Back Bolt and Catalina to be in Ascot mixer
WHILE the Prince of Wales’s Stakes is the headline event on Wednesday at Royal Ascot, there are a host of other quality contests for punters to get stuck into, particularly with World Pool in operation.
In the Group Two Duke of Cambridge Stakes (3.40pm), it’s the turn of the fillies and mares over Ascot’s round mile.
BLUE BOLT is the obvious place to start.
This filly has been the apple of Andrew Balding’s eye for some time, and she looks like she’s about to blossom into a serious operator.
She was putting together a progressive portfolio last year when she bumped into two good horses in back-to-back runs.
The ground was softer than she likes when second to Lady Of Spain at Goodwood before a fine second to multiple Group One winner, Fallen Angel, at Newmarket.
Her reappearance at Goodwood was pleasing, and she’s guaranteed to improve from that, with a big run expected here, so she’s the one to play in the World Pool Win market.
CATALINA DELCARPIO also demands a lot of respect.
Regular readers will know I tipped her for the Ribblesdale at last year’s Royal meeting, where, while she ran well to finish third, she didn’t stay the 12 furlongs.
Paddy Twomey has astutely dropped her back to a mile, and she was really impressive at Leopardstown last time out.
She’s got bags of pace, but also stays further than a mile, which will help as the runners take on the stamina sapping course.
I think she might be overlooked in the betting, so I’ll play her and Blue Bolt in a World Pool Quinella (the first two home in any order).
Later on, the Royal Hunt Cup (5.00pm) will test punters’ mettle as the 30-runner cavalry charge thunders down the Ascot straight mile.
I fancy a couple of outsiders here, firstly CHECKANDCHALLENGE.
William Knight’s veteran isn’t a sexy, up and coming type, but he does have a strong level of back-form, particularly over straight miles.
This is a horse who’s mixed it at Group One level, notably when a close fifth in last year’s Lockinge and I think the handicapper has left him on a lenient mark.
He’s caught the eye twice this season at Newbury and I think he might shock a few.
BLUE RC is another who could spring a surprise now that he finally encounters the fast ground he wants.
He ran well behind Checkandchallenge at Newbury too, where the going was too slow for him.
James Tate looks to have readied him for this, and I think he could be huge value in the World Pool markets.
POINTERS WEDNESDAY
Blue Bolt (Win) 3.40pm Ascot
Blue Bolt, Catalina Delcarpio (Quinella) 3.40pm Ascot
Checkandchallenge (Win and Place) 5.00pm Ascot
Blue Rc (Win and Place) 5.00pm Ascot