary 3rd. Does Nad Alshiba Show have a chance in the Albany, she was 4th in that race. RUDI’S APPLE flew home late on the stand side rail, pedigree says that wants further too so look forward to that up 7 furlongs. END OF STORY showed ability here, just fell foul to the draw in the end.

Again another great days racing with the best horses on the day coming out in front, bar maybe Holloway Boy, he was the real one to take out of this. Credit to Chris Stickles for the ground they’ve produced as-well, a very fair racing surface and more importantly, SAFE, showing fast ground racing can work.