Be Brave and take Comanche to win Royal Ascot sprint
ROYAL Ascot is very much on the horizon, with the five days of top-class action at the Berkshire course just under a week away.
I’m going to take a dip into the ante-post markets, and I’ve found one I think represents value in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on the Saturday.
A lot could depend on which international raiders turn up here, with many doubly entered in the King Charles III Stakes earlier in the week, but COMANCHE BRAVE is only entered in this six-furlong contest and makes plenty of appeal at the prices.
He has strong Ascot form already, having finished third in last season’s Jersey Stakes behind Noble Champion, and the return to this track looks a major positive.
Ground conditions shouldn’t be an issue either, as he’s versatile enough to handle ease, but genuinely quick ground would hold no fears and may even suit him better.
The key angle is the improvement we’ve seen since he has dropped back to six furlongs.
He shaped well over further in Riyadh during the winter when finishing third behind Reef Runner and Lazzat, staying on strongly late on, prior to running well behind the world’s best in Ka Ying Rising in Hong Kong back in April.
He returned to score impressively on seasonal debut in the Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh.
His run style could be perfectly suited to a strongly run Ascot sprint, and there’s lots to like about his profile.
Whilst Donnacha O’Brien may not have the biggest string, it does allow him to focus heavily on placing horses like this to maximum effect, and at quotes of 12/1, Comanche Brave looks a very solid each-way proposition.
POINTERS ROYAL ASCOT
Comanche Brave e/w 12/1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes