Guineas second Lucida backed to make amends at Royal Ascot
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By now most people will be leaning towards a decision as to whether you are having a good or a bad Royal Ascot, but for one man that choice has already been decided.
Ryan Moore carried on in fine style on Thursday, taking the Norfolk Stakes on outsider Waterloo Bridge to match towards Lester Piggott’s record of eight Royal Ascot wins in a week.
But there is no room for Moore in our best bets on Friday either, as we look to take the man in form on.
We discussed three of the big races of the day in our latest Ascot podcast.
Hopefully we’ve pulled out a winner or two, and remember our Free Bet offer continues to reward those seeking out the big prices.
Here are our picks for the penultimate day of the meeting…
Sir Michael Stoute’s colt was made to work hard to get the job done at Epsom on Derby Day, being left out the back and having to round the whole field in the home straight.
He took a little while to pick up that day, and rather made gradual headway to suggest that this step up in trip could see his battling qualities brought out again.
Connections have seen fit to splash the £17,500 to enter him for this race, so much is obviously expected of this son of Rip Van Winkle at Ascot.
He finished 12 lengths behind Derby runner-up Jack Hobbs previously at Sandown, though didn’t have the best of passages that day, and may well have finished closer with a better run.
This three-year-old will take all the beating over the 1m4f trip.
The maiden renewal of the Commonwealth Cup looks like an absolute belter, and with so much strength in depth it could pay to side with an each-way bet at something at a big price.
And with Ladbrokes paying out on the first four from bets placed after 8am on Friday, it’s even tastier.
Hugo Palmer’s filly has mixed it with the best of them in her career, beaten by just Lucida and Jersey Stakes second Fadhayyil in the Rockfel, downed by a short head in the Nell Gwyn by Ascot winner Osaila, and was only a head behind favourite Limato at Haydock last time out.
Getting 3lbs again from the aforementioned jolly, she looks well overpriced at around six times the odds.
She stays further than the 6f trip which could come in handy, especially if the speedsters go off too fast in the opening stages.
A slow start would have hindered Lucida’s 1000 Guineas chances at Newmarket, but Jim Bolger’s filly showed a smart turn of foot to slip the field on the Rowley Mile, only to be pegged back by the tough Legatissimo.
The form of that race looks strong with subsequent winners Qualify (Oaks) and Osaila (Sandringham Handicap) suggesting it was an above average renewal.
That turn of foot she displayed could be the difference between success and failure at Ascot, and could mean she confirms the form with favourite Found, whom she finished ahead of in the Moyglare Stakes last season.
On ground that will best show her speed, she needs to be taken to oppose the jolly at a nice price.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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