£1 million Royal Ascot finale has attracted star-studded line up The Platinum Jubilee Stakes is the highlight on the final day of Royal Ascot and the Group 1 contest over 6 furlongs has attracted a bumper field of 27 runners. Following the scintillating victory of Aussie speedster Native Strip in the King Stand Stakes on Tuesday all eyes will be on his younger stablemate Home Affairs in today’s big race. The four-year-old boasts high-class form on home soil where he has won twice at Group One level including when edging out Native Strip at Flemington earlier this year. Also in the line up is American sprinter Campanelle which has already tasted victory twice at the Berkshire course with victories in the 2020 Queen Mary Stakes and was awarded last year’s Commonwealth Cup in the stewards’ room. There is real strength in depth throughout the race with all 27 runners boasting ratings in excess of 100. There are two Irish-trained representatives, A Case Of You and Gustavus Weston. Of that pair Ado McGuinness’ A Case Of You would look to have solid each-way claims if running up to his best form. He is drawn on the wing in stall 27 which will help his cause. There is more Irish interest in the fiendishly difficult Wokingham Handicap at 5pm where 28 runners are set to go to post. Ken Condon’s Quarantine Dreams is among the favourites on his first try in a handicap. The 4-y-o son of Make Believe has been running at Listed level lately and would have a chance on the form of his third place finish behind Romantic Proposal at the Curragh this time last year. Ross O’Sullivan and Johnny Murtagh are also represented with likely outsiders. Michael O’Callaghan whose Crispy Cat had a luckless passage in Thursday’s opener runs another nice juvenile in Saturday’s Chesham Stakes at 2.30pm. Crypto Force was most impressive on debut at the Curragh at the start of this month when readily beating a well-touted Ballydoyle newcomer and should run well in this higher class contest. BoyleSports are offering their customers money back as a free bet on all losers in this race. Bet €10 Get €50 + Money Back As A Free Bet On All Losers — 2.30 Ascot Saturday *IRE/NI new customers only. Min stake €/£10. Min odds Evs. Free Bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. Free Bets expire in 7 days. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP address only. Payment method restrictions. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. 18+.T&C's Apply. **18+. IRE & NI mobile customers & all in-shop BoyleXtra cardholders. Max Free Bet refund £/€10 on losing selections. Applies to first bet on race from 3pm Friday 17th June on win single & win part of each way single on the outright market. Applies to 2.30pm Royal Ascot, Saturday 18th June. Antepost/combined odds/Free/void/cashed out bets won't qualify. Free Bet will expire after 7 days. T&Cs apply. Dunlewey.org The action is rounded off with the marathon Queen Alexandra Stakes over two miles five furlongs and 143 yards where the current favourite Trueshan is an unlikely runner due to the quick ground. Trueshan was withdrawn from Thursday’s Gold Cup for the same reason. In his probable absence the door is wide open for a sixth Irish victory in eleven years. Willie Mullins saddles last year’s winner Stratum while Aidan O’Brien’s Wordsworth and Dermot Weld’s Falcon Eight also look to have leading claims. Falcon Eight was a beaten favourite in this contest twelve months ago when unsuited by Soft ground and should fare better this time and give Tom Marquand a good spin. Wordsworth is yet to race beyond two miles but has solid claims based on his close fourth to Princess Zoe over the course in the Sagaro Stakes at the end of April.
