YEATS GOES FOR GOLD!
His historic bid for fourth Royal Ascot triumph is on course
ROYAL ASCOT kicks off on Tuesday and for many the highlight will be Yeats' bid to become the first horse ever to land a fourth Gold Cup.
With a meeting that seems to last longer than the Hundred Years' War, you have got to pick your shots and hope to strike the target in at least one of the big handicaps.
MONDAY
USUALLY I can't see a favourite without wanting to get it beat.
But Amour Propre is the exception in the five-furlong blitz of the King's Stand.
Henry Candy, a man laid back past the horizontal, is a master with sprinters and has his string in rattling good nick. Amour Propre, part-owned by the BBC's John Inverdale, is wicked quick and 7-2 looks very fair.
Paul Cole's No Hubris looked a very smart two-year-old when well backed to make a winning debut at York's may Meeting and can take the Coventry Stakes.
But the opening day nap has to be Tasheba in the marathon Ascot Stakes though he needs a few to drop out so he can scrape in at the bottom of the weights.
Nicky Henderson does well with his Flat runners, Tashba has long been aimed for this and Frankie Dettori is booked. If he gets in then get on.
TUESDAY
JOHN GOSDEN is the main man in the big mile handicaps and can take my beloved Hunt Cup with Cadre, currently third favourite at 10-1.
Cadre has a real engine and you can forget his defeat last time when the race conspired against him. Gosden admits that Cadre is a bit of a worrier who might find itr all a bit much mentally but the ability is there and it is a chance worth taking. Save on Manassas who is overpriced at 33-1.
Rose Blossom has been the subject of a big money deal in recent days and this filly, who has won her sole start in a good time, can nick the Queen Mary for the in-form Richard Fahey.
In the closing Sandringham Stakes, Irish jockey Fran Berry is an eye-catching booking for Arabian Mirage who can step up on her fourth in the Nell Gwyn.
WEDNESDAY
YEATS attempts his historic Gold Cup four-timer off a distinctly disappointing run but the softish ground was against him and this is the day that matters. He has become a bit more knowing as he gets older but should have the edge over Patkai who is significantly strong in the market.
Just the 30 three-year-olds line up for the Britannia Stakes but I am sweet on the chance on Andrew Balding's Brief Encounter. He overcame a sea of troubles to win at York and, though up 7lbs, looks very useful.
Our Derby benefactor John Oxx knows his way round Royal Ascot handicaps and his Zarinski gets the vote in the King George Handicap that brings the curtain down on day three.
THURSDAY
ONE THOUSAND GUINEAS scorer Ghanaati faces the winners of both the French and Irish Guineas and should win that classic confrontation but it is notable that John Oxx has supplemented Baliyana for the race and she must be the each-way punt.
Lillie Langtry, in the Albany Stakes is the banker of the week for Aidan O'Brien who had an eye-watering six winners at the meeting last year.
FRIDAY
KING'S APOSTLE is cracking value at around 10-1 for the Group One Golden Jubilee over six furlongs. He has a terrific attitude, loves Ascot and ran a blinder when conceding 3lbs all round at York last month .
William Haggas was delighted with that run and King's Apostle will have been primed to the minute. He can prove Group One class and is too big a price.
In the Wokingham you have to cover your stakes with the Haggas-trained favourite High Standing and if you think 8-1 looks skinny he will be shorter by the off.
Roger Charlton has won the Wokingham before and his Genki appeals strongly at 12-1 while Exclamation is an each-way stab at a massive price.
Read Alastair Down every week in the Racing Post
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