McGuinness hopeful for select team of Royal Ascot runners Nineteen Irish-trained horses will take part on the opening day of Royal Ascot tomorrow and Ado McGuinness is represented in that sizeable raiding party by Harry’s Bar, who is set to take his chance in the King’s Stand Stakes. A seven-time winner for James Fanshawe, the Exceed And Excel gelding landed a Listed race at Dundalk on his stable debut last November. Having been kept on the go on all-weather surfaces over the winter, the 6-year-old was second on his return to turf when chasing home Commonwealth Cup hopeful Mooniesta at Naas in April. With last year’s winner Battaash heading the market for the five furlong Group 1 for older horses, Ronan Whelan’s mount is among the outsiders at around 40/1. Stable companion Bowerman, a Group 3 winner at Dundalk in September, hasn’t landed a blow in stakes company in recent outings but could be an interesting contender in the Royal Hunt Cup on Wednesday. Owned by the Total Recall Racing Club, who have been loyal supporters of the Lusk handler for many years, Bowerman showed his effectiveness in a big field when successful in last year’s Irish Lincolnshire at the Curragh. “Bowerman will go for the Royal Hunt Cup and Harry’s Bar for the King’s Stand,” said McGuiness. “A Case Of You goes for the Commonwealth Cup on Friday, and I’ll hopefully keep Harry over there for either the Wokingham or the Golden Jubilee (on Saturday). “They are all in great form — I’m happy with all of them. A Case Of You is an exciting young sprinter who was bought out of John McConnell’s yard after winning a Group 3 at the Curragh last season. The Hot Streak colt, owned by Glen Devlin, registered his second Pattern success when getting up close home in the Lacken Stakes on Royal Ascot Trials Day at Naas last month and McGuinness is hopeful of a big run in the six furlong Group 1 for 3-year-olds. “They are giving a drop of rain there on Friday and we would be happy to get that for A Case Of You. “The form of his win in Dundalk is good (beat subsequent dual Listed winner Logo Hunter by over three lengths in March). "The track over there is sand based more than clay and Fran Berry has said it to me several times that all-weather horses have a great record in Ascot.”
