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Royal Ascot Preview: Underrated Contenders to Watch Next Week
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© Healy Racing Photos
Royal Ascot begins on Tuesday afternoon and there are five days of mesmerising action ready to unfold on the famous Berkshire turf.
There will be thrills and spills aplenty, lots of upsets and hopefully some well-fancied winners for punters to revel in.
Ahead of the Flat's seasons' showpiece meeting, we are looking at a quartet of possible Royal Ascot contenders flying under the radar.
Coral Betting Offer
Lady With The Lamp - Commonwealth Cup
Kevin Blake hit the headlines for his Epsom Derby predictions this month and the tipster/breeder/racing pundit will be hoping to shine at Royal Ascot as an owner.
He's part of the owning group behind the Joseph O'Brien-trained Lady With The Lamp, with Racing TV's Nick Luck also in the picture.
The three-year-old filly was a shock 66/1 winner of a Listed contest at Dundalk last season, but she has shown that to be no fluke in winning further races in that grade at Cork and Chelmsford this spring.
The margin of victory last time was only a neck but Dylan McMonagle's filly was always looming large in the final furlong.
Connections have every right to be targeting a major prize and the Commonwealth Cup is her next stop.
3.056f. 21 Declared.
Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) (Class 1 ) of £725,750.00 3-y-o
- Formscan
- Race Info
1st - €411,573.00 2nd - €156,036.00 3rd - €78,091.00 4th - €38,900.00 5th - €19,523.00 6th - €9,798.00 Going - Good to Firm.
Formscan - Last year's winner Inisherin proved that dropping back in trip after tasting defeat in the 2000 Guineas can open new doors for a progressive horse and it is highly noteworthy SHADOW OF LIGHT follows suit after his gallant third-placed finish in the Classic at Newmarket. Having won the Middle Park and Dewhurst on his way to claiming champion juvenile honours last year, the son of Lope De Vega is expected to excel as a sprinter. Babouche has already accounted for Whistlejacket in two high-profile races in Ireland so must be regarded as a serious player in receipt of 3lb from the boys. Ides Of March, Jonquil and Big Mojo all hold solid chances of gaining some prize money.
Odds Shortening 
Odds Lengthening | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
919 | 5th | Shadow Of Light | 11/8  7/4 | 13/8 |
815 | 13th | Jonquil | 6/1  7/2 | 9/2 |
| 1418 | 20th | Babouche | 4/1 6/1 | 7/1 |
202 | 15th | Shisospicy | 16/1 15/2 | 8/1 |
1211 | 6th | Whistlejacket | 11/1 | |
512 | 7th | Big Mojo | 11/1 16/1 | 16/1 |
722 | 16th | Ides Of March | 16/1 | |
1810 | 3rd | Rayevka | 33/1 20/1 | 18/1 |
221 | 1st | Time For Sandals | 50/1 18/1 | 25/1 |
320 | 2nd | Arizona Blaze | 25/1 | |
216 | 8th | Sky Majesty | 33/1 | |
1617 | 18th | Lady With The Lamp | 40/1 | |
134 | 12th | Arabian Dusk | 50/1 | |
15 | 9th | Ain't Nobody | 50/1 | |
63 | 21st | Diablo Rojo | 50/1 | |
197 | 4th | Sayidah Dariyan | 66/1 | |
119 | 11th | Strong Warrior | 33/1 66/1 | 80/1 |
413 | 14th | Berkshire Whisper | 40/1 150/1 | 100/1 |
1516 | 17th | Carla Ridge | 125/1 | |
108 | 19th | Soldier's Heart | 150/1 | |
214 | 10th | Arabie | 150/1 | |
1721 | n.r. | Leovanni | 28/1 | |
| Betting Percentage | 130% | |||
| Each-Way Terms | 4 1/5 | |||
13/8
Cercene - Coronation Stakes
Now that Lake Victoria is a confirmed absentee, the Coronation Stakes looks rather one dimensional betting-wise. Zarigana dominates, but she was undoubtedly fortunate to get the French 1000 Guineas in the stewards' room and faces a tough examination here. Cercene was a solid third behind Lake Victoria in the Irish Guineas at the Curragh, beaten by around four lengths but finishing her race off strongly.
The Australia filly is proving consistent in group-race company and has made the frame in all three Irish starts this season. A stiff mile at Ascot appeals on paper and the odds are very fair.
4.207f. 213yds. 11 Declared.
Coronation Stakes (Fillies' Group 1) (Rnd) (Class 1 ) of £725,750.00 3-y-o
- Formscan
- Race Info
1st - €411,573.00 2nd - €156,036.00 3rd - €78,091.00 4th - €38,900.00 5th - €19,523.00 6th - €9,798.00 Going - Good to Firm.
Formscan - The fact that FALAKEYAH has been supplemented could be a tip in itself, and Owen Burrows' filly looked every inch a Group 1 performer in the making when landing the Pretty Polly at Newmarket. Jim Crowley's mount showed electric pace on that occasion and, as long as she settles, it may be difficult for Zarigana to peg her back. The daughter of Siyouni was awarded the French 1000 Guineas after interference and has given the impression on a couple of occasions that going over further than 1m may bring out the best in her. A slightly unlucky fourth in the Longchamp Classic when short of room, Exactly has a Royal Ascot pedigree being out of Queen Mary winner Heartache, but she will need to improve again. A taking winner of a Listed contest at York, Kon Tiki deserves a crack at this level and the booking of William Buick catches the eye.
Odds Shortening Odds Lengthening | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 119 | 2nd | Zarigana | 2/1 11/8 | 11/8 |
62 | 9th | Falakeyah | 11/4 | |
810 | 3rd | January | 9/2 15/2 | 15/2 |
93 | 7th | Kon Tiki | 13/2 8/1 | 9/1 |
| 54 | 6th | Exactly | 12/1 | |
35 | 5th | Chantilly Lace | 11/1 18/1 | 16/1 |
711 | 8th | Flight | 20/1 | |
21 | 1st | Cercene | 25/1 | |
| 16 | 4th | Cathedral | 18/1 33/1 | 33/1 |
107 | 10th | Simmering | 66/1 | |
| 48 | 11th | Duty First | 66/1 | |
| Betting Percentage | 119% | |||
| Each-Way Terms | 3 1/5 | |||
Enfjaar - Wolferton Stakes
Roger Varian is no stranger to a winner at this meeting, the Newmarket handler now on 13 Royal Ascot victories.
The importance of these five days isn't lost on the trainer, Varian recently admitting: "We are looking at Ascot from January and trying to target races at the meeting."
© Healy Racing Photos
That looks to be the case with Enfjaar, who is bound for the Wolferton Stakes. The Shadwell-owned Lope De Vega gelding won the John Smith's Cup at York last summer and came agonisingly close to following up at Glorious Goodwood off a mark of 99 before holding his own in Group 3/Listed company afterwards.
He looked like he needed the run in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown on his comeback and a slight drop in class could see a big run from him back in Listed company.
5.351m. 1f. 212yds. 16 Declared.
Wolferton Stakes (Listed) (Class 1 ) of £120,000.00 4-y-o plus
- Formscan
- Race Info
1st - €68,052.00 2nd - €25,800.00 3rd - €12,912.00 4th - €6,432.00 5th - €3,228.00 6th - €1,620.00 Going - Good to Firm (Good in places).
Formscan - It was hard not to be impressed by Ecureuil Secret's success on his first start in a handicap at Epsom earlier in the month and the son of Wootton Bassett looks well worth his place in this class. Liberty Lane beat Meydaan by a neck at this level at Goodwood last month and he can confirm his authority over that rival to have a say, but a chance can be taken on TORITO. The five-year-old finished third in last year's renewal and the son of Kingman hasn't been seen since. He remains unexposed and sports first-time cheekpieces, which could eke out the improvement required to score.
Odds Shortening Odds Lengthening | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1112 | 3rd | King's Gambit | 7/1 4/1 | 4/1 |
| 82 | 4th | Enfjaar | 6/1 | |
141 | 5th | Sons And Lovers | 6/1 | |
19 | 2nd | Galen | 22/1 9/1 | 13/2 |
| 95 | 1st | Haatem | 11/2 15/2 | 7/1 |
78 | 10th | Ecureuil Secret | 12/1 | |
| 157 | 11th | Torito | 15/2 12/1 | 14/1 |
1211 | 13th | Meydaan | 10/1 14/1 | 14/1 |
| 310 | 6th | Military Order | 14/1 | |
415 | 7th | Phantom Flight | 40/1 22/1 | 22/1 |
216 | 12th | Liberty Lane | 25/1 | |
| 104 | 16th | Haunted Dream | 14/1 22/1 | 25/1 |
614 | 9th | Checkandchallenge | 33/1 | |
| 1313 | 14th | Passion And Glory | 33/1 | |
53 | 8th | Ambiente Friendly | 16/1 25/1 | 33/1 |
| 166 | 15th | Doha | 33/1 | |
| Betting Percentage | 126% | |||
| Each-Way Terms | 4 1/5 | |||
Spangled Mac - Wokingham Stakes
George Boughey is readying a strong team for the meeting and his string are in fine fettle, boasting a 22 per cent strike-rate in recent weeks with Royal Ascot looming large.
Spangled Mac has experience of this meeting and has twice gone well in the Buckingham Palace Stakes (7f, good to firm, 4th) and the Wokingham Stakes (6f, good to firm, 8th) in the last two years.
Quick ground suits him and he was a winner in Bahrain in January over 6f.
Boughey admits he's not the easiest to train, but suggests consistency is key when he runs and his odds may underestimate him.
5.006f. 28 Declared.
Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2 ) of £175,000.00 3-y-o plus
- Formscan
- Race Info
1st - €90,195.00 2nd - €42,298.00 3rd - €21,158.00 4th - €10,570.00 5th - €5,285.00 6th - €2,642.00 Going - Good to Firm.
Formscan - JARRAAF, a previous course-and-distance winner, failed to land the odds on his return in Listed company at Salisbury last month, but he could prove better with that outing under his belt and his stable's runners are going well at present. The hat-trick seeking More Thunder, Aramram and Woodhay Wonder are all closely matched and are shortlisted, while Get It impressed in scoring over track and trip last time and cannot be left out of calculations.
Odds Shortening Odds Lengthening | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
2123 | 2nd | More Thunder | 3/1 | |
512 | 12th | Jarraaf | 5/1 | |
1819 | 6th | Aramram | 11/2 | |
2314 | 5th | Completely Random | 15/2 | |
327 | 13th | Zoum Zoum | 10/1 | |
722 | 9th | Purosangue | 12/1 | |
2420 | 19th | Woodhay Wonder | 18/1 | |
169 | 15th | Cover Up | 18/1 | |
1526 | 17th | Orazio | 20/1 | |
104 | 3rd | Ten Pounds | 20/1 | |
271 | 22nd | Saint Lawrence | 25/1 | |
| 93 | 25th | Shartash | 25/1 | |
1113 | 1st | Get It | 25/1 | |
227 | 14th | Golden Mind | 25/1 | |
196 | 27th | We Never Stop | 25/1 | |
2929 | 4th | Holkham Bay | 25/1 | |
117 | 7th | Apollo One | 33/1 | |
228 | 23rd | Valiant Force | 33/1 | |
2610 | 18th | Germanic | 33/1 | |
45 | 16th | City House | 40/1 | |
624 | 8th | Korker | 40/1 | |
172 | 28th | Vadream | 50/1 | |
1316 | 11th | Twilight Calls | 66/1 | |
2811 | 10th | Jumby | 66/1 | |
2018 | 21st | Roman Dragon | 100/1 | |
2531 | 20th | Noble Truth | 100/1 | |
1425 | 24th | Desert Cop | 100/1 | |
1221 | 26th | Game Run | 100/1 | |
| 815 | n.r. | Symbol Of Honour | 7/1 | |
| Betting Percentage | 151% | |||
| Each-Way Terms | 6 1/5 | |||
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