We start on Friday with the 6f Albany Stakes at 2.30pm which is a little guessing game to a degree because the American horses have not gone this far before. They are so good out of the gate that you wonder will they be able to see out the trip on slower ground. Wesley Ward’s raider Nayibeth has to be respected, but Kevin Ryan’s Galadriel went straight into my tracker when this huge filly ran over 5f against a lot of experienced horses. She saw out her race really well to finish fourth, so I will be having a little on her to improve again over this extra furlong.
Japan is a short price to win the Group 2 King Edward Stakes at 15.05 – but for good reason. He finished best of all at Epsom in the Derby and that will make him popular. However, I am willing to give Bangkok another chance. He wouldn’t be the first horse to bomb out at Epsom and then bounce back to form at Ascot.
Ten Sovereigns is another shortie for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore – but this will be different ball game to his fifth place in the 2,000 Guineas. I was working at Haydock when Hello Youmzain won the Sandy Lane Stakes and he is a monster. I am going to take on Ten Sovereigns with him in the 3.40pm.
It could be a big 45 minutes for Aidan O’Brien as his Hermosa is a dual 1,000 Guineas winner and is a special filly on what we saw of her at Curragh and Newmarket. I think she will win the Coronation Stakes at 4.20pm but Pretty Pollyanna is the value bet as an each-way alternative at 9/1 as she was not far behind Hermosa when second at HQ.
Former top jockey and now trainer Richard Hughes is one of my best friends and he rode a lot of winners at the Royal meeting. It would mean the world to him to have a winner here and he saddles Lady Madison in the 1m Handicap Stakes at 5pm who was impressive when winning at Windsor last time. It’s her first handicap,Hughes is delighted with her so she gets the nod at a decent price where Paddy is paying the first 6 home.
Baghdad won the King George V Stakes here last year and will be popular again with Ryan Moore on board for Mark Johnston. However, Corgi was just a neck second to him back then and will be better for his first run after wind surgery when third behind First Eleven and Fujaira Prince at York. Horses are sometimes better on the second run after a wind op and his trainer Hughie Morrison is a really good operator. Corgi gets the nod in Friday’s finale at 5.35pm.
Prices correct at time of publishing
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