Idaho bids to emulate emulate Assatis, Rock Hopper, Fruits Of Love and Maraahel as a back-to-back winner of the Hardwicke Stakes in the last 30 years. He was sixth in the Coronation Cup at Epsom last year before winning and ran fourth in that race this year so the portents are good and there seems no reason why last year’s runner-up Barsanti should reverse the form. At a general 6/1, he looks the pick of Aidan O’Brien’s two runners as Cliffs Of Moher (12/1 with William Hill) got nowhere near Poet’s Word and Cracksman in the Prince Of Wales’ Stakes on Wednesday.
Rare Rhythm beat Barsanti at York last year but that was over 1m6f and the Godolphin runner is better over that trip nowadays. CRYSTAL OCEAN is only a best 4/7 but could be one of the bankers of the meeting. Sir Michael Stoute has already had a couple of big winners this week and last year’s St Leger runner-up has looked the real deal this season. Placed at the Royal meeting last year, he’s won a couple of Grade 3 races this term and was always cantering back over 1m4f at Newbury last time – he is a genuine Grade 1 performer on that evidence.
Hardwicke Stakes Current Best Odds
Crystal Ocean 4/7, Barsanti and Idaho 6/1, Rare Rhythm and Cliffs Of Moher 12/1, Red Verdon 33/1
Were the Diamond Jubilee Stakes being run anywhere than Ascot then Harry Angel would be a deserving favourite. But Clive Cox’s star sprinter has run four times on the track, including in last year’s Commonwealth Cup at the Royal meeting, and been beaten each time so the general 11/4 makes limited appeal as he was behind Librisa Breeze on Champions Day in October, though ahead of last year’s winner The Tin Man. James Fanshawe’s six-year-old is a general 8/1 to stage a repeat while Dean Ivory’s grey is a general 12/1 to continue his love affair with this course.
REDKIRK WARRIOR has found his niche since sent sprinting and is a superstar in Australia. He is a 9/2 chance with 888sport on his first run back in this country since winning over 1m2f for William Haggas in 2014. If it comes down to a battle, there are few tougher than the Aussie raider and Dettori should find him some cover from a draw on the far side. Compatriots Choisir and Black Caviar are best winners of the Diamond Jubilee and he beat Merchant Navy, now at Ballydoyle, at Flemington earlier this year when conceding weight and the latter is only a best 7/2.
Diamond Jubilee Stakes Current Best Odds
Harry Angel 11/4, Merchant Navy 7/2, Redkirk Warrior 9/2, The Tin Man 8/1, Bound For Nowhere 11/1, Librisa Breeze 12/1, City Light 14/1, Projection and D’bai 33/1, Sir Dancealot and Spirit of Valor 40/1, Intelligence Cross 125/1
The Wokingham Handicap is one of the biggest betting races at Royal Ascot but one has been backed almost to the exclusion of all others this year.
Dreamfield is only a best 4/1 having beaten Silent Echo, who has won twice since, by a very easy one-and-a-quarter lengths at Ascot last month. The Godolphin colt missed the while of last year with injury but has some fancy entries and could be the proverbial group horse masquerading as a handicapper, though his odds are desperately short considering he has gone up 8lb and has 27 opponents and will also need some luck in-running.
GEORGE BOWEN would not have been considered for a race like the Wokingham at the start of the season but Richard Fahey’s grey has been as ever this season. Easy going was a legitimate excuse for his defeat by Major Jumbo (a general 33/1) at Newmarket in April and also a reverse last time at Goodwood. He has history in these big-field handicaps and the 25/1 with William Hill looks a cracking each-way bet with Sebastian Woods the only rider able to claim an allowance in the race.
Ice Age can be backed at the same odds and the Newbury winner should give supporters a run for their money again while, further down the weights, it would be no surprise to see Victory Angel go well under Silvester De Sousa at a general 16/1.
Wokingham Stakes Current Best Odds
Dreamfield 4/1, Blue De Vega, Silent Echo, Victory Angel, Gilgamesh and Mr Lupton 16/1, Tis Marvellous and Undrafted 20/1, Brian The Snail 22/1, George Bowen, Ice Age, Out Do and Tommy Taylor 25/1, Bacchus, Danzeno and Ultimate Avenue 28/1, Al Qahwa, Foolaad, Intisaab, Lancelot Du Lac, Spring Loaded, Upstaging and Major Jumbo 33/1, Reckless Endeavour and Sir Robert Cheval 40/1, Flying Pursuit 66/1 (All odds correct at 3.15pm on June 22)
Saturday’s Tip Of The Day: NATALIE’S JOY (15/8 with Betfred in the 2.30) ticks all the boxes and her trainer always targets this race – she could be a very short price on the day.
