2021 Royal Ascot Thursday Tips by Dave Stevos
2021 Royal Ascot Thursday Tips and Preview
Thursday was a day to forget. Seven tips and not even a place. The majority of them had no excuses and simply weren’t good enough. However, Hortzadar is most definitely one to keep onside. Jamie Spencer rode him for luck and didn’t get any. The horse never even came off the bridle and yet he was only 5L off 3rd. There is definitely a big handicap in him when things fall right. Let’s hope Day 3 goes better for us, 2021 Royal Ascot Thursday tips and previews are below.
2.30 – Norfolk Stakes (Group 2)
This year’s Norfolk Stakes looks an open renewal. A field of 16 are due to go to post and the ground remains on the quick side. The one I like at a nice each way price is Korker for Karl Burke and Cliff Lee. This son of Dandy Man ran a big race on debut at York. He was beat just a head by Project Dante (7/1 today) over 5f on good to soft ground. Given how that race unfolded, I am surprised to see him over double the odds of that rival. Korker fell out of the stalls and came with a late run. Project Dante was more professional and was always in the right position.
Korker ran on softer ground next time at Carlisle (5f) where he shed his maiden tag. He was faster out of the stalls but he made pretty hard work of it. Cliff Lee had to give him a couple of liveners but he eventually edged clear to score by half a length. I think good ground will suit this horse and he should enjoy today’s conditions a lot more than the proper soft ground at Carlisle. Odds of 16/1 look too big to me and he is well worth chancing each way.
2021 Royal Ascot Thursday Tips: Korker e/w @ 16/1 NB (4 Places )
3.05 – Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3)
Rapid improver Mohaafeth heads the market in this 10f Group 3. His 2yo form wasn’t up to much but the son of Frankel matured nicely from 2yo to 3yo and he has won all three starts this season. William Haggas’ charge landed an 8f novice at Lingfield on his return. He then scored in a handicap off 85 at Newmarket (10f gd) before scooting home in a Listed heat over the same C&D on good to firm. He hasn’t really been put to the pin of his collar yet though. It will be interesting to see what happens if he has to fight for the win.
Ascot missed most of the rain in the early hours and on this lovely ground, Matchless could go well. He ran poorly behind Earlswood last time at the Curragh on soft/heavy. However, on his previous start at Leopardstown he was only 5.5L behind Poetic Flare over 7f (gd) with Snapraeterea a further length behind. He got outpaced before keeping on again in the closing stages in that race and it looked like he would benefit from a step up In trip. He gets that here and he also gets to race on the quickest ground he has encountered so far. That can often elicit a good bit of improvement from Galileo’s progeny.
Seamie Heffernan has been on board for all four of this fella’s runs and he retains the ride today. Matchless doesn’t look the most straightforward type and he has a bit of a high head carriage. However, he is by Galileo and he could improve 10/15lbs on this quicker ground. On his Leopardstown run he shouldn’t be five times the price of Snapraeterea. At odds of 66/1, a small e/w interest is advised.
2021 Royal Ascot Thursday Tips: Matchless e/w @ 66/1
3.40 – Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2)
If the forecast rain had come I think Twisted Reality would hold strong claims in this 12f Group 2. She is by Fastnet Rock so there is a good chance she will take to the quicker ground but her two runs so far suggests she enjoys a bit of cut. John Gosden and Aidan O’Brien have won 6 of the last 7 renewals and Gosden is attempting to win this race for the third time in a row. He runs three here and Frankie is on Gloria Mundi. She won on debut at Newbury by a nose (10f gd) and she then chased home Eshaada in a Listed heat over the same C&D. There was only a neck between them and it is likely to be a similar story again today.
However, at much bigger odds perhaps Taslima can run a big race for Gosden with David Egan in the plate. She shaped really nicely on her seasonal comeback when beat 5L by Mystery Angel at Newmarket (10f gd/fm). The winner went on to finish 2nd to Snowfall in the Epsom Oaks so it is decent form. She kept on steadily at Newmarket and the way she finished suggests this trip will suit her. By Golden Horn, she is bred to get 12f and bar Noon Star’s York run when 4L behind Snowfall, she arguably has one of the stronger pieces of form in this race. With 4 places on offer from William Hill, Taslima is the each way selection at 28/1.
2021 Royal Ascot Thursday Tips: Taslima e/w @ 25/1 (4 places)
4.15 – Gold Cup (Group 1)
This race is all about the mighty stayer Stradivarius. Now a 7yo, the son of Sea The Stars looked as good as ever when winning here last time. He is a three time previous winner of this and with ground to suit, he should be very hard to beat. The one that appeals for each way purposes is Spanish Mission at 14/1. This horse has won over 18f and there is no reason why he shouldn’t stay another two furlongs. By Noble Mission, he likes fast ground and conditions will be right up his street today.
Andrew Balding trains this 5yo and he put Santiago firmly in his place at York last time out (14f gd). It was William Buick’s second win from three attempts on him and he keeps the ride. Spanish Mission is rated 117 so he has very little to find on the figures with Subjectivist and Trueshan. The latter horse would prefer cut in the ground and the same could be said for Subjectivist. Spanish Mission’s form figures on good to firm read 212 and Andrew Balding’s horses are in great form. At odds of 14/1, he is the each way selection.
2021 Royal Ascot Thursday Tips: Spanish Mission e/w @ 14/1 NAP
5.00 – Britannia Heritage Handicap (Class 2)
A maximum field of 30 go to post in this year’s Britannia Handicap. A trip of 8f awaits them and even though the winner of the Hunt Cup came from a low draw, 6 of the first 8 home were drawn high. The one I am interested in from stall 29 is Big Narstie for Richard Spencer and Hayley Turner. This son of Cable Bay has had just four starts, all at 7f, and three of them came on the all-weather.
He won second time up over 7f at Lingfield back in January and he then ran a nice enough race over the same C&D in a Listed contest. After a couple of months off he returned to action at Ascot to make his turf and handicap debut off 92 (7f gd/sft). He didn’t have the toe to deal with the winner Aldaary over 7f but he kept on strongly to the line and on that evidence, the step up to a mile is going to suit.
Aldaary, who was running off 93 that day went on to run a big race off 105 next time out so a 3lb hike for Big Narstie seems fair. On pedigree a mile should suit and so should today’s quick ground. At odds of 40/1, he is the each way selection.
2021 Royal Ascot Thursday Tips: Big Narstie e/w @ 40/1
5.35 – King George V Stakes Handicap (Class 2)
Off a mark of 88, Too Friendly could outrun his odds in this 12f handicap. Trained by George Scott, this horse was a very impressive winner at Doncaster on his seasonal comeback. Callum Shepherd couldn’t believe how well his mount was going 2 furlongs out and he quickened clear nicely to score by 1.5L from Dhushan. The runner up has won both starts since, including a handicap off 85.
Too Friendly was stepped up in Grade next time in a Listed heat at Epsom. I think he ran a fair bit better than his finishing position suggests. He just didn’t look at home on that tricky track and he should be much more comfortable at Ascot. I liked how he finished his race off at Epsom and he looks well worth a try at this sort of trip given his sire. His trainer says he has done well physically since that race and he is potentially well handicapped off his current mark. His high draw is a slight worry but at odds of 40/1 hopefully he can overcome it and sneak into the money.
2021 Royal Ascot Thursday Tips: Too Friendly e/w @ 40/1 (6 places W Hill)
6.10 – Buckingham Palace Stakes Handicap (Class 2)
The final race on Day 3 at Ascot is this 7f handicap and 29 will go to post. My old pal Ropey Guest would have loved the forecast rain to have arrived but unfortunately for him, conditions may be just a bit too quick. He is poorly drawn too in stall 6 so as much as it pains me, I won’t be backing him today. Watch him go and hose up now! At a huge price I am instead going to take a punt on Total Commitment from stall 30.
Trained by Simon Hodgson, Jason Watson rides and this horse ran a lovely race over 6f last time out. The ground was on the easy side that day and this son of Exceed and Excel will be better on this faster surface. The runner up in that race last time, Pendleton, was only 1.25L ahead of Total Commitment and he won a valuable handicap at York off 4lbs higher next time out.
He is a previous good to firm ground winner and this will be his first try at 7f on grass. This fella scored off 91 at Lingfield over 7f, staying on strongly to get up close home. This horse is probably best when held up off a fast pace and he should get the race run to suit today. He has a great draw, his trainer’s last runner was a winner and at odds of 50/1, Total Commitment is the pick.
