Tartan Bearer to prove he is too good in Prince of Wales’s Stakes
The feature race on the second day of Royal Ascot is the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Sir Michael Stoute’s TARTAN BEARER looks the one to beat in the Group One contest. Last year’s Derby runner-up showed he was as good as ever when winning a tactical affair at Sandown last time when looking to have an impossible task a furlong from home. They went no pace that day and he showed a devastating turn of pace to reel in Pipedreamer.
He showed at York last season that fast ground holds no fears and I just hope that the eight runners don’t crawl round as there may be others with more tactical speed if it turns into a sprint. I’m sure that won’t be the case and at the 2/1 available this morning with Boylesports, he is a confident selection.
His main dangers would appear to be both of the French raiders. Last year’s French Derby winner Vision D’Etat is already a Group One winner this season (won the Prix Ganay), but I’m not sure he’ll be suited by the drop back in trip as he seemed to hit a flat spot last time. He has also never raced on ground with the word ‘firm’ in the description, so would definitely want a few more drops of rain.
However, our selection may have more to fear from Never On Sunday who hails from the red hot Rouget stable. He looks progressive but is another who likes to get his toe in and has to step up on what he has achieved so far. A final mention has to go to Twice Over who looks a decent each-way proposition at 8/1 if the rain does materialise. This looks his best trip, but he wouldn’t want the conditions too quick either as he has a habit of not letting himself down on ground he doesn’t like.
The Royal Hunt Cup (4.20pm) looks as tricky as ever and regular readers of this column will already be on MIA’S BOY at 20/1. Ryan Moore’s mount has been knocking on the door over seven furlongs recently and the step up to a mile looks just what he needs. I’ll also be having a few quid on the John Gosden trained CADRE at 10/1 as he doesn’t look too harshly treated on his demolition of Epsom winner Tartan Gigha at Yarmouth a couple of starts back. By the way, the Punter is now online at www.cityam.com/the-punter and will be coming to you from Ascot each day this week.
POINTERS…
TARTAN BEARER Royal Ascot 3.45pm
MIA’S BOY Royal Ascot 4.20pm
CADRE Royal Ascot 4.20pm