The Royal Ascot Stakes,
run over 2 miles 4 furlongs, has thrown up winners at 33/1 and 20/1
(twice) in the last 10 years and seems as good a race as any to throw
our hat into the ring this week.
Mirsaale (20/1)
won the Epsom Derby Trial as a 3-year-old and finished ninth in the
Derby proper but, after a lengthy spell in the doldrums, has been
reinvented as a stayer by Keith Dalgleish. The Sir Percy gelding
returned to turf in a lowly 0-75 contest at Catterick in April, but
drew further and further clear, until he was 20 lengths clear at one
stage, before being heavily eased close home.
He stepped up in class
and distance, off a 16lb higher mark, at Ripon on his penultimate
start, but once again took up the running with half a mile to race
and went clear to win unchallenged. He was beaten, but far from
disgraced, over 1 mile 5 furlongs at Hamilton last time, but this
marathon distance could conceivably bring about further improvement,
especially with underfoot conditions in his favour.
Winning hurdler
Chartbreaker (33/1) won twice, on very soft and heavy going,
as a 3-year-old for Andreas Wohler, so has no questions to answer
regarding distance or going and remains unexposed as a stayer on the
Flat. Although a 5-year-old, he’s only had eight starts in total
and just four on the Flat and, being by Shirocco – the sire of
Annie Power – out of a Galileo mare, he’s another who could find
some improvement on his debut for Chris Gordon. If cheekpieces have
the desired effect, he could go well at rewarding odds from the
bottom of the handicap.
Selections:
Ascot 5.00 Mirsaale (20/1), Chartbreaker (33/1)
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