ROYAL ASCOT DAY FIVE

Sorry to steal your thunder sportsville but i wont be around tomorrow so i thought id give my outlook on the final days events.
 
2.30 Like most of the 2yo events here its a very competitive renewal,plenty of choicely bred individuals but with very little hard form to go on.Friendship looks a big player,stables 2yo have gone very well this week and he looked like the run would bring him on bundles when third first time up.BUNKER won at Haydock first time out and i take him to folow up here.Outpaced and under the pump at halfway he stayed on in very taking fashion and was doing all his best work at the death.This longer trip allied to the stiffer track will surely play to his strengths.He can take this on his way to better things.Win to small stakes.
 
3.05 Not the greatest renewal it has to be said.Plenty of "nearly" performers who lock horns again.A strong pace looks asssured as theres four or five who like to force it in here.Ektihaam is a reformed character this season,connections had him cut in the Winter and hes finally starting to show his true ability.His Sandown third to Al Kazeem has been well and truly franked and his Buckhounds win over course and distance last time was very fluent.He was however afforded an easy time out front in that event,he wont get that much rope here.The race make up is tailor made for MOUNT ATHOS,he will relish a strong pace over this demanding 12f and he just adores a sound surface.He improved markedly last Autumn and he had a very unlucky passage when storming home all too late in the Melbourne Cup.A saunter around Chester showed us his well being first time out and he can plunder this Group two on the way to a possible King George tilt.Solid bet.
 
3.45 A competitive if slightly lacking renewal.SOCIETY ROCK is a dual Group One winner with formlines that has the beating of plenty of these.Agreed,he can be sluggish at the gates but if gets away close to these then surely he can have the legs of them in the last furlong.He isnt everyones idea of a betting proposition but he holds the best form in the race by quite a way and thats good enough for me.Solid bet
 
4.25 A nightmare of a heat and with the draw bias now looking to favour high numbers it only muddies the waters even more.You could run this 100 times and get 100 different results.Ive had a race of this nature in mind for LOUIS THE PIOUS for quite some time,he showed some very commendable form in big Sprint handicaps last season and his run first back was very eyecatching.Stable are going very well this term and if he can get a nice position just in behind the pace on this side then he will be rounding off to good effect.Ew possibilties at daft odds.
 
5.00 Another cracking handicap with plenty of chances.Caravan Rolls On ran a race full of promise on his seasonal comeback and should have been closer but Mr Spencer was up to his usual tricks.He looks a major player but this course isnt ideal for his hold up style and he would need every gap to open for him.LAHAAG ran a screamer at York behind First Mohican,he breezed into the lead only to be cut down by the Cecil trained 5yo.The winner that day looks well up to Group class,take him out and selection would have been a clear cut winner.He has room for even more improvement,he may even prove up to Listed/Group Three class himself.Be amazed if he isnt right there at the death and he rates a very solid bet.
 
5.35 A particularly uninspiring way to bring down the curtain on the Royal meeting.A race full of scallywag flat types and jumpers trying their own hand on the level.SHAHWARDI has some very useful form as well as some total rubbish and its had to predict which performer will turn up but his second in this last year and his third to Joshua Tree at Deauville reads much the best of anything in the race.Get involved if you must but an absolute minimum investment for me.

racingnut wrote:Sorry to steal your thunder sportsville...

That's ok. Hoping to get back on track on Saturday after having a blank day on Friday.

GOING: GOOD TO FIRM (GoingStick: Stands' side 9.0, Centre 9.1, Far side 9.3, Round 8.1). (White cloud)

STALLS: Straight course - Centre; Round course - Inside

2.30 CHESHAM STAKES (LISTED RACE) (CLASS 1) (2yo) Winner £34,026 21 runners 7f Good To Firm CH4
Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes got of the mark for the week on Friday and Bunker is their runner in the opening race on Saturday. The 2YO colt won smartly on his debut and could follow up here. SOMEWHAT was highly impressive last Friday at Musselburgh and is probably Mark Johnston's best chance of a winner this week. Ihtimal was second behind Kiyoshi on her debut so much be respected although the form of her second run is questionable. Berkishire was third on his debut behind Championship and could improve for the extra furlong at a decent price. Shepherd Gate could be interesting on his debut at 66/1.

3.05 HARDWICKE STAKES (GROUP 2) (CLASS 1) (4yo+) Winner £120,962 9 runners 1m4f Good To Firm CH4
The Hardwicke Stakes looks a very competitive renewal and has plenty of nice types in it. EKTIHAAM and Mount Athos are the likely favourites. The former won by 6l last time out over course and distance beating Thomas Chippendale while the later landed the Ormonde Stakes at Chester by 9l.Sir John Hawkwood for Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore is 2-2 this season and deserves respect.

3.45 DIAMOND JUBILEE STAKES (BRITISH CHAMPIONS SERIES & GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE) (GROUP 1) (CLASS 1) (3yo+) Winner £283,550 18 runners 6f Good To Firm CH4
SOCIETY ROCK won this two years ago and was fourth to Black Caviar last year. This year's race doesn't look as strong so the James Fanshawe runner has to be a strong fancy. Dandy Boy, Maarek, Hawkeyethenoo and Lethal Force are the best of the rest of the field.

4.25 WOKINGHAM STAKES (HERITAGE HANDICAP) (CLASS 2) (3yo+ 0-110) Winner £93,375 31 runners 6f Good To Firm CH4
Duke Of Firenze steps back up to 6f after the landing the Dash Handicap at Epsom over 5f last time out and should go well in this race. Nocturn has been placed in the first two in his last seven outings and has solid claims here. HITCHENS landed the Group 3 Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh last time out but has the burden of top weight in this and is face with a low draw.

5.00 DUKE OF EDINBURGH HANDICAP (CLASS 2) (3yo+ 0-105) Winner £46,688 22 runners 1m4f Good To Firm CH4
Rye House won nicely at York last month on this seasonal reappearance, will appreciate the step back up to 1m4f and should run well. Hammerfest was second in this last year and makes the journey back over from France in good form. Ustura is an interesting runner for Godolphin and could be a likely improver while HIGHLAND CASTLE is well handicapped to put up a big performance.

5.35 QUEEN ALEXANDRA STAKES (CONDITIONS RACE) (CLASS 2) (4yo+) Winner £37,350 20 runners 2m5f159y Good To Firm CH4
The final race of the meeting sees Frankie Dettori with a very good chance of getting a winner on the board onboard the French-trained SHAHWARDI. Nicky Henderson had a winner on Friday with Forgotten Voice and runs Courtesy Call here. The horse was second in a Cesarewitch Trial at Newmarket in September and should go close in this.