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Angus McNae's Racing UK Blog |
| Tuesday 14th June 2016 | |
Godolphin can get off to a flying start in Queen Anne
In my recent column searching for horses to lay at Royal Ascot, I have already highlighted my opposition to Tepin in the Queen Anne Stakes on Tuesday.
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If I don't like her there must be value elsewhere and that value lies in backing Godolphin’s Belardo each-way.
The rain has come to help his cause and he showed that he retained a lot of his ability when showing a sharp turn of foot to win the Lockinge Stakes last month.
In a recent interview with Roger Varian he told me that they are "very keen to run," which tells me that since the Lockinge he has been working well.
Given that he comes from an in-form yard and will be ridden by the excellent Andrea Atzeni he must be backed each-way to give us a cracking start to the royal meeting.
Sometimes it pays to go with the obvious and in the King’s Stand Stakes surely Mecca’s Angel will be very hard to beat. She loves some ease in the ground - in fact the more rain the better and she ran really well in defeat on her comeback in the Temple Stakes.
In my opinion she had to commit too early in that race before being intimidated and ultimately beaten by Profitable, who re-opposes. He is in the field again today, and is clearly a big danger but conditions are coming right for Mecca’s Angel and she can make that advantage tell.
The St James's Palace Stakes features three Guineas winners. I am not a particular fan of Galileo Gold or The Gurkha for this race so it has to be Awtaad.
Galileo Gold won the English Guineas, but was put in his place at the Curragh by Awtaad in similar going conditions to Ascot, and there is no reason why he will turn the form around.
What's more I do not think that a stiff mile will suit Hugo Palmer's charge. He is all speed and to me seven furlongs would be his ideal trip. As for The Gurkha? He did not beat much when he won the French Guineas. Yes, he was impressive , but this is a different and tougher task and he does not warrant being as short as 5-4 . I think Awtaad should be backed with some confidence .
Angus McNae's Royal Ascot day one tips:
2.30 Ascot: Belardo each-way at 9-2 with Betfair Sportsbook
3.40 Ascot: Mecca's Angel at 7-4 generally available
4.20 Ascot: Awtaad at 15-8 generally available
