It’s the final day of Royal Ascot 2024. Make sure to catch all of our race-by-race tips and picks right here.
ROYAL ASCOT – DAY FIVE
Race 1 – BEDTIME STORY 33/20
Aidan O’Brien’s BEDTIME STORY has a curious pedigree, being by Frankel and out of the rapid sprinter Mecca’s Angel.
She looked a strong stayer when beating an odds-on stable companion on her debut over an extended seven furlongs.
With that experience under her belt, she should take some beating in the Chesham Stakes, although Appleby’s Age Of Gold should keep her honest.
Race 2 – ELEGANT MAN 7/1
Continuous looks a very short price in the Hardwicke Stakes given O’Brien’s recent comments about him needing a run.
With that in mind, a chance is taken on the outsider ELEGANT MAN.
The key to this horse might be the fast ground, but we simply do not know quite how good he could be yet.
He nearly won a Listed race on just his second outing against multiple Group One winner Rebel’s Romance and his victory at Newcastle on All-Weather Finals Day promised plenty.
On his turf debut he may have been outclassed behind White Birch and Auguste Rodin, but connections are adamant the ground beat him and given they trained the third, Crypto Force, who they do not believe to be in the same league, there could be something in that. In any case, the first two are very smart.
Race 3 – SHARTASH 5/1
SHARTASH has been revitalised since joining Archie Watson and can make his Group One breakthrough in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.
He was smart two-year-old for Johnny Murtagh, winning the 2022 Railway Stakes, he appeared to lose his way last year.
He would not be the first three-year-old sprinter to struggle against the older horses, though, and he was sold for €150,000 last September.
Making his first start for Watson in a conditions race at Thirsk, he bolted up, beating subsequent Victoria Cup second Ramazan and Holloway Boy, a Royal Ascot-winning juvenile who ran a cracker in Wednesday’s Royal Hunt Cup.
Next time out Shartash was in Listed company over seven furlongs and he won again, beating a couple of solid yardsticks in Pogo and Witch Hunter.
A stiff six furlongs looks ideal and in a race with no standout, he can make the step up.
Race 4 – RIVER TIBER14/10
Haatem and RIVER TIBER will have plenty of supporters in the Jersey Stakes but preference is for the latter.
Both finished behind impressive St James’s Palace scorer Rosallion in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, with Haatem coming home a head behind the winner but a length and a quarter in front of River Tiber.
However, that was River Tiber’s first start for 238 days while Haatem had the benefit of two previous runs, so O’Brien’s runner should improve for the outing and looks the more likely of the two to benefit from a drop back to seven furlongs.
Race 5 – GLENFINNAN 25/1
It’s no easy task in such a wide-open 30-runner handicap, especially when Dark Trooper is such a strong contender.
GLENFINNAN has a low draw to contend with, but if the races earlier in the week are anything to go by, then horses coming up the middle have won their fair share. The only concern in that respect is that any further watering may change the track bias.
This four-year-old got off the mark for his new yard over this course and distance in May, and he has won over seven furlongs here as well.
His relatively new trainer Michael Dods is very adept with his sprinters and has won several big races over the last few years (not to mention he boasts a 36 percent win and place rate at Ascot), so it would be no surprise if Glenfinnan outruns his price here.
Race 6 – HAND OF GOD 3/1
Harry Charlton is a chip off the old block when it comes to late developing three-year-olds and it looks like he has another in HAND OF GOD in the Golden Gates Stakes.
An easy winner on his third start last year, he has been kept back for this since making all in the Esher Cup at Sandown and the step up in trip should suit.
Race 7 – DAWN RISING 4/1
DAWN RISING won this race last year and went on to enjoy multiple placed efforts including at Group level, so will be a leading contender in the Queen Alexandra Stakes.
Queenstown is developing a consistent profile following a smart one length second behind Gold Cup winner Kyprios in the Levmoss Stakes at Leopardstown, so should be respected.
Run For Oscar produced a solid third in this event last year. Stays well and holds claims.
