Marco Botti gives us the run-down on his Royal Ascot runners
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While many of the prospective racegoers will be debating over which hat to wear or whether to don their best waistcoat ahead of Royal Ascot, the real preparations are coming to a climax.
Trainers will be putting the finishing touches to their charges as they prepare to let them lose on the biggest week in flat racing.
With the meeting less than 24 hours away, in an exclusive interview with Ladbrokes News we got the thoughts of trainer Marco Botti on his runners at the Berkshire track.
After a free Tuesday, he is set to open up on Wednesday by sending out Fanciful Angel in a red-hot looking Jersey Stakes.
And while he respects the field, Botti feels his colt is in top order.
The following race will see Botti saddle Euro Charline in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes.
He described her as his best hope for the week, and was hopeful that she could go two better than her Ribblesdale third 12 months ago.
On Thursday, his runner in the aforementioned Ribblesdale Stakes is Brandybend.
Priced at 25/1 with Ladbrokes, she looks to have it all to do to be threatening, and her handler seems to agree.
The following race could be a massive one for Botti’s Newmarket stable if the rain comes this week.
Tac De Boistron would surely have a major chance, bigger than his current 12/1 odds, should he get his favoured grounds, and Botti is keeping his fingers crossed.
Another day off from the Royal Meeting on Friday means that it could be the penultimate race of the week that sees the trainer sign off in style.
Golden Steps, Foxtrot Romeo and Sir Robert Cheval make up his trio of potential representatives in the Wokingham Stakes, and while he feels the latter may struggle, the six-time Group 1 winning trainer has high hopes for the other two.
While he may have tasted success at the very highest level, a winner at Royal Ascot continues to elude Botti.
Dandino finished second in the Hardwicke two years ago, while Excelebration bumped into the exceptional Frankel in the St James’s Palace in 2011 and could only manage third.
Victory would be sweet this week, but it is more the relief that would be good for Botti.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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