It was all about Arizona on day one for Aidan O’Brien, I guess if you're having a big bet then 15/8 looks a good bet on what looked to be one Aidan's best 2-year-olds so far this season. I opted to look elsewhere and put my bet on Monoski the night before, big mistake as he drifted like a barge before the off and the writing was on the wall a long way from home. Arizona won like a good horse I believed he was and I can't wait to see a lot more from him in the future.
It pains me to say I was thinking about betting on Raffle Prize on day two but the more time I looked at a race the more I changed my mind and I thought the form of my eventual selection Ickworth was up with the best on offer. I was feeling confident she could get a place at least, but as the race began to unfold I couldn't spot Ickworths colours and of course as you must know by now she wouldn't come out of the stalls which were to the amusement of my workmates when I told them about it. It was a painful race to watch after that and even more painful when tight ass Betfred wouldn’t refund my stake, I know I shouldn't have got a refund, to be honest, but it would have been nice. I didn't bet on the Windsor Castle but Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore notched up another winner with Southern Hills.
Day three and it was time to put Wednesday's nightmare behind me. I backed another Irish horse Sunday Sovereign who disappointed but finished at least, I think I will stick to the English form next year, but saying that I don’t think I would have picked the Norfolk winner in a month of Sundays after coming second in his only ever race. A’Ali held on to beat Ventura Rebel by a neck and after the race, I read he had good time figures last run, so I should have seen that when studying.
A 25 runner field to contend with on day four, what could be easier. First thought for my selection was eventual winner Daahyeh after clocking a good time in his first race and in doing so beat the Queen Mary Stakes winner Raffle Prize. I changed my mind and backed Frankie on Last Surprise who weirdly finished last which was a surprise.
I have saved the best till last on the final day of Royal Ascot. No changing my mind this time as I had one horse in mind, PINATUBO (pictured) for the Charlie Appleby yard. Not one moment did I think this Shamardal colt would get beat, the way he travelled and quickened up to beat the O’Brien hot pot Lope Y Fernández was immense. Wow!it really was impressive not just because it was my selection but because he also shattered the 2-year old track record putting himself firmly in the picture for the 2,000 Guineas next year and a horse with a big future ahead.
Reviews: I had a small each way bet on tracker Arthur's Court at Newmarket who wasn’t fancied at 10/1. He ran a decent race, to be honest, but when you put your hard-earned cash on that doesn't make you feel any better. I will keep him in my tracker list because over a further distance this Derby entry could come into his own, we will see.
Timeform Early Declaration Alert and Preview:
18:35 Newbury 25 Jun 2019: Willa for the Richard Hannon yard. A 35,000 Gns purchase in October 2018, this Dutch Art Filly took a drift in the betting on debut and her inexperience showed when never involved. Interesting that she had been given a Class 2 entry before that race and didn't run and more interesting is she was given an entry in the Class 2 Byerley Stud Walwyn Memorial Novice Stakes at Salisbury this month but also did not run. One negative was the price she was on her debut. I will be looking for some market support before deciding if I bet.
Thanks for reading and good luck.
One of the highlights of #RoyalAscot came in the Chesham Stakes, where Pinatubo bolted up and broke the juvenile track record at Ascot in the colours of @Godolphin. pic.twitter.com/E6VEoq4KID— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 24, 2019
Brilliant win from Pinatubo.
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