Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
It’s the final day of Royal Ascot this Saturday, and ITV Racing is covering the whole seven races from the Berkshire course. The highlight of the day is the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, the richest race of the week.
This is backed up by a Group 2, a Group 3, a Listed race and three Class 2s, one of which is the big betting contest of the meeting, The Wokingham, where we can expect to see 28 horses thundering down 6 furlongs of the lush Ascot turf.
I have looked for the best value in the seven races, and here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Royal Ascot Lucky Fifteen
3.05 Epic Poet
3.40 Topgear
5.00 Aramram/Noble Truth
5.35 Sallaal
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Beginning with the 3.05, the Hardwick Stakes is a Group 2 contest run over 1m 4f, where Charlie Appleby’s Rebel’s Romance is the current favourite, which is unsurprising considering his list of victories. He is a multiple Grade 1 winner and, after wintering in the Middle East, he returned to the UK and promptly won the Yorkshire Cup at York in May. He’s sure to go well.
Tom Clover’s Tabletalk has found one too good on both his outings this season, which were both at Newbury, but last time he finished in front of Al Aasy and Subway. He should confirm those placings, but may not trouble the judge.
Clive Cox’s Ghostwriter disappointed last season after a fine 2-year-old campaign and has not fared any better this term.
David O’Meara’s Epic Poet won at Meydan in January and continued racing in the Middle East, being placed on three occasions. He returned here to run at York in May, finishing second, beaten just a head by Rebel’s Romance. He will come on for that run and can be successful here.
The richest race of the week is at 3.40, The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes. This is a wonderful renewal of this Group 1, which is run over 6 furlongs and looks very open.
The current favourite is Kevin Ryan’s Inisherin, who won the Commonwealth Cup at last year’s Royal meeting. He won a Group 2 at York last month on his seasonal reappearance and is sure to make a bold effort.
Aidan O’Brien’s Storm Boy raced in Australia previously and had his first run for his new stable at the Curragh last month, but was very disappointing, finishing last of nine runners. He will be stripped out after that poor effort.
The winner of that Curragh race was Clive Cox’s James’s Delight, who landed the spoils at a big price. This is much tougher.
Reflecting the international interest in this race, there is a Japanese entry, Satono Reve, trained by Noriyuki Hori. He is a Grade 1 winner in the Land of the Rising Sun, but despite that, he has a daunting task.
The French have never won this, but they have a strong hand here with three runners all with chances.
Andre Fabre’s Sajir won a Grade 3 at Newmarket in April.
Jean Reynier’s Lazzat was Group 1 winner at Deauville last year and won a Listed race at Chantilly in early May as a prelude to this.
I prefer Christopher Head’s Topgear, who beat Sajir at Longchamp last month. He finished last season by winning a Grade 2 at Newmarket in October. Allez France.
The Wokingham Stakes is at 5.00. This Class 2 Heritage Handicap is run over 6 furlongs. There will be a field of 28, making it one of the most competitive sprints on the calendar.
Among the favourites is William Haggas’s More Thunder, who has won both his starts this campaign, latterly a Class 2 at Newmarket where he beat another of the fancied horses, Richard Hannon’s Aramram, who went to Newbury last month and gained recompense by winning a Grade 2 there.
Owen Burrows’s Jarraaf won twice last season over 6 furlongs. He ran 4th on his seasonal reappearance, beaten just a length in a Listed race at Salisbury last month.
Charlie Appleby’s Symbol Of Honour has won four times in five outings this season, and this 3-year-old has been climbing up the rankings. A bold run is expected.
Hugo Palmer’s Roman Dragon is something of a Chester specialist, having won at that turning track on six occasions, including last time out in early May.
Ascot is a different kettle of fish, and he may struggle against these speedsters on a straight course.
Harry Charlton’s Completely Random won the Richard III at Leicester in April but disappointed behind Aramram the following month at Newbury, so more is required. This leaves me with Aramram as the selection, especially as Ryan Moore has been booked for the ride.
However, as to my outsider fancy, I am going completely off-piste with the Irish raider Noble Truth now trained by John C McConnell. This horse was trained by Charlie Appleby when winning the Jersey Stakes at this meeting back in 2022.
Early the following season, he flopped badly at Meydan and was passed on to David O’Meara. He ran twice on the all-weather with no enthusiasm and now finds himself with McConnell. I can’t believe he has lost all his ability. Could this be the race he gets it back?
Finally, the 5.35 is the Golden Gates Stakes, which is a Class 2 Handicap for 3-year-olds run over 1m 2f. The bookies’ favourite is Ralph Beckett’s Seraph Gabriel, who ran well last season, winning once and was a well-beaten second at Sandown in April on his seasonal reappearance.
The French runner Best Secret, trained by S Wattel, was a winner at Longchamp in April. He has a fair chance and may hit the frame.
Aidan O’Brien’s Roosevelt won at Leopardstown in May but flopped at Fairyhouse earlier this month and was reported to be blowing hard after the race.
Another Irish challenger is JP Murtagh’s Dakota Blue, which won at Navan in April and was only beaten a short-head at the same course the following month, one for the frame.
I like the look of Roger Varian’s Sallaal, who found himself short of room in a Listed race at Newmarket in April but went to Hamilton the next month and easily won a Class 2 handicap. That sort of form can see him triumph here.
Saturday Royal Ascot Lucky Fifteen
3.05 Epic Poet
3.40 Topgear
5.00 Aramram/Noble Truth
5.35 Sallaal
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
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