ROYAL ASCOT - DAY ONE

PERFORMANCE RATINGS

Ballycorus Stakes – Duff 69
Ballymacoll Stud Stakes – Splashdown 62
Reg Griffin (Betfair) Trophy – Swiss Diva 65

There is plenty to study from the Flat trends book this week with Royal Ascot getting underway on Tuesday. I’ve added several races that were missing from the first edition, including today’s Ascot Stakes, an event in which I’ve produced some trends ratings below – Galient looks interesting to me having been blocked in last year's renewal.

ASCOT STAKES (4.55, BBC2)

I’ve awarded points for the following trends:

Raced in past two months over 1m4f+ = 2pts
Ridden prominently or held up = 2pts
Four to six-year-old = 2pts
Flat handicap win in Class 3 or lower = 1pt
Four runs or less that season = 1pt
Yet to score beyond 2m on Flat = 1pt
Officially rated in the 80s = 1pt

Valentino Rossi = 6
Baddam = 5
Som Tala = 8
Rajeh = 9
Keenes Day = 9
Humble Opinion = 5
Gala Evening = 7
Midas Way = 7
Woolfall Treasure = 8
Sesenta = 8
Judgethemoment = 7
Fire And Rain = 7
Galient = 10
Liberate = 10
Ermine Sea = 9
Always Bold = 10
Kayf Aramis = 5
Clopf = 7
Missoula = 8
Royal Rationale = 9

Top three rated: Always Bold – Galient – Liberate


TOP OF THE FORM

Despite an ugly 14-1 winner on Monday for the Top 20 qualifiers, the consistency that had been flowing in previous weeks has been amiss since Saturday week – where have those 20-1 placed runners gone?

Maybe I overestimated the current Top 20 a few weeks ago that looked a strong chart, if so, then a wave of seven new entries this week will help freshen things up.

My TOTF nap last week, Oriental Cavalier, ran well in third but not good enough, so I've opted for value this week in an attempt to get me up the RFO table.
Monsieur Chevalier could've been the nap having featured in the chart, but I decided upon Kingdom Of Light in Thursday's Norfolk, and whose Haydock victory - currently outside the Top 20 - was again boosted by Reeds Bay last week.

Tuesday 16 June Top 20 qualifiers:

2.15 Thirsk, Cassidy K
2.50 Thirsk, Arken Lad
3.25 Thirsk, Kipchak
4.20 Ascot, Red Jazz
4.20 Ascot, Raines Cross
5.45 Thirsk, What A Fella
7.30 Yarmouth, Global Village
7.45 Newton Abbot, Lethal Gun
8.30 Yarmouth, All Spin
8.45 Newton Abbot, Watership Down
9.00 Yarmouth, Corton Charlemagne

There are simply too many races currently residing outside the Top 20 to list here, but one that deserves a mention is Sherman McCoy's Goodwood victory on 30 May. The second and third, Cool Strike and Harlestone Snake, have both landed similar handicaps since, while the fourth, seventh and eighth were all second.
The race rating for this warm event is +3, by the way, keeping it just outside the chart, and is another good example of why I thought the chart was in such strong position as there is plenty of talent waiting outside.