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Angus McNae - Friday 21st June 2013

Don’t forget the Voice at Ascot

Next week I will take a look back at all of the action from Royal Ascot, but I will throw one observation at you now.

Sectional times, as ever, tell us exactly what happened in races and they have indicated that The Fugue ran the last three furlongs of the Prince of Wales's Stakes faster than any other horse in the race.

This was far from obvious when watching the race but the numbers do not lie and she will surely land a big prize this season.

She is of an easy ride and needs to be delivered late as Richard Hughes did at Goodwood last year, but she has blistering finishing pace and I would venture to say she is set for a very good season.

As ever today's card is fraught with danger for punters. One horse captures my imagination and it is Leading Light in the Queens Vase. I was impressed with this horse at the Curragh last time out when he won the Gallinule Stakes.

That race was over ten furlongs and he now faces a step up in trip to two miles. As far as the trip is concerned we are guessing a little bit, but I am sure Aidan O Brien is anything but guessing in placing his charge in this race and he won the Gallinule in a manner that suggests he has plenty of stamina.

He is a horse with an infinite amount of potential and can be backed at the time of writing at 9-4 and I suspect he will be even shorter when they go into the stalls.

Forgotten Voice (Johnny Murtagh)
wiinning the 2009 Royal Hunt Cup.
© racing-images.co.uk

That is my short priced poke out of the way. In terms of something at a bigger price take a chance with Forgotten Voice in the Wolferton Handicap.

This horse is trained by Nicky Henderson and has been hurdling, most recently getting beaten by My Tent Or Yours at Aintree. His Achilles’ heel when hurdling is his keen-going nature and I think a return to the Flat at a track where he has decent form could reap some reward. He won the 2009 Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot and then in 2010 he finished fifth in the Group 2 Summer Mile, also at the Berkshire course.

He gets to race off just a 4lb higher mark than he did when winning the Hunt Cup cosily and with Johnny Murtagh on board he looks set to run a big race. He will be available to back at around 14/1 and that is fair each-way value.

There you have it. Two selections for the fourth day of the Royal meeting. I will be back tomorrow to try to end Royal Ascot 2013 with a few winners.

Friday’s tips:

4.25 Ascot: Forgotten Voice each-way at 14-1 with William Hill

5.00 Ascot: Leading Light at 2-1 with William Hill