DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING

SATURDAY JUNE 21

2.30 ROYAL ASCOT – CHESHAM STAKES

A race dominated by Ballydoyle and Godolphin in recent times and their representatives, Moments Of Joy and Treanmor have attracted all the attention in the pre-race chat.

However, they do take a huge chunk out of the market and it can be argued that their form doesn’t amount to much, particularly Treanmor’s Newmarket win (very slow time), whereas HUMIDITY’s (best price 5-1) Newbury maiden success has been highlighted by pretty much every runners who has come out since.

There has been no fewer than four individual winners out of the race run at the Berkshire venue since and even the 14^th, Do Or Do Not, finished runner-up in the Coventry Stakes earlier in the week.

A colt with a beautiful stride and good attitude to boot, Andrew Balding’s inmate has been snapped up by the powerful Wathnan Racing team since and based on the data from his opening victory and likelihood of further improvement, their purchase looks made of solid foundations.

HUMIDITY – 1-point each-way@5-1

3.40 ROYAL ASCOT – QUEEN ELIZABETH 11 STAKES

Some races are just meant to be kept simple and that logic applies to the chances surrounding INISHERIN (best price 4-1) and FLORA OF BERMUDA (best price 10-1) based on their recent clash in the Duke Of York Stakes.

The former, impressive winner of last season’s Commonwealth Cup – upgraded on account of his poor draw (stall 1) – his last two performances, admittedly, were a little disappointing, but returning from wind surgery over the winter, he looked to back to his brilliant best on the Knavesmire.

In what turned out to be a strongly run Group 2, Kevin Ryan’s inmate showed plenty of grit and determination to withstand the late challenge of Flora Of Bermuda and with the pair well clear of the rest, it’s hard to knock the validity of the form.

Despite being good enough to pull through on the day, he still left the impression he would be all the better for the outing and the powerful four-year-old has strong claims in his bid to be the dominate force in this division.

The latter left the impression she badly needed the run at York, hitting the front before fading late on, but that effort was another step in the right direction for this likeable filly.

Winner of her side of the group when sixth in the Queen Mary two years ago, she backed up that excellent performance with another solid run over today’s track in last season’s Qipco Champion Sprint and now proven on a fast surface, she can provide Wathnan Racing with an instant return.

INISHERIN – 1-point win@4-1

FLORA OF BERMUDA – 1-point win@10-1

4.20 ROYAL ASCOT – JERSEY STAKES

The obvious race on paper for Jonquil looked to be this race, having run so well over a mile in the French 2000 Guineas, so the fact MARVELMAN (best price 9-2) does duty for the same stable is a bit of a tip in itself and Andrew Balding’s inmate deserves to be played accordingly.

The son of Invincible Spirit first sprung to prominence when running away with an all-weather novice event at Kempton on his seasonal bow, clocking a good time, and he stepped up on that performance with a run of some quality in a listed race at Newmarket last time out.

Although no match for Cosmic Year in the latter stages, it’s worth noting he finished well clear of the likes of Diego Ventura, La Botte and Symbol Of Light, and with the winner going on to put the cherry on top of the cake in the Irish 2000 Guineas behind Field Of Gold, his form credentials are there for all to see.

A colt with a long, powerful stride, seven furlongs seems to be his ideal trip and anything other than a positive display will go down as a big shock.

MARVELMAN – 1-point win@9-2

5.00 ROYAL ASCOT – WOKINGHAM

Richard Hannon hasn’t enjoyed the best of luck this week, but his horses have all run well and ARAMRAM (best price 7-1) is strongly fancied to providing him with a deserved success in this traditional cavalry charge.

Reliable as a Swiss clock in recent times, the four-year-old finally got his just rewards for a series of fine placed efforts at Newbury last time out and given the way he hit the line, he looks to be arriving here in the form of his life.

An uncompleted type who just eats, sleeps and repeats, a nice draw down the middle of track can set him up for yet another bold show in one of these big field handicaps which seem to suit his game.

ARAMRAM – 1-point each-way@7-1 (six places)

5.35 ROYAL ASCOT – GOLDEN GATES

Team Gosden and Balding have enjoyed exceptional week’s respectively and two of the leaders trainers look to have a strong hand here with ERNST BLOFELD (best price 10-1) and QUAI DE BETHUNE (best price 11-1).

Both ran in the London Gold Cup at Newbury, finishing third and fourth respectively and with the time figure suggesting they performed to a high standard, they make a decent amount of appeal on their current handicap marks.

The former ran as though still learning on the job and the first-time cheekpieces make plenty of sense, while the latter, arguably a little more straightforward, kept on well in the style of a horse who should relish this sort of test.

ERNST BLOFELD – ½ point each-way@10-1 (five places)

QUAI DE BETHUNE – ½ point each-way@11-1 (five places)