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Monday 13 June 2011

Royal Ascot - The Kings Stand



We wont have much to work on as regards as to what part of the track they will elect to come down and I would imagine they will follow whoever is the fastest to begin with and that will either be Tangerine Trees, Bridgetown or Holiday for Kitten. The fastest part of the track according to the going stick is up the middle so I would imagine on that basis that Bridgetown will lead. The going tomorrow is said to be Good on the straight track according to the clerk of the course and time will tell if that is so.

Well the race itself doesnt look as bad as I thought it would be and I'm going to start by putting them into stalls order and commenting briefly as I go through the field about their chances :-
  1. Swiss Diva - Best form has been with cut and difficult race first time out for contenders in the past.
  2. Sole Power - Will appreciate the fast pace but not any ease in the going and only time will tell if he has a good draw.
  3. Tangerine Trees - Blitzed the first 4f in the Temple Stakes at Haydock before fading into 10th, will have plenty of company for the leadhere and I can see same scenario developing again.
  4. Mar Adentro - Ran well in the Abbaye from a poor draw, however may want a bit more cut than he has got here to show his best.
  5. Rose Blossom - Difficult to see her doing any better than her 6th place in the Temple Stakes.
  6. Arctic - Ran well from good draw when 5th in Abbaye but probably wants softer going.
  7. War Artist - Finished 2nd in Dubai in March, will appreciate fast pace but may have needed a prep run before running here.
  8. Kingsgate Native - Ran well in the Temple at Haydock, a course he does well at, finished a modest 6th in this last year beaten 4 lengths behind Equiano and probably best of the home team.
  9. Stone of Folca - Cant see any improvement on run in Temple Stakes.
  10. Sweet Sanette - Looks to be  a speedy type that Spencer could get a tune out of.
  11. Bridgetown - A seriously fast horse who has only had 12 starts to date and warmed up for this recently at Churchill Downs when 2nd and has settled in well at Newmarket.
  12. Astrophysical Jet - Not conviced we have seen anything out of the ordinary so far and will need to step up in my view.
  13. Iver Bridge Lad - Probably not up to this standard although will appreciate the going.
  14. Prohibit - Race should be run to suit and has been running consistently lately and it would nt be a suprise to see him catching up fast at the end.
  15. Overdose - Supposedly struggled at Haydock behind Sole Power but still only beaten 4 lengths and this easier going will help him to get a little closer, however he will be up against even speedier types this time than at Haydock.
  16. Monsiuer Chevalier - Ran well behind Bated Breath recently but stable are hoping for a place more so than expecting a win.
  17. Holiday For Kitten - Has a high draw and may head for the stands rail, she is fast and gets weight all round. Has only run over 5f once when winning in a time of 55.48secs but that was 1.45 seconds slower than Bridgetown recorded at the same track.
  18. Star Witness - Has seen the backend of Black Caviar 3 times but is no back number all the same, has claims on his win at Flemington albeit that was over 6f and he should be able to lie up with the pace before being produced.
  19. Group Therapy - Ran on well when beaten 3 lengths into 5th behind Sole Power in the Temple Stakes at Haydock, should appreciate the fast pace and will get good tow off Holiday For Kitten and provided they dont come over to the stands rail should get a clear run up the stands side.
Bridgetown looks to have a decent ew chance, he's drawn in the middle and I would imagine he will be bang up there from the off and 14/1(Coral and Totesport) is a fair price about his chances. Star Witness will also be on the premises come the end and could be the likely winner (5/1 Paddy Power). Its anyone's guess as to which of the others will be running on to gain the minor honours as there are a few that will relish the fast pace we are likely to get. Kingsgate Native looks to be about the best of the home runners but I dont think that will be good enough even in what appears to be a sub standard race apart from the foreign raiders.

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