Royal Ascot Tips: Rory Delargy’s best bets including an 8/1 Gold Cup shout

Rory is always on the hunt for value and he likes the look of Subjectivist in the Gold Cup (4:20pm).

By / Horse Racing Tips, Royal Ascot / 11 months ago

Rory Delargy’s Horse Racing Tips

14:30 – Elite Status
15:05 – Desert Hero
15:40 – Al Asifah
16:20 – Subjectivist
17:00 – Docklands
17:35 – Caernarfon
18:10 – Vafortino

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

14:30 – Elite Status

Elite Status is the pick on form having won the National Stakes at Sandown in some style, and there is no reason to think he can’t do better still. He had five lengths to spare over World of Darcy at Sandown and produced an excellent time figure as he stormed clear. He still needs a bit of luck with the draw, but is clearly the one to aim at.

15:05 – Desert Hero

This race tends to throw up a Group horse, and while that may apply to Bertinelli, he’s giving plenty of weight to some promising types, and he gets the elbow despite his London Gold Cup win last time out. He and the runner-up came wide that day, and I’ve marked up beaten favourite Desert Hero who led and raced on the inner. He also met trouble late on and probably needed the run after an absence, so I’m backing him to bounce back with that run behind him.

Desert Hero is drawn in stall 21, but Atty Persse (22) and Space Age (20) have shown that a very wide draw is no bar to success in this race in recent years, and watching racing this week shows how much trouble there can be near the rail on the back straight.

15:40 – Al Asifah

A big field for the Ribblesdale means the comments on the draw are again worth remembering, so hot favourite Al Asifah looks well berthed in stall 13, and the way she demolished her field at Goodwood last time marks her down as potentially the best middle-distance 3-y-o filly of the season. Despite the prestige, the Ribblesdale is not always the strongest race, and Al Asifah looks to have something in hand of her rivals.

16:20 – Subjectivist

I don’t think this is a great renewal of the Gold Cup, although it’s competitive and big on numbers. Subjectivist was injured winning this contest two years ago, and retirement was mooted, but made a good enough recovery to race respectably in Saudi Arabia/Dubai early this year. His third in the Dubai Gold Cup is not quite good enough to win this, but Charlie Johnston has had three months to tease him back to his best, and I’d be disappointed if what he showed in Dubai is the limit of his ability these days. He is capable of maintaining a strong gallop at this trip, which is a concern for most of his rivals, and he’s taken to stage a triumphant return to British racing.

17:00 – Docklands

Docklands won well over C&D on soft ground last time, but I don’t think the ground is that important to him, and he made a very encouraging debut on good ground at Haydock last season. That form has worked out well, and while there are mixed messages from his latest win, more horses who were behind him that day have run well since than the one or two who have disappointed.

Harry Eustace’s colt is unexposed, and while a 14lb rise for that win throws him into a much deeper race, he gives the impression that was more than a one-off, and he can progress further on just his second start in handicaps. Hayley Turner is his regular rider, and she has a decent record over C&D at Royal Ascot, with two Sandringham Handicap wins to her name.

17:35 – Caernarfon

Caernarfon ran a mighty race to be third in the Oaks last time, and the slight drop in trip will suit judged on how she travelled through that race. She obviously has to tackle the boys here, but she is dropping from Group 1 to Group 3 company and I don’t think this is such a stiff task for Jack Channon’s game filly, who also made the frame in the 1000 Guineas. This intermediate trip should suit her perfectly, and the ground is clearly no issue give the contrasting conditions those Classics were run under.

18:10 – Vafortino

I thought Vafortino was unlucky when mid-field in this last year, having to switch twice in the closing stages and unable to get on terms despite travelling well. He won the Victoria Cup over C&D last year, and was an excellent third in the latest running of that valuable handicap on soft ground, which the winner relished. He looked as good as ever there, and although Benoit De La Sayette has now lost his claim, I still fancy the combination to hit the frame at least.

His draw in stall 19 is a useful one as the obvious pace in the race comes from nearby stalls, and he should get the perfect tow as a result.

Rory Delargy’s Horse Racing Tips

14:30 – Elite Status
15:05 – Desert Hero
15:40 – Al Asifah
16:20 – Subjectivist
17:00 – Docklands
17:35 – Caernarfon
18:10 – Vafortino

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

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