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Love this race, certainly in my top five of the season, and one where I’ll always have an early play……
https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/ante-post-racing/royal-ascot/royal-hunt-cup/winner
That early play isn’t looking too obvious right now though, as it’s a fairly big shortlist……
Bowerman looks a fairly consistent type, who hasn’t reached his ceiling, so no surprise to see him near the head of the market, while Breden keeps on delivering too. Big fan of Breden, but just a question of how much the rise in the weights for his last win will affect him.
Similar scenario for Chatez, who I usually keep an eye on. He’s good enough to land this, but life does look as if it will be tougher after Newbury.
I’ve always liked Chilean since seeing him romp home at Haydock, and if he got his ground, he could be well overpriced.
I’ll definitely back Hors De Combat, but he’ll be after Final Decs, for maximum each way, so I can take him out of the equation just now, and I can also rule out my long term #1 for this, Protected Guest, as he’s struggling to get in now.
Very close to the head of the shortlist is Stylehunter. Ran a cracker in The Britannia, and he looks ideal for this.
I’d be interested in Turnberry Isle for Aidan O’Brien, but I don’t know how likely it is that he’d get in, and it seems debatable if this would even be the plan.
A more realistic candidate might be What’s The Story, who hasn’t been hammered for his win last week, and he’ll surely go here.
He’s probably near the head of the list with Stylehunter, but with these guys also on the radar……
Battered
Bless Him
Cape Byron
Crazy Horse
Seniority
Settle For Bay
Zwaayan….I’ve no option but to hold off.
Right now the only certainty is that I’ll bet Hors De Combat after final decs, and as much as I’m tempted by Stylehunter and What’s The Story, no bet for now……..famous last words no doubt.
A love of mine, too, VTC.
I recall some disgruntlement when Blue Mist failed to win the Victoria Cup but Watson hadn’t ridden many winners for Charlton by then and it bore all the hallmarks of a prep run; they’re right on the edge of the likely minimum rating but that course win last autumn cannot be forgotten
Preening has the form to run well, whilst Battered is a big price for a horse with just one bad run to his name
Nicklaus probably needs to win at Epsom to qualify but he’s a horse I’ll follow again this season
Afaak runs well second time up so it would be interesting if he had a run in the next week or so.
Not one to bet on yet, but Blue Mist went into my ‘notebook’ for this after his last run.
Blue Mist a fair shout guys.
Mark, agree on Battered, early fancy of mine for The Lincoln, and I could easily forgive that strange run on the all weather.
Stylehunter out today at Newmarket.
Still my #1 for this, and sorely tempted to go in right now for the 20’s, but I’ll leave it as late as possible.
Plenty of money about this week for Settle For Bay, last years winner, and he’s best priced 16’s now.
Slowly working my way through the ascot races, and having watched umpteen replays for
horses in this, I was very impressed with Bowerman 14/1 with Coral. He won
as he liked at Newcastle by 2 1/4l, but it could have been double that easily. The
handicapper didn’t miss him with a 9lb rise, but the way he won suggests to me that
there is a lot to come. He could still be well handicapped and I fancy his chances.Nice write-up as always Bobby
My initial reaction to that Stylehunter run is that he didn’t break well but then wanted to lead, lost that battle and didn’t pick up later.
I was fairly keen on him for this last year and I’d be interested to see Frankie onboard from the front.
Two for me here –
What’s The Story 20/1
Won easy enough off 96 last time at York, 4lb rise is more than fair and his fourth in this last season off 98 was a good run. Think he’s improved this season for being gelded and if that’s the case he has to go very close.Settle For Bay 16/1
Last years winner who looks to have been campaigned back to this race again. 6 higher than last year isn’t ideal but he sluiced up then looking like another 6 wouldn’t have stopped him.I’ve been doing my Ascot antepost study all of this week nightly and I’ve spent the last hour on the Royal Hunt Cup. Here’s where I’m at.
The favourite Red Graduate looks like the proverbial ‘group horse in a handicap’. His form at Ripon looks unbelievable now. The second in the race he won finished third in the Victoria Cup and won a Class 2 at Chester after that. The third won a class 2 back at Ripon and the fourth won easily at Beverley. New Graduate beat that field by 5 lengths eased down whilst screaming to the field that he was a group horse. He could absolute bolt up in this. I feel that when the public looks into his field when he’s declared, he will go as short as 4/1. So the 8s is definitely a bet for me.
Settle for Bay won last year with something in hand but hasn’t been quite as good this season. Back to back wins in this race is a huge ask.
Blue Mist looked like one for this when sixth in the Victoria Cup but the eyecatcher from that for me was Raising Sands. He flew home and is being aimed at this. Maybe some rain would suit for him but I can’t see him going off as big as 14s. One I like after backing him last time when flying home. A never nearer fourth that screamed Royal Hunt Cup. Kynren could go here and was second that day and loves a big field Ascot handicap.
Red Tea pissed up at the Curragh but hasn’t got that good of an Ascot record so I’d have to ignore her because of that. Joseph O’Brien has clearly brought out improvement in her though.
The last one of note for me would be Robin of Navan who incredibly is a group 1 winner back in the day and at his best surely would win. He’s incredibly hard to get right though as a punter and he’d be one I’d be looking at on the day depending very much on the draw and price.
But with the draw unknown at this point, there’s two I’ll be playing as soon as I post this:
New Graduate @ 8/1 E/W (5 places)
Raising Sands @ 14/1 E/W (5 places)Mark, I was quite disappointed with Stylehunter, but I’ll still bet him if he’s declared.
I’m swaying towards Bowerman and Settle For Bay as well, so probably no Antepost selection.
King’s Field for me stands out. Wasn’t knocked about last time at all when his chance was gone (the second got out faster than him + probably stopped him getting going earlier). Has good form and could potentially be on the upgrade. Last year his 6th behind Smash Williams reads well considering he had no run at all, and was only 3.5Ls off him and Imaging.
Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!As much as I wasn’t that impressed last time, Stylehunter sneaks in, and pleased to get a bigger price now, so one of those occasions where I’ve benefited from holding back. Plenty of questions to answer, but I’m hoping the showers will improve his chances. I’ve only bet win at moment, but I will cover the places.
If the showers do materialise, and they’re certainly forecast, then one horse who’ll relish the slower ground will be Chilean. He’s got some nice runs under his belt when he gets his ground, and Meade can lay them out for these big pots. I like the 40’s to six places.
Definitely a race to have another, and the 12’s Settle For Bay appeals, as does the 33’s for Breden. I’ll wait till nearer the time for #3, as ground will be big factor.
For now, I’m going to go with…
Stylehunter 25’s
Chilean 40’s EW 6 PlacesI have backed four in this all seven places each way
KYNREN cos he is definitely my cliff horse and he has to win one of these big handicaps one day and I will find a short rope and a tall tree if he doesn’t!! 14/1
MORDIN at 20/1 . This one has run well in a Group three and won on the soft AND was second in the Cambridgeshire last backend!
VALE OF KENT who is a huge price and if he gets home over the mile which I am not convinced about will make the 50/1 look huge!
BERINGER at 25/1 Third in the Lincoln and has run well on soft ground but trainer did say the ground beat him at Donny an he does stay further.By the way even though I have backed two older horse four year old have a great recent record in this!!
I’m not sure about the going but would love to see War Glory run a big race
he seems to have settled better when off the pace as well as when leading which is just aswell as you don’t want to be breaking your neck to lead with so many in the raceGaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
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