Royal Ascot: rest of final day

Sir Michael Stoute has had a pretty disastrous week so far -no winners but several injuries - but he has good prospects of landing today´s main supporting feature, the Hardwicke Stakes over 1 1/2 miles at 16.40 CET, a race he has won 5 times in the last 9 years. He saddles 3 of the 7 runners, including the first two from last year, Telescope (Ryan Moore) and Hillstar (Ted Durcan), as well as Snow Sky (Pat Smullen), easy winner of the Yorkshire Cup last time. However that one is held on last season´s form by Postponed (Luca Cumani/ Adam Kirby), just beaten in a three-way photo in an irish Group One last time, but Eagle Top (John Gosden/ Frankie Dettori) is another danger.The going is firming up, which will suit Telescope, although heavy showers are possible.

Aidan O´Brien´s 2yo´s have been in fantastic form this week, especially when partnered by Ryan Moore, and they can score again with Ballydoyle in the opening Chesham Stakes at 15.30; he had no chance on his debut in lesser company, but, as we have seen this week, this is not necessarily significant, as they all improve tremendously for their first run. Coolmore always keep their best names for their best horses so that is another point in his favour.

The handicaps are as always very toiugh. The unbeaten Mahsoob (John Gosden/ Paul Hanagan) is unbeaten in 3 starts and clearly very smart; he will be clear favourite for the Wolverton at 16.05, but we shall take a chance on the tough Sennockian Statr (Mark Johnston Franny Norton), a non-runner yesterday, who was 4th here last year but is now better handicapped despite winning 4 times in the meantime. The Wokingham over 6 furlongs at 18.00 is a minefield with 29 runners. If the rain stays away it is likely that those drawn low (far side) will have an advantage, although most of the favourires are drawn high. So we shall stick with those drawn under 10 and make Zarwaan (Ed Dunlop/ Paul Hanagan) a very speculative selection to give Hamdan al Maktoum a big handicap double.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Ballydoyle - Tonkinese - Cymric
2. Race: Mahsoob - Provenance - First Flight
3. Race: Telescope - Eagle Top - Postponed
4. Race: Brazen Beau - Mustajeeb - Due Diligence
5. Race: Huntsmans Close - Intrinsic - Gamesome
6. Race: Wicklow Brave - Marzocco - Rawaki