DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING

FRIDAY JUNE 20

2.30 ROYAL ASCOT – ALBANY STAKES

Venetian Sun has been all the rage in the ante-post lists since making a sparkling debut at Carlisle a month ago, posting a very fast time in the process, but as we have seen here all week, stall one does present a problem for Karl Burke’s filly and at the current prices, she is passed over on this occasion.

Given the week that Aidan O’Brien is having with his juveniles. It would be a brave man to cast aside Signora following her promising effort on debut but the Ballydoyle inmate might not have things all her own way here against another couple of useful fillies from these shores in the shape of FITZELLA (best price 5-1) and GOLD DIGGER (best price 10-1).

The former has also not been ignored in the build up to this prize in recent weeks and the confidence behind her has a decent chance of being upheld if she can run to the level she achieved at Haydock last time out.

Keen to make full use of her experience gained over today’s track on debut, Hugo Palmer’s filly was soon into her stride at the Merseyside venue and after setting solid fractions from the start, she proved too strong for her five rivals from two furlongs out.

Posting a smart speed figure, it was good to see the form enhanced by the third, Bella Lyra, at Windsor last week and having seemingly bagged a favourable draw towards the nearside rail, the daughter of Too Darn Hot gains a confident vote to go well.

The latter had a decent reputation heading into her first start at Yarmouth and she didn’t disappoint, quickening up smartly to lower the colours of some equally well-touted rivals.

Although her time figure just falls short of several in today’s line-up, her final three-furlong split (32.1) and top speed (43.6) hit during the contest at the seaside certainly more than makes up for that slight deficiency, and given the way Jamie Spencer rode her 37 days ago, you just see her being switched right off out the back before being delivered with a devastating blow late on.

FITZELLA – 1-point win@5-1

GOLD DIGGER – 1-point win@10-1

3.05 ROYAL ASCOT – COMMONWEALTH CUP

Shadows Of Light undoubtedly sets the standard here with his cracking effort in the 2000 Guineas but it is worth bearing in mind, things haven’t quite worked out for the Charlie Appleby team here this week for whatever reason and the safest option could well be to go down the route of the only C&D winner in the field, BIG MOJO (best price 16-1).

Winner of last season’s Molecomb at Goodwood, Michael Appleby’s colt has proven that he has trained on as a three-year-old in both his two starts to date this term and following a pleasing return to action here in April, he went on to run an eye-catching race in the Sandy Lane, a good form guide towards the Commonwealth Cup over the years.

Held up towards the rear at the Merseyside circuit, the son of Mohaather was just about to be produced with what looked a potent challenge two out when he got the door well and truly slammed in his faced and while the first three home all received luxurious passages to the line, he didn’t have enough time to recover and had to settle for a minor role.

Given the way he hit the line, however, it is safe to upgrade his performance and housed handily right down the middle of the course, anything like a clearer run on this occasion should be good enough for him to pick plenty of scalps at the business end.

BIG MOJO – ½ point each-way@16-1 (five places)
3.40 ROYAL ASCOT – DUKE OF EDINBURGH

Up until last year, all of the previous 13 winners of this tough, competitive handicap were drawn in double figures, so on the basis of one swallow doesn’t make a summer, it’s probably best to stay loyal to the overriding trend.

Of those housed wide, MOUNT ATLAS (best price 8-1) has seemingly plenty in his favour and from a yard who are enjoying a good week, Andrew Balding’s gelding could provide the Kingsclere handler further cheer.

Last time out, the four-year-old proved good enough to finish a close-up fifth in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester and with the winner, Illinois, and runner-up, Al Qareem going on to boost the form since, he looks quite well treated heading back into handicap company.

A game winner over this C&D last season, he also went on to finish a creditable runner-up in arguably the most competitive three-year-old middle-distance handicap of the season at Newmarket towards the backend of the campaign and with connections no doubt having one eye on this prize for some time, the son of Masar can go a long way to execute the plan.

MOUNT ATLAS – 1-point each-way@8-1

4.20 ROYAL ASCOT – CORONATION STAKES

Zarigana was quite rightly handed the French 1000 Guineas in the steward’s room last time out and it probably all boils down to whether she handles tomorrow’s track under lightening quick conditions (yet to race on ground with the word ‘firm’ in going description).

One who will not mind the ground is JANUARY (best price 8-1) and she is fancied to leave behind a bit of a no-show in the Irish 1000 Guineas.

Reading the comments made by Aidan O’Brien prior to the first Irish Classic of the season, similar to the vibes he gave out about Lake Victoria in the English version, the master of Ballydoyle was keen to stress how much the daughter of Kingman was likely to come on for the run at the Kildare venue.

Although not disgraced by any means, true to his word, she ran accordingly and it would come as no surprise to see her take a huge leap forward following that initial performance.

On a line through her two encounters with Desert Flower last season, January doesn’t have too much to find with most of tomorrow’s rivals and having posted her best speed figure last season on fast ground, a hold-up ride from her high draw should allow her to come through strongly down the straight.

JANUARY – 1-point each-way@8-1

5.00 ROYAL ASCOT – SANDRINGHAM HANDICAP

It’s a good job SUPERMODEL (best price 15-2) didn’t run on Ladies Day otherwise bookmakers would have been inundated with the once-a-year fiver and tenner merchants, but jokes aside, William Haggas’ filly is potentially the most talented in the field and the only thing that stops her from being maximum stakes material is her draw.

Encountering decent ground for the first time at Nottingham on her seasonal bow, she settled into a comfortable rhythm off the strong pace set up front and when asked to go through the gears down the straight, she quickened readily to pull clear of her toiling rivals.

Posting a very fast time figure for a race of its kind, she looked a filly some way clear of her mark and with tomorrow’s contest nominated as the obvious target once the dust settled at the Midland venue, only being positioned on the wrong side of the track can prevent her from being a potent threat to all.

Just in case the far side end up being a million against those towards the stands side rai, it’s probably best not to put all eggs in one basket with Supermodel and have an extra string to your bow with BETTY CLOVER (best price 11-1) from stall 23.

Not only has she got smart form as a juvenile over tomorrow’s course, her performance when runner-up to yesterday’s Group 1 heroine Crimson Advocate reads well in the context of today’s race and hailing from a yard who struck with Havana Hurricane earlier in the week, a big run looks on the cards.

SUPERMODEL – ½ -point each-way@15-2 (six places)

BETTY CLOVER – ½ point each-way@11-1 (six places)

5.35 ROYAL ASCOT – KING EDWARD STAKES

Johnny Murtagh rode an amazing 48 winners at the Royal meeting over the years yet the Irishman has only managed to train just one winner since transitioning to the trainer ranks but there’s a strong possibility, he could double his account with ZAHRAAN (NAP) (best price 7-2) in this three-year-old, middle-distance prize.

Unraced as a two-year-old, the son of Night Of Thunder has really come of age in a short space of time and his latest victory at Leopardstown was impressive for a variety of reasons.

The main feature of his effort at the Dublin venue, though, was the fact he came from last to first in the short home straight and, at a track renown for favouring those on the speed, his display needed a serious amount of upgrading.

Slow away in his last two starts, another likely tardy beginning here tomorrow should actually work in his favour, as his strong burst of speed in the latter stages of his races can be seen to full effect once sling shotting the field in the home straight.

ZAHRAAN – 2-point win@7-2

6.10 ROYAL ASCOT – PALACE OF HOLYROOD

This three-year-old sprint should be run at a breakneck pace with Hammer The Hammer and Ruby’s Rocket blazing down the middle to nearside of the track and ZAHER (best price 12-1), positioned in the right place to following their vapour trails, could well turn out to be the chief beneficiary of how this race pans out.

Archie Watson’s inmate made a perfectly respectable start to his campaign with a promising effort at Sandown but it was his latest effort at York which really signalled he was one to bear in mind for a big pot.

Flopping out of the stalls and detached at halfway on the Knavesmire, he really turned on the afterburners in the latter stages and by the time he hit the line, he was bearing down on the main players.

On the evidence of that display, a stiffer five-furlongs would be much more suitable and providing he hits the lids with a bit more purpose this time around, he has the quality to come good where it matters most.

ZAHER – ½ point each-way@12-1 (six places)