Horse racing tips: Latest best bets from Royal Ascot and beyond
FRANKIE DETTORI’S quest to dethrone Ryan Moore from his regular spot as top Royal Ascot jockey continues on the second day of the meeting with a horse he has yet to ride in public.
Frankie has won the hugely-competitive Royal Hunt Cup twice in his glittering career and he can make it three with NEW GRADUATE (nb, 5.00).
This colt’s three-year-old campaign was interrupted by a setback which led to his being given a very lenient first handicap mark ahead of a runaway win at Ripon in April.
He has been put up 15lb for that success but he remains progressive and unexposed and trainer James Tate has turned to Dettori to add the big-meeting polish.
The best bet of the day is away from Royal Ascot at Hamilton, where BLUE WHISPER (nap, 5.20) is confidently expected to register his first victory.
At the same course seven days ago, Blue Whisper belied odds of 40-1 when bouncing back to earlier form with a third place behind Chinese Spirit.
He was going on well at the finish and a repeat of that effort would see a victory here.
Top tip at Chelmsford is GOVERNOR OF PUNJAB (treble, 6.10).
The Mark Johnston-trained two-year-old was backed as if defeat was not a consideration before his debut at Thirsk and, though beaten by three lengths in fifth place, there was enough promise shown to suggest he can recoup all losses on his first all-weather start.
Royal Ascot
2.30 FINAL SONG
3.05 NORWAY
3.40 MAGICAL
4.20 VERACIOUS
5.00 NEW GRADUATE (N.B)
5.35 SUMMER SANDS
Chelmsford
5.40 CAPTAIN DION
6.10 GOVERNOR OF PUNJAB (TR)
6.40 SWORD EXCEED
7.10 SIMOON
7.40 ROYAL BIRTH
8.10 VICTORY WAVE
8.40 HIGHGARDEN
9.10 MAGICINTHEMAKING
Hamilton
1.50 HIDDEN SPELL
2.20 THE NEW MARWAN
2.55 EXPLAIN
3.30 IVORY CHARM
4.05 ZODIAKOS
4.45 POYLE GEORGE TWO
5.20 BLUE WHISPER (NAP)
5.55 PAMMI
Ripon
6.50 AMITY ISLAND
7.20 PINK SANDS
7.50 AMBER SPARK
8.20 GOOD LUCK FOX
8.50 FRANCOPHILIA
9.20 VANDELLA
Uttoxeter
2.10 MRS MIGGINS
2.45 TEDDY’S ACRE
3.20 DOUBLY CLEVER
3.55 ADMAN SAM
4.35 DARLING MISS
5.10 SPORTING BOY
5.45 PURE AFFECTION