With the biggest racing occasion in the UK on the close horizon, here are some horses that are attractively priced in the ante post market and that can outperform their odds.
DANCING GEMINI – Queen Anne Stakes, Tuesday
Since his defeat by Lead Artist in the Lockinge Stakes DANCING GEMINI has delighted his connections and in a Group 1 that looks more open than usual is worth a second glance. His previous victories in a Listed race at Doncaster and the Group 2 Sandown Mile expose him as a better horse than he was as a three-year-old, while the straight mile at Ascot should ideally suit him as he has a fierce turn of foot, and will require racing real estate at the finish
ASFOORA – King Charles III Stakes, Tuesday
Overseas challengers are more scarce at this year’s renewal and it’s therefore enlightening to see Australian mare ASFOORA defending her crown in this sizzling heat. The Henry Dwyer-trained seven-year-old, who was later beaten a short head by Big Evs at Goodwood and finished fourth in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York, arrives on the back of a disappointing run at Morphettville that came too soon after her comeback triumph in a Group 3 at the same track. Recalling the impressive surge she produced before hitting the front last year, the return to 1000 metres should greatly assist her cause.
URBAN LION – Royal Hunt Cup, Wednesday
URBAN LION has been trained with this big handicap in mind ever since his narrow defeat in the Spring Cup at Newbury. Jack Channon hasn’t found a suitable subsequent opportunity to get another run into the giant gelding, who is in great form at home and bursting for another run. Off a mark of 85 it’s far from certain he will make the cut, but as he will be declared to run there’s no risk in having a small investment at the currently available 40-1.
NEVER LET GO – Sandringham Stakes, Friday
Ed Walker has always held NEVER LET GO in high regard and she is one to nick a lumpy price about in this fillies’ only contest that is relatively new to the Royal Ascot menu. Beaten less than a length in a Listed race at Goodwood last time, she’s taken a 12 lb hike in the ratings but her shrewd handler still believes she’s attractively treated, and that she will be in the shake-up.
ILLINOIS – Gold Cup, Thursday
ILLINOIS has become the Coolmore standard bearer in the Cup races courtesy of the retirement of Kyprios. He has a big act to follow, but having greatly impressed in the way he got the job done in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester, last season’s St Leger runner-up is one of the more appealing short priced runners at the meeting. He looks for all the world as if he wants to go further, while the form from that final Classic could hardly have worked out better.
KON TIKI – Coronation Stakes, Friday
KON TIKI needs to be supplemented into this fillies’ Group 1 but should that happen she is worth backing to remain unbeaten. Jane Chapple-Hyam’s charge came with a sustained run to take out a Listed contest at York, and after hitting the front was always doing enough. Even though the runner-up let the form down, that happened at Epsom, where many horses fail to uphold their form owing to the tricky camber of the track. Against that Kon Tiki looks a most progressive individual.
APOLLO ONE – Wokingham Handicap, Saturday
Priced up between 25-1 and 40-1, APOLLO ONE is over priced based for the final day betting extravaganza on the pick of his form from 2024. The chestnut didn’t run at the Royal meeting but put in a career best when landing the Group 3 Bengough Stakes on his final outing at Ascot, and was in need of his seasonal return in the Abernant at Newmarket.The seven-year-old usually needs a race to bring him to the boil, and while near the top of the weights is a classy operator who appears to have been overlooked.
