I’ve just landed at the Royal meeting here at Ascot, and the champagne ain’t cheap so I’m looking for some solid winners on day one and I’m going to play it relatively safe.
There’s no time for small talk as the opener could be the race of the week. Able Friend is the second best horse in world on official ratings and his monstrous turn of foot has seen him pulverise his opposition in Hong Kong. He’s won six in a row in Sha Tin, four of which were Group One, but he faces his toughest test yet on his European debut today.
Solow comes from France, and although he took some time to show his supremacy, he’s been magnificent on his last two starts. He took my breath away when winning in France last time, and I’m mowing into him in the first.
Jim Bolger is an amazing man – sharp, professional and extremely talented, and his equine equivalent runs for him today in the Coventry. Round Two has it all, speed, concentration and a cracking attitude. He faces tough rivals in Air Force Blue and War Department, but in this juvenile sprint today, I think he’ll show them who’s boss.
Gleneagles looks unbeatable in the St James’s Palace Stakes and is the closest thing to thoroughbred perfection I’ve seen in a while. Make Believe is a genuine Classic performer, but will more than likely fall short of the Ballydoyle banker.
If I’m in trouble later on I might have a pop at Digeanta in the Ascot Stakes, but will hopefully have my pockets well lined by then.
Happy Ascot!
