2022 Royal Ascot Thursday Preview and Tips – DS
2022 Royal Ascot Thursday Tips
Things improved on Day 2. Miami Girl got us off to a good start landing place money at 25s. Zechariah was heartbreakingly beaten in a photo at 20s. Primo Bacio also ran a great race at 20s to nick 3rd. Our Hunt Cup picks ran no sort of race and our NB Knebworth was bitterly disappointing. Let’s hope for an elusive winner on Day 3, 2022 Royal Ascot Thursday tips are below.
2.30 – Norfolk Stakes (Group 2)
A relatively small field of 11 will line up in the stalls in this 5f Group 2. Walbank, a 7L novice winner at York last time, is the 2/1 fav for Ryan and Loughnane. That was his second start and his first run came over today’s C&D when he finished 2nd. Royal Scotsman was 4th that day, nearly 4L behind Walbank and he ran a blinder here earlier this week. The only worry is that he hung left on that debut run and maybe a faster 5f like York is what he wants. However, he is clearly a talented animal and he ought to be thereabouts.
The Antarctic represents Ballydoyle and he is 2/2 so far. A soft ground maiden win at Tipperary was followed by a 0.75L win at Naas on good. The 5f at Naas is stiff so there are no worries about him getting home and this full brother to Battaash is an intriguing runner. However, in the two 2yo sprints so far, UK horses have so far had the edge so maybe the Irish sprinters just aren’t quite at the same level. Even so, this lad should run a big race.
Ridler Could Be The Answer
Rousing Encore ran a good race for Richard Fahey in the Coventry yesterday. He runs The Ridler in this and surprisingly, Paul Hanagan retains the ride. The owner must have put his foot down as Oisin Orr is now Fahey’s stable pilot. Hanagan has been on board for all three of this son of Brazen Beau’s runs. He showed a huge amount of promise on debut at Ripon (5f gd) and he built on that at the same track on his second outing.
This time he knew more, raced more prominently and he was ridden out to score by 1L. Fahey stepped him up in Grade on his next start at Beverley (5f gd/fm) and he was arguably unlucky not to win. This time he was dropped out and he had to switch to make his challenge. He flew home late for 3rd but it was a race he should have won. This stiff 5f should play to his strengths and at odds of 33/1, The Ridler is the e/w selection.
2022 Royal Ascot Thursday Tips: The Ridler e/w @ 33/1 (4 places W Hill)
3.05 – King George V Stakes Handicap (Class 2)
Sean Woods decided to go elsewhere with our dark horse pick for this, Savvy Victory. He instead runs the progressive Savvy Knight, an unbeaten son of Caravaggio. He landed a 10f Nottingham maiden on debut, an 11.5f novice at Bath on his second start and a class 3 handicap off 85 on his last outing. James Doyle looks a good booking but he is 5lbs higher in a much tougher race and he might just lack a bit of experience.
The one I am going to take a chance on is Irish raider Vina Sena. This horse won on debut at Dundalk but his next three runs were poor. He finished last of 9 in a G3 at Leopardstown, was beat 12L in a handicap off 89 and then was beat 9L in a conditions race on soft at Naas. Those last two runs saw his mark drop from 89 to 80 and he bounced back to form off that rating in a valuable handicap at Navan last time.
Trouble In Running
Billy Lee dropped the son Vadamos well out in rear and turning in he still had a double handful. 2f out he switched his mount wide but unfortunately, he got a bad bump just as the winner Yashin was making his move. Vina Sena stayed on very strongly from an unpromising position to finish 1.5L 2nd and on pedigree, he looks well worth a crack at this sort of trip. His sire loved nice ground and from what we have seen so far, so does this fella.
Henry De Bromhead is no stranger to success at big jumps meetings, but he has had a couple of decent flat winners in the past. Lismore is probably his best flat horse and when she won her G3 at Sandown, Spencer got the call. His quiet style should suit this horse and at odds of 22/1, Vina Sena is the each way selection.
2022 Royal Ascot Thursday Tips: Vina Sena e/w @ 25/1 (7 Places B365) NAP
3.40 – Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2)
Just six runners and this isn’t a betting race for me. Sea Silk Road won nicely in a Listed heat last time and she is 15/8. Magical Lagoon is a promising sort who has already won a G3 so she can’t be discounted. The form of Life Of Dreams’ 2nd to Emily Upjohn looks alright now and she is another one that could go close.
The outsider of the field, Mystic Wells, has a bit to find on the figures but she came out of her last Listed run with plenty of credit and she’ll relish the ground. If there were three places, I might have chanced her e/w but with just two, I am happy to sit this race out. No bet.
2022 Royal Ascot Thursday Tips: No Bet
4.20 – Gold Cup (Group 1)
This looks a match between the King Of The Stayers, the mighty Stradivarius, and the young pretender, Kyprios. Aidan O’Brien’s son of Galileo has taken a massive step forward from 3yo to 4yo and he absolutely hacked up in a G3 at Leopardstown last time. His 2.75L defeat of Search For A Song on his seasonal return is arguably even stronger form and if he gets this trip, the rest of these could be fighting out for minor money.
The question is whether Frankie can get one more tune out of the 8yo superstar Stradivarius. He returned with a heart-warming win on the Knavesmire in the Yorkshire Oaks (14f gd). He’ll love the rattling quick ground and he is a three time former winner of this contest. Last season he didn’t get any luck in running and he could only manage 4th. If he gets the rub of the green today, it’ll take a good one to beat him.
Zoe Place Claims
Princess Zoe finished ahead of Stradivarius in 2nd last season in this race. She warmed up for her repeat bid with a head win in a G3 here over 16f last time out. That was a brave performance and it dispelled any doubts about her handling fast ground. However, at this higher level I think soft ground would give her a winning chance. On good to firm, she has place claims at best.
At a monstrous price, Alignak is an intriguing runner upped to this distance. Trained by Jamie Osborne, his daughter Saffie rides and she gets on very well with this son of Sea The Moon. He spent the winter in Dubai and while he didn’t win, he ran some crackers in defeat in Listed, handicap and G2 company. His first four runs came over 12f/14f and on all of those outings, he was doing his best work at the finish.
On his last run he stepped up to 16f and produced a career best in a G2. Again, he flew home late for 4th and on that evidence, 20f looks well worth trying. Manobo came out of that race and ran 4th in the Coronation Cup. Rodrigo Diaz was 9th, 7L behind Alignak and he ran 3rd in a G3 at Sandown last time out. With fitness concerns for Mojo Star and ground concerns for Bubble Smart and Tashkan, 3rd might be up for grabs. Alignak should be staying on late and at odds of 80/1, a small e/w interest is advised.
2022 Royal Ascot Thursday Tips: Alignak e/w @ 80/1
5.00 – Britannia Stakes (Class 2)
In the Hunt Cup the winner was drawn high but the next three home were drawn 4, 11 and 9. Our 25/1 ante-post selection, Koy Koy, will start from stall 8 and he is into 20s already. I have already outlined why I fancy him so I won’t repeat myself. Drawn beside him in stall 7 is Oneforthegutter, a horse we backed last time out at Epsom.
Ian Williams trains this fella and Richard Kingscote keeps the faith. He was on board at Epsom last time and he wasn’t overly hard on the son of Muharrar. Oneforthegutter could only manage 6th in that 10f race and I think dropping back in trip in a fast run race could really suit him. He travelled well at Epsom but he just didn’t have the gears to go with the leaders when they quickened.
This fella was beat a head in a French G3 last season (7f gd) and he was outclassed on his final 2yo run at Newmarket. However, on his best 2yo form he is looking well handicapped off 97 and Kingscote and Williams have an excellent record when teaming up. With 5 places on offer from Unibet, Oneforthegutter is worth chancing for small stakes at odds of 80/1.
2022 Royal Ascot Thursday Tips: Oneforthegutter e/w @ 80/1 (5 places); Koy Koy already advised @ 25/1
5.35 – Hampton Court Stakes (Group 3)
Not a betting heat. Hopefully Reach For The Moon wins for the Queen but the bookies aren’t taking any chances. No bet.
2022 Royal Ascot Thursday Tips: No Bet
6.10 – Buckingham Palace Stakes Handicap (Class 2)
Off a mark of 92, Ropey Guest should run his usual gallant race here. George Margarson’s son of Cable Bay has placed for us multiple times in the past and he proved he could handle quick ground when an excellent 5th in the Victoria Cup on his seasonal reappearance. He usually takes a run or two to hit top gear so it was a superb effort off 93.
Margarson gave him a run out in a listed heat at Windsor (6f gd) last time and he shaped very nicely in 4th, beat just 4L. He has loads of good form at Ascot in Group and handicap company and he is racing off his last winning mark. There is no doubt that he has been targeted at this and at odds of 33/1, hopefully he runs another solid race.
O’Meara Flying
From a higher draw in stall 18, maybe Rhoscolyn can go well for in form David O’Meara. His horses are flying and this son of Territories will be much more at home on today’s ground compared to what he ran on at Haydock last time. He was disappointing in that Listed heat but he ran a much better race on his last start on good ground when beat 2L by Lights On in a G2 at Sandown. The 119 rated Alcohol Free was only a neck ahead of him and he was giving her 3lbs.
Last October he ran a blinder over 8f in a big handicap here, beat just 5L off 106. A mile probably just stretches his stamina and 7f should suit a lot better. He often makes the pace but in the Balmoral he was held up so Danny Tudhope has options. He is 3lbs lower now and at odds of 33/1, Rhoscolyn could sneak into the money.
