Royal Ascot 2020 - Day Two Tips
- Matchday FM
- Jun 16, 2020
- 5 min read
A decent start for our tipsters from the opening day of Royal Ascot saw Harry Reynolds and Joseph Richardson both land three winners each, with the latter picking out Ascot Stakes winner Coeur De Lion at an impressive 14/1.
Here’s how they see events unfolding as we enter the second day of the meeting, with the feature race of the day the Prince of Wales’ Stakes at 15.35.
13.15 – Silver Royal Hunt Cup
Harry Reynolds – One of the horses I’m most excited to see this week is MAYDANNY. He’s a half-brother to Elarqam and is superbly bred, by Dubawi out of 1000 Guineas winner Attraction. He blitzed the track record at Yarmouth two weeks ago, and should be significantly better than a mark of 90.
Ben Wignall – The consolation to the main Hunt Cup prize later in the day, there are a couple of horses in here who have group-class potential later in the season, including Maydanny who has a striking pedigree. But I’ll take a chance on BRIAN EPSTEIN, who was just touched off at Haydock last week on re-appearance, and he’s never finished outside the top five in any of his eight races.
Joseph Richardson – OUZO could have been a lurker in the Royal Hunt Cup itself but instead runs in the Silver version for horses that didn’t qualify. Running to an RPR of 101 on his seasonal reappearance, he is drawn stand side and has Ryan Moore in the saddle.
13.50 – Hampton Court
HR – Although I have been keen on First Receiver, following Pyledriver’s performance in the King Edward VII I have to be change camps and back BERLIN TANGO. Andrew Balding’s colt beat him in a Group 3 at Kempton, and that form now looks seriously strong.
BW - Three of these ran in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket not too long ago, with Juan Elcano finishing 5th after bagging the stand-side rail. The Frankel colt should have no problems getting this trip, but if RUSSIAN EMPEROR is given a more prominent ride as opposed to being held up at Leopardstown last week, I fancy him to take this back to the Emerald Isle for Aidan O’Brien.
JR - Juan Elcano may have peaked with his run in the 2000 Guineas so I am willing to back BERLIN TANGO, despite carrying a 4lb penalty to continue the red hot form of Oisin Murphy and Andrew Balding.
14.25 – King George V Stakes
HR – TO NATHANIEL somehow managed to win a handicap at Kempton last week despite looking a seriously tough ride for the jockey that day Nicky Mackay. He stayed on seriously strongly when pressed, and this stiff finish will bring the best out of him.
BW - A host of unexposed three year olds meet over 12 furlongs here, and if Berlin Tango wins 35 minutes before this, then Bright Melody may shorten dramatically having run behind it in third in the Classic Trial two weeks ago. CONVICT though is a half-brother to the progressive stayer Hamish and bolted up in a handicap back in October at Newmarket. He retains potential for William Haggis and Tom Marquand is a jockey in form.
JR - If Berlin Tango comes in, BRIGHT MELODY could follow him after finishing behind him at Kempton, and that form looks particularly strong.
15.00 – Prince of Wales’ Stakes
HR – Confidence in JAPAN has to be dwindling after his brother Mogul continued their poor record on reappearance, but he still looks a class apart in this field. If he is to go on to bigger and better things this season he has to take this, in what is one of the weakest Group 1 fields you will see.
BW - After a disappointing run first time out at York last season, JAPAN went from strength-to-strength, starting with a third place in the Epsom Derby before racking up a win at Royal Ascot, then Group 1 successes at Longchamp and York. On last seasons form he is the classiest horse in this field, and you would have to trust the master that is Aidan O’Brien that the Galileo colt is ready for this.
JR - It is very hard to see past JAPAN here. He has proven Ascot form, and a win here would see him well on course for a campaign towards another Arc. I really like Addeybb but the rain needs to come if Tom Marquand is going to add to his first Group 1 win on him in Australia.
15.35 – Royal Hunt Cup
HR – His record at Ascot concerns me, having blown up three times at the track, but I’m willing to give QAYSAR another chance. He caught the eye when flying home at Newmarket just over a week ago despite blowing the chance, and is very experienced in these races.
BW - There is a nice mix of wily veterans and potential group-class horses in this years Hunt Cup, and one four-year-old who looked impressive last week at Newmarket was BELL ROCK. He flew up the Rowley Mile late on under Oisin Murphy to pip Ouzo – and if that horse wins the Silver Hunt Cup in the first race of the day, expect Bell Rock to shorten in price. Willie John may also be worth a look for Roger Varian at 16/1 – he was a 1.9 million guineas purchase and makes his handicap debut in this.
JR - There’s plenty of each way value in here as always at the top and bottom of the weights. But QAYSAR represents good value, currently at a double figure price for the Richard Hannon team. He finished strongly in his comeback race on Guineas weekend at Newmarket.
16.10 – Windsor Castle Stakes
HR – Unfortunately the price isn’t as tempting as it was at the start of the week, but CHIEF LITTLE HAWK is bred to do the job. His sire Air Force Blue was second in the Coventry over 6f here during his career, and was a champion juvenile. This horse was very impressive on debut and can keep progressing.
BW - The first juvenile race of the meeting and Wesley Ward holds a strong hand in the market coming over from the States. But Aidan O’Brien saddles CHIEF LITTLE HAWK, who won strikingly on debut last week at Navan over this distance. He’s out of 2015’s champion two-year-old Air Force Blue’s first crop and is a worthy favourite for this.
JR - Wesley Ward’s horse Sunshine City could be a bullet, but CHIEF LITTLE HAWK made all in a Navan maiden, the first victory for his sire Air Force Blue and I fancy he will repeat that here to round off a great day for Ryan Moore!
16.40 – Copper Horse Handicap
HR – A half-brother to Grade 1 winning hurdler Nichols Canyon, FUJAIRA PRINCE should have no problem stepping up in trip on reappearance. He’s never finished worse than third, and with only six career starts he should still have more to give.
BW - You’d be forgiven for thinking FUJAIRA PRINCE is younger than he actually is considering he’s only ran six times, but the six-year-old is completely unexposed and performed well at Royal Ascot last year when finishing 3rd in the King George V Handicap. He runs well when fresh and Roger Varian’s gelding could take all the beating here.
JR – FUJAIRA PRINCE hasn’t been seen since last year’s Royal Ascot, finishing third in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes. A solid performer for the Roger Varian stable and Andrea Atzeni takes the ride.
Selections
Harry Reynolds
13.15 Maydanny 13/2
13.50 Berlin Tango 9/2
14.25 To Nathaniel 10/1
15.00 Japan 1/1
15.35 Qaysar 14/1
16.10 Chief Little Hawk 4/1
16.40 Fujaira Prince 9/2
Ben Wignall
13.15 Brian Epstein 11/1
13.50 Russian Emperor 10/3
14.25 Convict 15/2
15.00 Japan 1/1
15.35 Bell Rock 7/1
16.10 Chief Little Hawk 4/1
16.40 Fujaira Prince 9/2
Joseph Richardson
13.15 Ouzo 4/1
13.50 Berlin Tango 9/2
14.25 Bright Melody 6/1
15.00 Japan 1/1
15.35 Qaysar 14/1
16.10 Chief Little Hawk 4/1
16.40 Fujaira Prince 9/2
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