Tuesday Royal Ascot Dark Horses – Dave Stevos
Tuesday Royal Ascot Dark Horses
The entries were revealed for Tuesday at Ascot earlier today and it was also the final day of forfeits before declarations in the G1s. Our tipster Dave Stevos has had a look through the card and he has his eye on a few at big odds. It is probably best to wait for extra places before backing these, but they are worth sticking in your notebook. Check out our Tuesday Royal Ascot dark horses below.
Coventry Stakes – Show Respect
This is always a cracking race and this year should be no exception. There’s a few in here that look interesting at big odds. The Ridler at 50s looks a massive price and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran a huge race upped to 6f. It’ll be interesting to see who rides him. However, Show Respect is a horse that has made an impression on me on both his starts and at 33/1, I am going to have a few quid on each way.
By Showcasing, a top notch juvenile sire, this colt finished 6.5L behind Royal Scotsman at Goodwood (6f gd/sft). Louis Steward had him buried amongst horses and found traffic problems. The winner got a dream run through and he was admittedly very impressive. However, I thought Show Respect did well to finish 4th given his passage and he was closing on the 2nd and 3rd at the line. Next time at Leicester James Doyle got the call and on this occasion, the outcome was never really in doubt.
Catch The Paddy, 2nd in a decent York maiden on debut, made the pace with the rail to help. Show Respect was drawn wide and James Doyle was happy to stay there. Catch The Paddy was hanging off the rail but he quickened well 2f out and Doyle had to administer one reminder to his mount. Once he did, Show Respect responded immediately and he had reeled in his rival by the 1f pole and was 4L clear at the finish. It was a smart performance and at odds of 33/1, he is a definite dark horse to keep an eye on.
Tuesday Royal Ascot Dark Horses: Show Respect e/w @ 33/1
King’s Stand Stakes – Mondammej
Twenty speedsters have stood their ground for the King’s Stand Stakes. With a rating of just 104, Mondammej has no chance in this on paper. However, I think this hardy 5yo is still improving and he is capable of outrunning his massive odds of 66/1. What a bargain this gelding has proved to be for the Brittains. By Lope De Vega, he cost 325k as a yearling. He never made the track for Roger Varian and current connections splashed out a massive 4k for him in 2020.
A debut win at Newcastle at 33/1 was a sign of things to come. A handicap was soon landed at Pontefract (6f sft) off 79 when he beat future Great St Wilfrid and Epsom Dash winners Justanotherbottle and Mokaatil easily. Another four handicaps followed (two at Haydock and two at Wolves) and he also ran a cracker when just failing to get up in a Heritage Handicap at Ascot (5f gd). This year, connections decided to dip their toes in stakes company. Has he looked out of place? Not at all.
Career Best Last Time
At Lingfield he was beat a neck in a Listed heat. At Doncaster (6f gd/sft) he was beat just 2.25L into 3rd in another Listed contest. In the G3 Palace House at Newmarket (5f gd) he flew home in a race that wasn’t run to suit him. A career best then followed on his last run in the G2 Temple Stakes at Haydock. The went a good clip early in that race and Mondammej met a bit of interference after a furlong.
He travelled well in rear and Hardie switched him in amongst horses to make his challenge 2f out. He got a slight bump 1.5f from home but he quickened up well. When Hardie gave him a couple of proper liveners 1f out, he responded and looked like he might go on and win. It was hands and heels after that though and he just failed for 3rd, 2L behind King’s Lynn and Twilight Calls.
Those two horses are priced up at 10s and 14s. Arecibo was a head bob in front in 3rd and he is 33/1. Mondammej is 66/1 and I think a furiously run 5f at Ascot is really going to suit him. He should settle better for a start and he is usually doing his best work at the finish. With Golden Pal unlikely to be gifted an easy lead, it should hopefully set up for a closer. As I mentioned earlier, it probably makes sense to wait until extra places are available. Even so, at 66/1, Mondammej is surely worth a shilling or two e/w.
Tuesday Royal Ascot Dark Horses: Mondammej e/w @ 66/1
St James’s Palace Stakes – Berkshire Shadow
We backed Berkshire Shadow in the Coventry last year and he delivered the goods. He also had the weight of our money on him in the 2000 Guineas and while he just failed for a place, it was a superb run on his seasonal comeback. By Dark Angel, this fella has serious form in the book. He was a close 2nd to subsequent G1 winner Angel Bleu on unsuitably soft ground at Goodwood. A rare poor effort followed behind Lusail at York and then he signed off with a fine effort in 4th behind Native Trail in the Dewhurst.
In the 2000 Guineas he finished just 5L behind Coroebus. The winner was also having his first run back but I would expect Berkshire Shadow to come on considerably with that outing under his belt. Coroebus was clearly piping fit and while Balding’s charge may not reverse the form, I do think he is capable of closing the gap back at a track he acts on. New Energy is another one to note at decent odds but at 25s, Berkshire Shadow has strong e/w claims.
