Performance ratings and Top of the Form

Performance ratings from last weekend will appear on Wednesday

Top of the Form qualifiers for Tuesday 30 June:

2.45 Hamilton, Metroland
5.00 Brighton, Auld Arty
6.30 Thirsk, Fistral
8.00 Thirsk, Fesko



PERFORMANCE RATINGS

Queen Anne Stakes – Paco Boy 84
King’s Stand Stakes – Scenic Blast 86
St James’s Palace Stakes – Mastercraftsman 86
Coventry Stakes – Canford Cliffs 80
Ascot Stakes – Judgethemoment 62
Windsor Castle Stakes – Strike The Tiger 63
Jersey Stakes – Ouqba 75
Prince of Wales’s Stakes – Vison D’Etat 85
Royal Hunt Cup – Forgotten Voice 74
Queen Mary Stakes – Jealous Again 74
Norfolk Stakes – Radiohead 66
Ribblesdale Stakes – Flying Cloud 69
Gold Cup – Yeats 85
Britannia Stakes – Fareer 65
King George V Stakes – Cosmic Sun 58
King Edward VII Stakes – Father Time 75
Coronation Stakes – Ghanaati 82
Wolferton Handicap Stakes – Perfect Stride 76
Queen’s Vase – Holberg 66
Chesham Stakes – Big Audio 61
Hardwicke Stakes – Bronze Cannon 80
Golden Jubilee Stakes – Art Connoisseur 78
Wokingham Stakes – High Standing 73
Duke of Edinburgh Stakes – Drill Sergeant 69
Queen Alexandra Stakes – Caracciola 63

It’s been fascinating listening to people’s opinion on whether there was a draw bias on the straight track at Ascot last week. I actually felt in races when the field came middle to stands’ side there was an advantage with those drawn low.
Although winners like Scenic Blast and Canford Cliffs overcame high stalls, there were still a number of runners that found themselves at a disadvantage, including the following runners – all of whom can be given another chance:

Windsor Castle Stakes – 5th Hearts Of Fire
Jersey Stakes – 5th Donativum
Royal Hunt Cup – 4th Nanton
Queen Mary Stakes – 4th Capercaille
Albany Stakes – 3rd Chachamaidee
Buckingham Palace Stakes – 5th Racer Forever
Golden Jubilee Stakes – 3rd Lesson In Humility

As there are no qualifiers today, I thought I’d mention a horse from another list of horses I keep – Sparton Duke, who runs in the 8.50 at Kempton tonight.
He has caught my eye several times over the last six months over 6f/7f, each time shaping as though a mile would suit, and he finally gets a chance to stretch his legs over that distance here - his sire Xaar was a winner of the trip.

PS. If anyone hasn't seen Wednesday's Racing Post, Racing UK is currently free-to-air while customers resubscribe, owing to Setanta's collapse. Looks like an afternoon of Carlisle and Salisbury for me!